Activists stage protest in Belagavi against assault on a student waving 'Karnataka flag'
Belagavi, Dec 1: Pro-Kannada organisations on Thursday staged a protest and blocked a road for some time at Tilakwadi here, demanding action against those who allegedly assaulted a student for displaying "Karnataka flag" during a college fest.
A video of the incident, which took place at Gogte PU College on Wednesday, was widely shared on social media platforms.
In the video, a large group of students in uniform can be seen jumping and dancing to the music, as one of them raises a Karnataka flag with the hues of red and yellow, some students pushed and beat him.
The victim-boy is said to have even accused the police of abusing and assaulting him, when he had gone to lodge a complaint at the police station.
Some activists, protesting against the incident today, shouted slogans and burned a tyre on the street as a mark of protest, while few of those who staged protest in front of the college, even tried to barge in, forcing the police to detain them, a police official said.
Police said they are looking into the allegations of assault at the police station, and have also instructed students not to bring the language issue to the collage.
Additional police personnel have been deployed near the college and surrounding areas to ensure that no untoward incident takes place, they said.
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There's been a lapse in filing nominations, may be on my part: Manu Bhaker on Khel Ratna furore
New Delhi, Dec 24: Paris Olympics' double bronze-medallist Manu Bhaker on Tuesday admitted that "there has been a lapse may be on my part" while filing nominations for this year's National Sports Awards amid a raging controversy over her exclusion from the list of Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardees.
A day after the sports ministry had to do damage control by insisting that the list of awardees is yet to be finalised, the 22-year-old pistol ace took to social media to clarify her position on not being among those recommended for the country's highest sporting honour.
"With regards to ongoing issue for my nomination for the most prestigious Khel Ratna award -- I would like to state that as an athlete my role is to play and perform for my country.
"I believe there has been a lapse, maybe on my part while filing for the nomination which is being corrected," Bhaker wrote on X.
The Haryana shooter said her aim is to perform for the country and it would not change whether she gets an award or not.
This was after her father Ramkishan Bhaker and personal coach Jaspal Rana stated that the snub had affected her morale and drive to perform for the country.
"Awards and recognition keeps me motivated but are not my goal," she asserted.
"Irrespective of the award I shall remain motivated to win more medals for my country. It is a request to everyone, please do not speculate on this," she said.
Rana and Ramkishan lambasted the sports ministry and the selection committee for overlooking her despite her monumental achievements.
However, the list is yet to be finalised as per the sports ministry, which said she is likely to be there when the names are finally revealed in a few days' time.
It is reliably learnt that men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Paralympic gold-winning high jumper Praveen Kumar have been short-listed for the Khel Ratna along with 30 Arjuna awardees, 17 of them from para disciplines.
The awards selection committee is headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Ramasubramanian and also includes former women's hockey captain Rani Rampal, boxer Vijender Singh, and cricket great Anil Kumble among others.
The committee is mandated to consider those who file their applications but if required, it is also empowered to discuss names which do not feature in that list.
Manu's exclusion was a shock due to the fact that her historic Olympic performance came just a few months back and is still fresh in public memory.
The youngster is the first athlete from independent India to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.
She won her bronze medals in the 10m air pistol individual and 10m air pistol mixed team (with Sarabjot Singh) events in Paris.
— Manu Bhaker🇮🇳 (@realmanubhaker) December 24, 2024
