Mangaluru, Jan 5: In Democracy, media is essential to uphold the freedom of expression, opined police commissioner TR Suresh.

He was speaking at a felicitation programme jointly organised by the Mangaluru Press Club, DK District Union of Working Journalists and Press Bhavan Trust to felicitate Mahalinga Naik at the Urwa Church Hall here on Sunday.

Police commissioner appreciated the media persons for recognizing the achievements of a farmer and extending him moral support. "Felicitating this farmer (Mahalinga Naik) is a great programme," he said.

Solaced after drinking water at waterless place: Press Club Award Winner Amai Malinga Naik

Speaking after receiving the Press Club Award of 2018, Progressive farmer Amai Mahalinga Naika said, "People mocked me when I began to dig the suranga. But now, I feel solace when I see people coming to that waterless area getting drinking water," he said.

 "Landlord Mahabala Bhat had gifted me 2 acres of barren land. Even after digging three surangas, water had remained elusive. People mocked me. But I did not stop. I resumed digging. Finally got water. Then I started growing paddy. Later I grew areca nut palms, coconut trees, cashew trees, banana saplings, and pepper vines," he added.

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New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency on Thursday conducted searches at 22 locations in six states to probe a human trafficking syndicate luring youth to work in call centres engaged in cyber frauds, officials said.

They said the searches were being conducted in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi among other places.

The case, which was registered by police in Gopalganj in Bihar, relates to an organised syndicate luring and trafficking Indian youth to foreign countries on the pretext of jobs and forcing them to work in fake call centres engaged in cyber fraud.