Street vendor allegedly attempts suicide after harassment by officers to build auto stand at Bondel
Vendors’ association demand police to take action
Mangaluru: In the backdrop of a suicide attempt by a flower vendor near Bondel Junction, after allegedly being harassed by City Corporation officers under the pretext of a project to construct an auto rickshaw stand, the Dakshina Kannada District Street Vendors’ Association (CITU) has strongly condemned the authorities and demanded strict action against the guilty officers.
The street vendor, identified as Shalini (38), has reportedly been selling flowers near the Junction for the last 13 years. She is being given intensive care at AJ Hospital in Mangaluru as her health condition is said to be critical.
The Association members have pointed out that the auto rickshaw stand was constructed illegally, using the MLC’s funds but without approval of the Corporation. The vendor had been selling flowers 50 metres away from the stand, strictly abiding by the rules for vendors. “In spite of this, Shalini was handled in an offensive manner, with some of the rickshaw drivers parking their vehicles to cause her inconvenience. She was not only issued threats using political influence, but her flower stocks were also destroyed,” they said, urging the police officers concerned to probe the matter and take immediate action on those who harassed Shalini.
Association Working President Sunil Kumar Bajal has also demanded a suspension of the Corporation officers who harassed the vendor with political power.
Honorary President BK Imtiyaz, who issued a joint press release, has called it unfortunate that a woman vendor was being harassed by the auto rickshaw drivers for than a month under influence of a leader of the ruling party. “There is sufficient space in the area for construction of an auto rickshaw stand. Also, it is illegal to construct an auto rickshaw stand without the consent of the Traffic Police and the City Corporation,” he pointed out and warned, “If the police fail to take action against the persons guilty of harassing Shalini, we will undertake a protest leading to Bondel.”
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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