Mangaluru: The Sangh Parivar activists literally resorted to Goondaism  at the Manasa Water Park at Pilikula Nisargadhama on the outskirts of the city on January 2, Tuesday by   intercepting students  of a college who were enjoying a picnic and even  assaulted one of the girls right in the presence of the police.

Though video clipping of the same went viral in the social media, the Kavoor police who had reportedly remained apathetic  in the beginning  registered a case only after an advocate intervened. Later the cops arrested Sampath Shetty, Varada and Dinesh of Moodushedde in connection with the incident.

The incident : Two  boys, both II PUC students of a college at Aikala Thalippady near Kinnigoli along with two female students  had hired a car on Tuesday and had arrived at Pilikula Nisargadhama. The  Parivar activists who gathered information that the students were making merry at the Manasa Water Park,  barged  into the place and  attempted to assault the students. The Kavoor Police who arrived at the spot made arrangements to take the students out of the Park.

Assaulted : As the students were being escorted outside,   Sampath Shetty, a prominent local activist of Hindu Jagarana Vedike   hit one of the girls on her neck right in the presence of the police who however at that moment made no attempt to take him to custody. Someone who recorded the   incident had  circulated it in the social media. It was only after it went viral and caused uproar that the cops  registered a case.

Victim's mother files complaint : As per the complaint lodged by Melcy Serrao, the mother of  the  assault victim, police have arrested  HJV activists Sampath  Shetty, Varad and Dinesh  and have registered  cases against them under Section 341, 342, 324, 506, 509, 355, 153(a) and 74(1) of the IPC. Police said the prime accused Sampath Shetty already has  a few cases against him in Kavoor Police Station.

Action on basis of video clipping : DCP Hanumantharaya told "Vartha Bharathi" that  action would be taken against the perpetrators of the incident based on the video footage. 

Widespread anguish : The goondaism and vigilante attack by the Parivar activists has  led to widespread anguish with many  venting out their ire against the district administration as well as the Police Department  for their failure to rein in the  unscrupulous elements. 

"This is a joint operation"  

"This is a joint operation of the Sangh Parivar and the Police Department. The Police Department in the district  has completely bowed before the Sangh Parivar. The viral video of Tuesday is testimony to this.  Instead of  taking into custody those  who  tried to come in the way of the students who were at Pilikula, it is condemnable on the part of the police for allowing  assault on the student right in their presence. Such an incident would not have taken place had the Sangh Parivar activists had any fear of the Police Department or law. A similar incident took place at Subrahmanya recently.  Everyone is well aware as to why such incident  taken place during election time. Such incidents would not have recurred if the district administration and Police  Department acted tough.  The authorities must take this incident seriously.  There should also be an investigation into the Police failure during the incident."

 Vidya Dinker, social activist 

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"Those resorting to goondaism must be reined in"

"The Police Department has completely bowed before the Sangh Parivar in the district.  Their taking this incident lightly despite assault on the girls right in their presence is proof to this. The  government, elected representatives and the social organisations must extend their moral support to the Police Department  to ensure that action follows against those resorting to goondaism. The incident is condemnable."

Dinesh Hegde Uleppady, advocate and social activist

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Dhaka (PTI): A senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official calling former captain Tamim Iqbal "an Indian agent" has not gone down well with the players in the country.

Tamim, one of the finest openers to have come out of Bangladesh, had advised the BCB to not be driven by emotion while deciding the way forward on the national team's participation in the T20 World Cup in India.

Nazmul, chairman of BCB finance committee, called the left-hander opener "an Indian agent" in a Facebook post.

"This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent," he wrote.

The post received immediate backlash from former and current cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Momimul Haque and Taijul Islam.

Even the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) expressed shock at Nazmul's comments.

"A comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal has come to the attention of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh. We are stunned, shocked, and outraged by it.

"Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh's history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable.

"Not only because it concerns a player like Tamim, but such comments about any cricketer of the country are unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community," the players' body said in a statement.

The 36-year-old Tamim played 70 Tests, 243 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals for his country in a fairly accomplished career.

"We strongly protest against this comment. When a responsible board director makes such remarks on a public platform, it also raises serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials," it said.

"We have already submitted a protest letter to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from the concerned board director and that he be brought under accountability. We hope the BCB president will take appropriate action as soon as possible," CWAB added.

Bangladesh wrote to the International Cricket Council to move their T20 World Cup games out of India after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 edition without giving a specific reason.

"Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect," said pacer Taskin.

"I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future," he said.

Mominul added: "The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country's cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board's responsibility and ethics," said Mominul.

"A senior cricketer was not given even the minimum respect; instead, he was deliberately humiliated in public. Such remarks show a lack of even basic decorum regarding where and how to speak while holding such a high responsibility.

"I strongly condemn this comment and firmly demand a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability. I call upon the BCB to take swift and strict action," said Mominul.