'Stones should have been pelted sooner at Ivan D'Souza's house', says VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell
Belthangady: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sharan Pumpwell has stirred controversy by stating that the recent stone-pelting incident at the residence of MLC Ivan D'Souza should have occurred much earlier. Speaking at a press conference organized by the VHP on Thursday to announce an event in Ujire, Pumpwell openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the attack.
"Dakshina Kannada is a district of patriots. Opposing anti-national statements is seen as a duty here, and someone has fulfilled that duty. I hold the district administration and police department responsible for the delay. If they had taken action against Ivan D'Souza for his statements earlier, this incident would not have happened," Pumpwell remarked.
ALSO READ: Mangaluru: Miscreants pelt stones at MLC Ivan D'souza's residence
The VHP leader was referring to a statement made by Ivan D'Souza in which the MLC reportedly spoke about storming the Raj Bhavan in a manner similar to the protests against Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Pumpwell criticized the authorities for what he described as selective law enforcement.
"A case was registered against a statement opposing namaz on the road, and another against the Belthangady MLA. Why hasn’t a case been filed against Ivan D'Souza yet? The police are showing double standards, and that's why such incidents occur," he added.
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3 Indians arrested in Canada for shooting outside home
Ottawa (PTI): Three Indian nationals have been arrested by Canadian police on an anti-extortion patrol and charged after bullets were fired at a home.
Harjot Singh (21), Taranveer Singh (19) and Dayajeet Singh Billing (21) face one count each of discharging a firearm, and all have been remanded in custody until Thursday, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said in a statement on Monday.
The suspects were arrested by patrol officers after an early morning report of shots fired and a small fire outside a home in Surrey's Crescent Beach neighbourhood, the LakelandToday reported.
On February 1, 2026, the SPS members were patrolling in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood when reports came in of shots being fired and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street.
The three accused were arrested by SPS officers a short time later, the statement said.
SPS’s Major Crime Section took over the investigation, and the three men have now been charged with Criminal Code offences, it said.
All three have been charged with one count each of discharging a firearm into a place contrary to section 244.2(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. All three have been remanded in custody until February 5, 2026.
The SPS has confirmed they are all foreign nationals and has engaged the Canada Border Services Agency, it said.
One of the suspects suffered injuries, including two black eyes, the media report said.
Surrey police Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said on Monday that the suspect had refused to comply with instructions to get out of the ride-share vehicle and started to "actively resist."
"As we were trained, he was taken to the ground and safely handcuffed," said Houghton.
A second suspect with a black eye was also injured in the arrest after refusing to comply, Houghton said.
The arresting officers were part of Project Assurance, an initiative that patrols neighbourhoods that have been targeted by extortion violence.
Houghton said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is also involved because the men are foreign nationals, and the trio may face additional charges.
It's not clear if the men are in the country on tourist visas, a study permit, or a work permit, but Houghton said CBSA has started its own investigation into the men's status.
Surrey has seen a number of shootings at homes and businesses over the last several months, but there's been an escalation since the new year.
