Freed from ISIS captivity, Fr Tom meets priests in Bengaluru

Agencies
September 29, 2017

Bengaluru, Sept 29: Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was freed after being kept in captivity suspectedly by the ISIS for 18 months in strife-torn Yemen, today reached Bengaluru, where he met priests of his religious order.

"I thank God almighty. I thank everybody in the name of Jesus," Uzhunnalil, who had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday, told reporters at the airport here after arriving from Delhi.

The 59-year-old Catholic priest had returned to Delhi yesterday after rest and recuperation in the Vatican City.

Uzhunnalil belongs to the Congregation of Salesians of Don Bosco and was abducted reportedly during a terrorist attack in Aden and taken to an undisclosed place.

He was welcomed by Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and several priests, besides Christian leaders at the airport.

After his arrival, he was driven to Don Bosco Provincial House where he was welcomed by Father Jose Koyickal, the Vice Provincial of Bengaluru Province.

He also attended a meeting at St.John's Medical College and Hospital.

Uzhunnalil reached Yemen in 2010 and was serving the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity of St. Mother Teresa and the catholic population there.

"I do not know how to thank God. He made it possible. My mind is clear. I thank the Almighty. I thank the government of India, of various other countries.

"The Hindu brothers who worshipped for my well-being, the Muslim brothers who prayed to Allah for my safety. I now belong to entire world," Uzhunnalil had told reporters in Delhi yesterday.

The priest had met the prime minister and the external affairs minister and thanked them for their support.

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News Network
March 1,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 1: A Bengaluru Court has extended the judicial custody of Amulya Leona, who raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan at an anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru's Freedom Park on Feb 20, till March 5.

Amulya was sent to 14-day judicial custody for her actions in the presence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

A sedition case has been registered against Amulya.

According to the police, a suo moto case under Section 124A (sedition), 153A and B (promoting enmity between different groups and imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) have been registered against the girl.

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News Network
February 27,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 27: The Centre has adopted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of "Make in India', for India and the world" to build strong defence and security infrastructure in the country, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after inaugurating the new Light Combat Helicopter Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Complex here on Thursday.

According to an official statement, the Defence Minister said in the last five years, India has made significant progress towards manufacturing military equipment indigenously under the 'Make in India' initiative.

Stressing that the defence industry plays a major role in the economic development of the country, Singh lauded the significant contribution of organisations like HAL.

Highlighting the Rs 35,000 crore exports target set for the coming years, he expressed confidence that HAL, through its various platforms, will contribute significantly to achieve this milestone.

According to the statement, Rajnath Singh commended HAL for being the backbone of the Indian Air Force and meeting the requirements of the Armed Forces.

"The HAL has excelled both in operations and finance in the last five years. It has achieved operational clearance on seven platforms, including Light Combat Aircraft and Light Combat Helicopter, and overhauled platforms like Hawk and SU 30 MKI," he said.

He also appreciated that HAL had a turnover of Rs 19,705 crore till March 2019 and it gave shareholders a healthy dividend of 198 per cent.

HAL also apprised the Defence Minister on the progress of the new design and development programme of indigenous Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), the statement informed.

The full-scale mock-up was showcased to Rajnath Singh. The IMRH is proposed as a replacement to the existing medium-lift helicopters such as Mi17's, Kamovs and Seakings which will phase out in the next eight to ten years.

LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL. It is powered by two Shakti engines and inherits many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter. LCH has the distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen, 4,700 mts above sea level with 500kg load.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 21,2020

Udupi, June 21: A graduation student, who had attempted suicide two weeks ago under depression following the postponement of examinations due to covid-19, breathed his last at a private hospital yesterday. 

The deceased has been identified as Shakuntala, a final year degree student of First Grade College, Muniyal. She was a resident of Mathibettu near Vagranga in Hebri taluk. 

According to sources, she had studied hard to clear the examinations. The postponement of examinations led her to depression.  

She consumed poison at her house on June 8. She was immediately rushed to Manipal hospital where she breathed her last on June 20. A case has been registered in Hebri Police Station. 

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