Mangalore: Attack on students at Padil divides Corporators of MCC creating chaos and confusion

Pics by John V. Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 31 July 2012:The attack on the students celebrating birthday party at the Padil Resort on Saturday, July 28, 2012 by the goons allegedly belonging to Hindu Jagran Vedike posing as ‘moral brigade’  found its echo in the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) meeting held at the zilla panchayat hall here on Tuesday July 31, 2012 that  witnessed much chaos and confusion.

The meeting was held to discuss development works in the city, but instead, and perhaps as expected, the July 28 HJV attack on young boys and girls at a Padil resort hogged all the attention.

Trouble erupted when Jayanti C Shetty, Jelligudde corporator belonging to the communist party, called the attackers belonging to Hindu Janajagarana Vedike as ’Sangh Parivar’ goons.

BJP corporators took exception to Jayanti’s statement and began a flash protest. Angered at her comment, the BJP members demanded that she either be expelled from the meeting or apologize unconditionally.
Corporators Mariyamma Thomas, Abdul Aziz, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, and other  Congress members came to Jayanti’s support.

 

 

 

Arguments and counter arguments were made, and finally they reached a compromise and the meeting resumed.
However, in the course of the meeting, Jayanti made the same statement once again and the whole scene was repeated. The meeting had to be adjourned no further disussions were held.

During the meeting, corporator Naveen D’Souza said that illegal home stays and such other accomodations are in various parts of the city, and that the deputy commissioner along with the police should trace them and take suitable action.
Corporators Appi and Ashok expressed concern over the fact that several such instances have been reported in the city, indicating that there’s not enough protection for girls in the city. They said that this matter should be taken seriously so that such incidents do not repeat in the future.

Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde addressed the meeting and said, "Let us not quarrel among ourselves. We will work together with the district administration and find a solution."

He also said that it was wrong on the part of the police to arrest Mohan Padil as he is a corporator and it was his duty to rush to the spot of the incident. Mohan Padil was released soon after.

On the role of the media, the general opinion in the meeting was that though media was wrong in shooting the video of the incident, FIR should not have been filed against the two journalists.

A letter was submitted to mayor Gulzar Banu on the occasion, stating that MCC condemns the attack on the Morning Mist Home Stay resort, wherein the activists misbehaved and treated the girls cruelly. "The incident has brought shame to Mangalore and we urge the government to arrest all the persons responsible, and punish them severely."

Even after the meeting, the BJP corporators staged a protest and shouted slogans against Jayanti’s statement.
Mayor Gulzar Banu, deputy mayor Amithakala, MCC commissioner Harish Kumar, corporators Shakila Kava, Sudhir Shetty, Tilak Raj, Shankar Bhat, Vijaykumar Shet, Deepak Kumar, Ashok D K, Nagendra and others were present.

(Report Courtesy Daijiworld.com)