Diocese of Mangalore calls for fair investigation regarding St. Gerosa School Incident
Mangalore : The Diocese of Mangalore has voiced its concern and appealed for justice following the distressing events that unfolded at St. Gerosa English Higher Primary School on February 10, 2024. It said that the incident stemmed from baseless allegations against an English Teacher at the school.
The issue began with the circulation of two audio messages on social media, accusing the English Teacher of making derogatory remarks about Hindu religious practices and political leaders during a 7th std class. Responding to this, four parents approached the Headmistress, who promised a thorough investigation to uncover the truth. Despite assurances of an inquiry, a group of individuals gathered outside the school premises at 12:30 p.m. The Headmistress assured them of a fair investigation. Later that day, the school's sisters wrote to the district administration, denouncing the false allegations and requesting protection from potential unrest.
The Diocese mentions in its statement that the situation escalated on February 12, when Local MLA Vedavyas Kamath led a protest demanding an immediate apology and the suspension of the English Teacher. He also harassed female staff, creating a hostile environment.
In the evening, as students were leaving, the MLA encouraged them to chant religious verses and slogans against the teacher. Under pressure, the school management suspended the teacher pending an inquiry to maintain order and ensure student safety.
The Diocese mentions in its statement that the English Teacher was teaching Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Work is Worship" and was explaining lines from the poem in the English syllabus of the 7th Standard. The teacher did not make any disparaging remarks as claimed on social media.
The Diocese of Mangalore has urged the Minority Department officials, Child Welfare Department, and Women's Commission to conduct a fair inquiry into the incident. They seek to investigate the mistreatment of the women teachers and children by the MLA. The Diocese also calls for a probe into the false allegations against the English Teacher and advocates for the protection of her dignity and the interests of minorities, women, and children.
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Ranji Trophy final: Paras Dogra headbutts Karnataka substitute during heated Day 2 in Hubballi
Huballi: Tempers flared on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy final as Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra was involved in an ugly on-field incident with Karnataka substitute fielder KV Aneesh at the Hubballi Cricket Ground.
The confrontation took place in the 101st over of Jammu and Kashmir’s first innings. Dogra, who was batting with Kanhaiya Wadhawan during a key partnership, edged a delivery from Prasidh Krishna for a boundary. Soon after, he exchanged words with Aneesh, who was fielding at forward short leg.
What began as a verbal exchange quickly turned physical. In a sudden outburst, Dogra moved towards Aneesh and headbutted him while still wearing his helmet. The act left players and officials stunned, forcing the umpires to intervene immediately.
Senior Karnataka batter Mayank Agarwal stepped in and confronted Dogra, while the umpires worked to calm the situation. At the end of the over, Dogra apologised, but Aneesh appeared visibly upset and did not accept the apology on the field.
The tension did not stop there. Agarwal and KL Rahul were also seen engaging in sharp exchanges with the Jammu and Kashmir skipper. Moments later, another heated moment unfolded when Karnataka pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak and Wadhawan came face to face after accidental contact during a run. Teammates and officials again had to step in to prevent matters from escalating further.
Despite the dramatic scenes, Jammu and Kashmir continued to stay in control of the match. The team crossed the 350-run mark in the first innings, building on the strong start made on Day 1.
Earlier, Shubham Pundir had anchored the innings with a well-made 121. Yawer Hassan contributed 88 runs, while Abdul Samad added 61, putting Karnataka under sustained pressure in the final.
