Uppinangady: Local police on Tuesday night lathi-charged protesters who were reportedly protesting outside the police station against the detention of three Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders in connection with a recent assault case. More than 10 people have reportedly sustained injuries while three other police personnel have also been injured in the incident.
According to the reports, local police had summoned three leaders of PFI (PFI Uppinangady President Abdul Hameed Majestic, SDPI Nekkeladi President Zakaria, and Upopinangady Block President Mustafa Lateef) for questioning in the recent assault case and later detained them.
PFI members and workers gathered outside the police station on Monday evening demanding the immediate release of their leaders. Dy.SP Dr. Gana Kumari had then reached the spot and pacified the protesters and assured them of releasing all three detainees.
When the police only released one of the three detainees and failed to release the other two, the protesters once again gathered outside the police station at night demanding their immediate release. The police then resorted to the lathi charge around 9 pm to disperse the crowd. 10 people have sustained severe injuries while three police personnel have also been injured.
Puttur Tahsildar, who had reached Uppinangady earlier in the evening, had imposed section 144 in the town following which lathi-charge was reported.
Security was beefed up and tension escalated in the region with the administration deploying both district and state reserved police forces.
ಉಪ್ಪಿನಂಗಡಿ ಪೊಲೀಸರು ರಾತೋರಾತ್ರಿ ಅಮಾಯಕರನ್ನು ಬಂಧಿಸಿದ್ದಲ್ಲದೇ, ಬಂಧಿತರ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಗಾಗಿ ಶಾಂತಿಯುತವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಬರ್ಬರವಾಗಿ ಲಾಠಿಚಾರ್ಜ್ ನಡೆಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನಕಾರರ ಮೇಲೆ ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ ಪೊಲೀಸರ ಕ್ರೌರ್ಯವನ್ನು ನಾಗರಿಕ ಸಮುದಾಯ ಒಂದಾಗಿ ಖಂಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ಇದು ನ್ಯಾಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಎದ್ದು ನಿಲ್ಲಬೇಕಾದ ಸಮಯ. pic.twitter.com/u6X7MOFwXj
— Yasir Hasan (State President, PFI Kar) (@yhpfi) December 14, 2021
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
