Udupi: Two college boys belonging to one community and two college girls belonging to another were reportedly eating ice-cream at a parlour in Kundapur of Udupi district on Monday, when the police took them to the station as a “precautionary measure”.

According to one of the versions, some members of a reactionary group informed the police who came to the ice-cream parlour and took the four students to police station, enquired about their whereabouts and allowed them to go away. According to another source, the boys were assaulted by the police. However, neither version could be confirmed with the students involved. Superintendent of Police Pravin Pawar told The Hindu that the local police had received an information that some groups had identified the two boys and girls as belonging to different communities. The Kundapur police took them to the station to prevent any untoward incident from happening. Their parents were asked to take away their children, he said.

Sub Inspector of Kundapur police station B.S. Satish said that the police did not assault the four students.

Udupi: On a tip off, the police arrested three persons for illegally transporting 1,500 litres of rectified spirit in three vehicles at Sunkadakatte near Shiroor village in Byndoor police station limits on Wednesday. The value of the seized spirit is estimated at Rs. 3.5 lakh. Seven persons are absconding. A case has been registered, the police said.

Udupi: The Shiroor Math performed the “Akki Muhurta”, the second of the preliminaries for the next Paryaya festival, here on Wednesday.

Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji of the Shiroor Math will be ascending the Paryaya Peetha on January 18, 2010. It will be his third Paryaya. A colourful procession and elaborate rituals marked the “Akki Muhurta”. The procession began from the math after offering prayers. A pack (or “murra”) of rice kept in a palanquin and covered with a silk cloth was taken in the procession. Prayers were offered at the Sri Chandramouleshwara temple, Sri Ananteshwara temple, and to Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana at Sri Krishna Temple/Math. The procession then went around the Car Street and reached the Shiroor Math. After offering prayers at the math, representatives of other maths and scholars were felicitated and “navagraha danas” were given.

Sri Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji performed “puja” to the rice “murras”. Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math and Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Math were among the seers who were brought in a procession to the Shiroor Math. Sri Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji told presspersons that during his paryaya he would give importance to maintaining cleanliness in Sri Krishna Math and providing healthy and tasty meals to devotees.

Udupi: Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha said on Wednesday that the Udupi district administration had made arrangements for photographing voters and issuing Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) at the 10 Nemmadi Kendras in the district from Friday.

Ms. Hemalatha told presspersons here said that photographing of voters was being done at taluk centres. However, from Friday photographing of voters would be done at the 10 Nemmadi Kendras also. Voters should go to Nemmadi Kendras in their respective Assembly constituency to get themselves photographed and collect EPICs. There are three Nemmadi Kendras in Byndoor, two each in Udupi, Kundapur and Karkala, and one in Kaup.

Voters can also approach the Voter Facilitation Centre at the Assistant Commissioner’s Office in Kundapur for getting EPICs. Nearly 76,000 EPICs were yet to be given to voters in the district, she said. People can approach respective taluk offices for either registration or deletion of their names from the electoral rolls till April 2. Ms. Hemalatha said that Udupi-Chikmagalur Parliamentary constituency comprises of four Assembly constituencies of Udupi district — Udupi, Kaup, Karkala and Kundapur, and four Assembly constituencies of Chikmagalur district — Chikmagalur, Sringeri, Tarikere and Mudigere.

Byndoor Assembly constituency is part of Shimoga Parliamentary constituency.

The total number of voters in the Udupi-Chikmagalur Parliamentary constituency, as on February 2, 2009, is 12,03,120 (including 5,84,294 women). Ms. Hemalatha said the that the model code of conduct for the general elections had come into force.

People can call the following helplines for queries regarding the elections: Deputy Commissioner’s Office Ph: 0820- 2524300; Udupi Taluk Office Ph: 0820-2525282; Karkala Taluk Office Ph: 08258-230201 and Kundapur Taluk Office Ph: 08254-230357.

Kundapur, Mar 3: After a house located in Uppinakudru isle near Tallur, a few kilometres away from here, gutted on the night of Monday March 2, a woman who was inside the house, died. The deceased has been identified as Nirmala (55), wife of Surendra Kamath, a banana merchant.

Flames engulfed the house at around 8.30 pm. Nirmala was alone in the house at the time of the incident. Her body was charred beyond recognition.

She is survived by two sons, a daughter and husband. It is thought, that the fire was caused by a cylinder blast in the kitchen. The fire brigade personnel succeeded in dousing the fire.

Kundapur police have registered a case.

Udupi, March 2: ‘Brahmakumbhabhisheka’ of ‘Parivarasahita Brahmabaidarkala’ was held on March 1st, at Tonse Shri Brahmabaidarkala Panchadhoomavati Garodi.

Udupi: Superintendent of Police Pravin Pawar said on Monday that the situation in Gangolli, where some people had destroyed the statue of Saint Bernadette of Immaculate Conception Church on Saturday night, was “peaceful and under control.”

Mr. Pawar told The Hindu that the police were still inquiring into the incident and had questioned four people in that connection. “Tight police security is in place at Gangolli,” he added.