Impartial probe sought into mass burial case

Demanding impartial probe into the suspicious deaths in and around Dharmasthala, the Dakshina Kannada District Convention of Akhila Bharata Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane on Sunday sought bringing murder cases of Padmalatha, Soujanya, Vedavalli, and Yamuna into the ambit of Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the government to investigate the Dharmasthala burial cases.

The 9th convention of the sanghatane (All India Democratic Women’s Association) also resolved to urge the government to operate the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses on all feasible routes across the district to extend the benefit of Shakti, free travel scheme, for women. It also resolved to curb communalism; a complete halt of appression against women and other issues.

District president Jayanthi B. Shetty hoisted the flag followed by writer Sabitha Bannadi beating the drum for Sara Abubaker Vedike to mark the inauguration of the convention at Bishop Jathanna Auditorium in Balmatta.

Ms. Bannadi delivered the keynote address at the convention in the presence of theatre artist Geetha Surathkal, sanghatane State secretary Devi, poet Chandrakala Nandavara, and others.

Operate KSRTC buses

Deliberating upon the introduction of more KSRTC buses, the convention noted that private buses have the monopoly on majority routes in Dakshina Kannada district. Though KSRTC services were available in rural areas, they offer limited services. The operation of KSRTC buses between taluks and the district headquarters Mangaluru, Moodbidri, Vitla, Mulky, Kadaba, etc., was very less. Even city services from Ullal to Mangaluru and Mulky to Mangaluru, were less, it noted.

Consequently, women in Dakshina Kannada district were deprived of the free travel facility that was being availed by women in other parts of the State. The government, the corporation, and the district administration should look into the issue and take measures to operate more KSRTC buses, the convention added.