Ullala, August 30: A stranger behaved indecently before four girls when they were walking on the Mangaluru university campus on Wednesday evening. Condemning this sudden development, the students resorted to protest boycotting the classes in front of the Administrative Block of the university and demanded his immediate arrest.
When the four students were going towards their hostel after the class on Mangala Gangothri campus, the stranger who came on a motorbike, stopped in front of the Kannada department and signaled the girls by opening the zip of his trouser. When the students complained to the security officers, the stranger fled the scene with the motorbike. Later, the students lodged a complaint to the university officers. Since there was no clue over the accused till Thursday morning, the students boycotted the classes and resorted to protest demanding immediate arrest.
The students also demanded the authorities to verify the CCTV footage. On Thursday morning, the authorities showed the footage to the students, but there was no record. Students also demanded to check other CCTV cameras to know the identity of the stranger and take action.
VC promises
However, the students who staged a protest demanded the Vice Chancellor to visit the spot. But Vice Chancellor (Acting) Dr. Kishor who has been to Udupi on a government programme, reached the campus in the afternoon and visited the spot and promised of taking the action. As soon as the complaint was lodged, the university authority has taken the issue seriously. All CCTV footage were collected. Based on the details of footage, preparation was made to lodge a complaint to Konaje police station, he said and also advised the girl students to take main roads instead of short-cuts.
ACP A Ramarao also visited the spot and promised of arresting the accused. Later, the students withdrew their protest.
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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 31: The "explosion-like" sounds, accompanied by tremors, that were heard in the Anakkallu area of Malappuram district a day ago, were apparently caused due to friction and cracking of rocks close to the surface of the earth, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said on Thursday.
According to a joint statement issued by the KSDMA and the District Disaster Management Authority in Malappuram, District Geologist, Ground Water Department Geologist and District Hazard Analyst conducted a site inspection where the noise and vibrations occurred on October 17, 18 and 29.
Based on the inspection, the KSDMA concluded the noise and vibrations were "caused by the friction and cracking of rocks close to the surface of the earth" -- a phenomena which has been reported in many parts of Kerala before -- and were generally not dangerous.
This phenomenon is often caused by subtle natural changes in the earth. They are also caused by the displacement of rocks due to groundwater utilisation and when air contained in small cavities inside the earth escapes through tube wells, KSDMA said in the statement.
It said a decision has been taken to subject the site to a geophysical survey to understand the structure of the area more accurately and for that the Kozhikode NIT has been contacted by the KSDMA.
Regarding the damage suffered by some buildings due to the vibrations, it said that the same was due to their "age and structural weakness".
The authority said that depending on the extent and pattern of the cracks suffered by the buildings, the damage can be repaired by an engineer for continued use.
Nearly 300 people were moved to safety after the "explosion-like" sounds accompanied by tremors were heard by them in Anakkallu area in Malappuram district on Tuesday night.
The first sound was reportedly heard at 9.15 pm on Tuesday, followed by two more at 10.15 pm and 10.45 pm along with mild tremors, and reportedly within a 2-km radius, causing panic among the local residents.
Local residents had said they heard alarming sounds similar to those heard from granite quarries at their place repeatedly accompanied by continuing tremors.
Cracks were also found to have developed in some houses in the area, they had said.