Udupi Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa has barred the entry of Bajrang Dal Mangaluru unit convener Puneet Attavar and activist Narasimha Mani, who is accused in a murder case, into Udupi district for a period of three months ending in the second week of November. The order has been passed to maintain law and order and for public safety, Ms. Swaroopa said.Mr. Attavar was the keynote speaker in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Kaup unit’s Akhand Bharat Torch Light procession to be held in Shirva on Friday. Mr. Mani was keynote speaker in a similar programme organised by Hindu Jagaran Vedike’s Belman unit in Karkala Rural police station limits on Thursday.In the order, Ms. Swaroopa referred to the report of Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar wherein it was stated that Mr. Attavar, in the past, had delivered speeches that incited communal passions and fights among communities. Mr. Attavar violates the law and continues to be involved in acts that incite communal hatred. The report mentions seven cases registered against Mr. Attavar in Mangaluru city and Udupi district police stations.Similar charges are made against Narasimha Mani, who is accused in nine criminal cases, including one registered in 2017 in Vitla police station of Dakshina Kannada wherein he is facing a murder charge. In light of Udupi district being communally sensitive, Mr. Attavar and Mr. Mani cannot be allowed to make speeches in the next three months during Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishna Janmashtami and other public celebration events, the report said.The Udupi DC has barred Mr. Attavar from entering Udupi district between August 14 and November 13. Mr. Mani has been barred from entering the district between August 13 and November 12.Condemning the order, VHP Mangaluru Division Secretary Shivanand Mendon, in a statement, asked the Udupi Deputy Commissioner to withdraw it. The torchlight programme is to highlight the dark days of partition, the sacrifices of freedom fighters, and to instil patriotic fervour in the youth. The programme has no element of creating communal division. Without knowing the true intention of the programme, the Udupi DC has passed the order, Mr. Mendon said. Published - August 13, 2026 09:19 pm IST