Human skeleton found at Jodupala
Madikeri, September 27: A human skeleton was found near Jodupala which was devastated in the landslides and floods in the district, on Thursday. It is suspected that the skeleton might be of Manjula (15) who was disappeared in the landslide and flood on August 16. But the medical sources and police have not yet confirmed it.
As the skeleton was found in the place, even the parents of Manjula were unable to identify it. For the last 41 days, her parents and family members have been searching for Manjula at Jodupala and surrounding places where she was disappeared. On Thursday at 11 am, the skeleton was found around 1 km away from her house. Knowing the information, the Madikeri rural police visited the place and informed the district hospital doctors for medical test. But the doctors who visited the spot confirmed that it was human skeleton.
But the police and the doctors said that without subjecting the skeleton for more medical tests, it was not possible to ascertain that it was Manjula’s skeleton.
Basically, Manjula was the daughter of Somaiah of Bettattur and was studying her SSLC in Mademaheshwara high school at Madenadu and she was staying at the house of her relative Basappa at Jodupala. Since there is only one bus facility from Bettattur to Madenadu, she was staying in Jodupala and continued her studies. But on August 16 at 8 am, the house of Basappa was collapsed and buried under the mud due to landslide and flood due to heavy rains. At that time, Basappa, Gouramma, Monisha and Manjula were washed away in the flood water. But in the operation conducted by the paramilitary force, CRPF and police teams using Drone cameras, three bodies except Manjula were found and their last rites were also conducted. But the body of Manjula was not found even after 40 days of the incident.
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CPI(M) alleges attempt to cover up Kudupu mob lynching by Mangaluru Commissionerate Police
Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Committee of CPI(M) has alleged that the Mangaluru Commissionerate Police is deliberately attempting to cover up the recent mob lynching incident that occurred in Kudupu. The CPI(M) claims that the FIR registered in the case itself serves as strong evidence of this attempt.
The incident took place at Samrat Ground, Kudupu, around 3 PM on April 27, where an unidentified person was reportedly lynched by a mob. Within an hour, the information had reached the Vamanjoor Police Station. By approximately 5 PM, police officers arrived at the scene, where they found the victim’s body, which had been brutally assaulted. The police were already aware of the full details by then, and the Commissioner was also informed.
However, for various reasons, including the involvement of key accused individuals like Ravindra Nayak and Manjunath, both said to be close aides of local BJP leaders, the police allegedly decided to weaken or even suppress the case. The fear of national backlash and reputational damage to the Commissioner reportedly contributed to this decision.
As part of this cover-up, the police allegedly made Manjunath, one of the primary accused in the mob lynching, file a complaint reporting the discovery of an "unidentified body" and registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR). Even though the police were fully aware of the incident, they issued a Lookout Circular suggesting the victim might have died due to substance abuse or after a fall, downplaying visible injuries as “minor scratches,” said Muneer Katipalla, Secretary of the CPI(M)'s Dakshina Kannada District Committee.
When media personnel approached the Police Commissioner for information and clarification, they were simply told to "wait and not believe in rumours." The Commissioner remained silent for 36 hours. It was only after political leaders and activists raised their voices on April 28, and the issue started trending on social media, that the police agreed to conduct a post-mortem. Based on the report, they finally registered an FIR under murder and mob lynching sections—32 hours after the incident.
The second complainant in the FIR was Keshav, reportedly a close associate of the same communal gang involved in the lynching. According to his statement, the victim was allegedly shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” while running toward the field, which prompted Manjunath, Sachin, and others to believe he was anti-national. They chased him, assaulted him with sticks and kicks, and killed him. Keshav further claimed he tried to stop them but was threatened and left the spot. He only learned later that Manjunath had filed the police complaint.
The CPI(M) has raised serious questions about the entire sequence of events within those critical 32 hours. Why was the initial complaint filed by one of the accused? Why did the police not take suo moto action? Why was a weak UDR filed despite full knowledge of the lynching? Why did the Commissioner remain silent for 36 hours? And why did the second FIR rely on a communal narrative involving “Pakistan” only after public pressure mounted?
Muneer Katipalla demanded a high-level probe into the conduct of the police. He said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a senior, impartial IPS officer from outside the district must be formed. He also demanded disciplinary action, including suspension, against Vamanjoor SHO Shivaprasad and Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal for dereliction of duty and alleged complicity in the attempted cover-up.
Muneer Katipalla warned that unless these demands are met and justice is ensured, public trust in law enforcement will continue to erode.
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