Byndoor Mar 10: The assistant archbishop, Thiruvanantapuram Malankar Catholic Diocese (TMCD) and the Apathetic Visitor of North America and European Union, bishop Joseph Mar Thomas recently visited the St. Thomas residential school at Byndoor and participated in its annual day celebrations here. 

The chief guest on the occasion Dr. Shantahram, the administrator of Manipal academy of education delivered the welcome address. The Udupi District Panchayat president Raju Poojary and Sri Shankernarayana, the representative of students-parents association also graced the function.

Byndoor, Mar 6: Plans to construct two mini fishing ports one at Koderi and the other supposedly at Byndoor constituency, is on the anvil according to M Veerappa Moily, chairman of the Central Administrative Reformation Commission who had recently paid an official visit to the proposed naval sites, with a view to constructing small ports for fishermen.  

Addressing the gathering of fishermen at the JNR Kala stadium of Yedthere after the official visit to the locations,  Veerappa Moily promised that every effort would be made to include the proposed mini ports in the state budgetary allocation. 

Gopal Nayak, the executive engineer, department of ports and fisheries also spoke on the occasion. In his speech he informed that the blueprints of the proposed ports were ready and estimates for the two ports at Koderi and the other proposed one at Byndoor are Rs 15 crore and Rs 12 crore respectively.  

President of the Udupi G Shanker Family Trust (UGSFT), Dr G Shanker suggested making NABARD planning as an alternative source, as the proposed budgetary plan on the matter is yet to fructify, which will further delay the implementation of the plan beneficial for more than 2000 families of fishermen of the Byndoor region.  

MLC Pratap Chandra Shetty, former MLA K Gopal Poojary and BJP leader K Laxminarayana also spoke during the get-together. Former vice-chairperson of zilla panchayat Sharada D Bijooru and president of fishermen's association Naveen Chandra Uppunda and others were present.

Gangolly, Mar 6: The annual day celebrations of Gurujyothi sports club, Gangolly was recently held in the premises of the local KFDC. The function was presided over by Dr Umesh Puthran, medical director of Chinmayee hospital here.  

The president of the club M Sathish Kharvi welcomed the gathering, after which the keynote address was delivered by gram panchayat member B Raghavendra Pai and retired headmistress Helen Nazareth.  

On the occasion state champion in table tennis Pallavi V Rao was felicitated. Krishna Kharvi, president of Gangolly Mallyara Bettu was handed over a grant-in-aid-amount for medical expenses. The secretary  Ragavendra Kharvi presented the report.  

Savitha read out the messages received on the occasion, while Deepa introduced the honoured guests. Honorary president U Radhakrishna Shanbhag and Kumari Chandrakala felicitated the chief guests.  

Surya Kantha Kharvi and Veena Kharvi compered the programme. Kumari Vijaya Kharvi proposed the vote of thanks.

Kundapur, Mar 5: Mahashivaratri was celebrated amidst elaborate arrangements on Wednesday March 5 at the historic Kundeshwara temple here.  

There were rituals like 'Rudrabhisheka' and 'Mahapooja' early in the morning and closing rituals like 'Rangapooja' will be performed at night. The 'Mahamangalarathi' will be held in the evening. 

Koni Bhajana Mandali will sing bhajans in praise of Lord Shiva, the dance drama Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dance will also be performed by a troupe from Shri Radhakrishna Nritya Niketana school.  

Those who who wish to offer 'Hanathe Deepa Save' are requested to register their names along with their Janma Nakshatra at the temple counter specially opened for the purpose.    

Managing trustee of the temple committee Dr H V Narasimha Murthy announced the opening of a library of religious books.

Kundapur, Mar 3: Clashes erupted between Hindu activists, BJP leaders and the local police in Byndoor as a off-shoot of an alleged incident of religious conversion, here on Saturday March 1.

Members of  christian community,  in a prayer hall at Byndoor converted a Hindu girl to their religion, after which her  marriage was solemnized to a boy of that particular community, according to an Hindu activist's version. To oppose this move the Hindu activists gathered together near the prayer hall to show their protest. This information reached the police, who apprehending communal clashes immediately rushed  to the spot and tried to amicably settle the matter.

However, the protesters did not pay heed to any pacification from the police and without accepting a peaceful compromise on the matter, began to clash with the police. The matter took an ugly turn with the protesters turning violent and unruly. In order to control the situation police then were constrained to resort to lathi charge. In this lathi charge the BJP leader and former fisheries department president K Lashmi Narayana Sheregar was badly injured.

Moreover it is understood that due to the lathi charge nearly 25 people too have fallen victim to it and amongst those injured were seven woman who were badly injured. This action on part of the police evoked the ire of the BJP workers who protested stoutly against the police action due to which their leader was hurt. In retaliation they blocked the roads and shouted slogans against the police.

Trying to provide an explanation for the incident which took place, the Byndoor prayer hall in-charge Bobby George said "since past eleven years we have been running this Ashram and provided nearly 35 poor children with free education, food and accommodation. A worker of our Ashram named Vasu Reddy a resident of Haveery was engaged on the 10th February to a certain Thangamani's daughter Veena who is a resident of  Ganganadu. We had the wedding reception of the newly wedded couple in the Asharm. This was mistaken by the activists as being conversion rites." he tried to clarify.
 
Latest developments:
 
The unruly  situation consequent to the alleged religious conversion has now been fully brought under control. Case has been file against the BJP leader and twenty-five Hindu activists who were said to be involved in the clash with the police. 
 
Addressing media persons here BJP presdent Kota Shrinivas Poojary giving his side of the incident said that it was because of the sudden entry of the police, that the situation took a worst turn. Otherwise the matter could have been discussed  and settled. The matter was actually worsened by police entry into the scene.

Further he in anger said that police have filed cases against our main leaders, if that is the case then let them file case against all of us too, and if they cannot do so, then they must immediately withdraw all the complaints and cases and give the 'B' report.
 
On the occasion Udupi former MLA Ragupathi Bhat, BJP leaders Laxmi Narayan, Yuva Morcha secretary Sudhir K S, District  Secretary Suresh Nayar, Suprasad Shetty, Suresh Bijoor, Satish Nayka and Sumathi Mogaveera were also present.