‘Devi Nagar’ sparks protests in Bhatkal: Allegations shift from street board to mosque's legality
Bhatkal: Protests continued for third day on Tuesday regarding the installation of a Devinagar board outside the Makkah Masjid at Second Cross on Jali Road here under Jali Patan Panchayat limits in Bhatkal. However, authorities did not grant permission for the installation. Protesters were directed to submit a written memorandum to the Jali Panchayat, which would then decide on the matter.
The controversy arose when, on Sunday, a stone board outside the Makkah Masjid was painted and rewritten as "Devi Nagar," with an attached pole. Mosque representatives alleged that Sangh Parivar workers intentionally sought to hoist saffron flags outside the mosque, a move they vehemently opposed. Subsequently, the pole was removed early Monday morning under police supervision.
Expressing their dissatisfaction, Sangh Parivar workers gathered outside the mosque to protest the pole's removal. Police convinced the protesters to disperse, assuring them of a meeting on Tuesday morning at the Tahsildar office to express their views.
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In a meeting with Jali Panchayat councilors chaired by the Tehsildar on Tuesday morning, it was decided not to permit any board or pole installation outside the mosque. During the meeting it was decided to maintain status quo at the site. Panchayat members also emphasized the potential political motives behind creating tension in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections, urging the police and authorities to thwart such efforts.
Despite the agreed-upon meeting, BJP workers insisting on installing the board gathered outside Makkah Masjid and protested again. They expressed a desire to write "Devi Nagar" at a visible height without hoisting a flag. As they attempted to install the board, the police intervened, leading to verbal clashes. Tehsildar Tippe Swamy, Additional SP CT Jayakumar, Bhatkal DySP Shrikant, and other senior police officials were present during the confrontation.
Additional SP CT Jayakumar urged the protesters to submit their demands in writing or through a memorandum to the Tehsildar and the Panchayat. In response, Sangh Parivar and BJP workers, present during the incident, argued that the mosque's construction alongside a madrassa was illegal, calling for legal action against it.
Failing in their attempt to install the board, protesters marched to the Jalipatan Panchayat office, submitting a memorandum to the chief officer. The memorandum claimed the mosque's illegality, demanding legal action. Meanwhile, BJP leaders held a press conference near the Jali Panchayat, threatening action against other allegedly illegal buildings within its limits if the board installation was not allowed.
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Bengaluru: A new health report has revealed that over 75% of Karnataka's population screened in 2024 is either obese or overweight, highlighting an alarming rise in lifestyle-related health issues.
According to the Health of the Nation 2025 report by Apollo Hospitals, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, 56% of those screened were diagnosed as obese, while another 21% were classified as overweight.
The report underscores a growing public health crisis, driven by sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and undiagnosed chronic conditions that often do not show visible symptoms. The annual report, which examined health data from over 2.5 million preventive screenings conducted across the Apollo ecosystem in India, reveals that symptom-based healthcare is increasingly insufficient to address these hidden health risks.
In Karnataka, the report found that 28% of the individuals screened were hypertensive, with half of them classified as pre-hypertensive. Diabetes was found in 20% of the population, with an additional 25% falling into the pre-diabetic category. These figures reflect the rising metabolic stress among asymptomatic individuals, many of whom are unaware of their conditions.
Additionally, the report noted that 84% of the screened individuals in the state had low vitamin D levels, which can negatively impact bone health and immunity. Furthermore, 64% exhibited reduced flexibility, affecting musculoskeletal wellness.
Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the need for India to shift towards a preventive health culture. "Early screening, personalised interventions, and health education should become integral to our homes, schools, and workplaces," TNIE quoted him as saying.
The report also highlighted several other health threats, including fatty liver disease, post-menopause health risks, and childhood obesity. Of the 2.5 million people screened nationally, 65% had fatty liver with 85% of those cases being non-alcoholic. Heart disease signs were present in 46% of asymptomatic individuals, while post-menopausal women saw a sharp increase in both obesity (from 76% to 86%) and diabetes (from 14% to 40%).
Childhood obesity is also becoming a significant concern, with the report revealing that 28% of college students were either overweight or obese, and 19% showed signs of prehypertension.
Mental health issues, often under-reported, emerged as another area of concern, with 7% of women and 5% of men screened nationwide showing symptoms of clinical depression, particularly among the middle-aged population.
