Tue Jul 08 14:54:04 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Dakshina Kannada Legislators Resist Police Deadline on Festival Events**

**Mangaluru, July 8, 2025** – Lawmakers in Dakshina Kannada are pushing back against a police-imposed curfew of 11:30 p.m. for public events during the upcoming festival season, arguing that the restriction will dampen the celebratory spirit. The issue was raised at a Dakshina Kannada District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (Disha) meeting on Tuesday, presided over by MP Brijesh Chowta.

MLA Y. Bharat Shetty initiated the discussion, objecting to both the deadline and the police’s requirement for event organizers to install and maintain CCTV footage for 30 days. Shetty, along with fellow Mangaluru City North MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath, emphasized that the curfew would negatively impact key festivals such as Sri Krishna Janmashtami’s ‘Mosaru Kudike’ celebrations and the immersion processions of Ganeshotsava and Navaratri idols. “The deadline is like not allowing vehicles on the road because accidents happen,” Kamath stated, questioning if the police would halt the all-night Dasara procession of Kudroli Gokarnanatha Temple.

Bhagirathi Murulya, MLA from Sullia, also questioned the directive prohibiting schools from hosting religious events like the Ganesha festival, arguing that many government schools have celebrated the festival for decades. The MLAs are urging Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan to instruct the police to lift the curfew.

On July 3, Mangaluru City and Dakshina Kannada district police released detailed guidelines for public events leading up to Muharram, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, Deepavali, and Christmas. These guidelines included mandatory permission requirements, event-specific instructions, and a strict 11:30 p.m. deadline, with violations to be treated as “unlawful assembly.” The police cited public safety, peace, and adherence to the law as justification for the measures. Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy and Superintendent of Police K. Arun have yet to respond to the legislators’ concerns.

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