Christmas shopping appears less exciting this year

December 21, 2011

Mangalore, December 21: A walk through the Market road in Mangalore gives you a feel of the Christmas season. Several shops with Christmas decorations attract onlookers by their colourful appearance and shinny appeal. Almost every shop in that stretch of the road sells Christmas decorations or appears ready for Christmas with its decor.

Even if the street appears all set for the Christmas season, there is not much of a Christmas shopping happening there in terms of decorations compared to previous year. Most of them appear to be occupied with their every day shopping while shopkeepers try to clear the dust covering the display of Christmas trees and decorations.

The recent fad of Christmas Caps has driven huge production, making them available on the streets. Women and young children are found knocking at car windows, trying to convince people in buying them. In front of Ideal's Ice Cream parlour and Laxmi Cloth Stores at Hampankkatta, a small table is placed with a big bunch of Santa caps being sold. Another man sits a little ahead at the point of crossing, with Santa Caps and Masks.

Several shops at City Centre and Bharath Mall are decorated for Christmas. They look hopeful and ready for increased sales through discounts and offers. Even though people happen to be shopping for the season, there appears to be no additional shoppers than usual.

This scenario makes you wonder where the thrill and excitement about Christmas disappeared.

Ria Albuquerque, a resident of Pandeshwar says that the spirit of Christmas is slowly fading. “Earlier, people used to be excited about the whole season. Now they are just worried of what they are going to wear for Christmas and the numerous weddings that happen during the week”, she says.

Speaking about lesser enthusiasm among the people in sending Christmas cards these days, she adds “When we were kids, we used buy stacks of Christmas cards to send it to our relatives and friends. This happens to be missing over the years. There is hardly anyone who still wishes people by send cards”.

There is however a tremendous increase in one part of Christmas shopping amongst the people; shopping of “Kuswar” or Christmas Sweets. The preparation of Christmas sweets used to be one of the main attractions of the season. Not only the women at home, but men and children used to join in the preparation. Due to most people's hectic schedule and tiring days, there are very few who still continue preparing sweets at home and most of them prefer to buy them from bakeries and stores.

Owner of a famous local bakery informs that there has been growing demand for Christmas sweets every year and has heightened this year. “It is highly difficult to meet the demands”, he says. “Before, we had to work overtime as we did not know how to go about it. We are now better prepared to handle the situation”, he adds.

Christmas season was an eagerly awaited time of the year. Be it the young or the old, it was a celebrity of various kinds for all. This appears to be changing over the years and surprisingly four days ahead of Christmas, only Market road seems to be lit up!

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coastaldigest.com web desk
June 5,2020

Mangaluru, June 5: A local businessman was hacked to death while two of his relatives suffered critical injuries in a broad daylight attack by a group of miscreants at Mulki on the outskirts of the city today.

The victim has been identified as Abdul Lateef (38). He was proprieter of Align Gold, Moodbidri. His wife is an advocate in Moodbidri. 

Abdul Lateef's father-in-law Muneer and latter's son Hayat suffered stab injuries. They are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mangaluru. 

The attack took place near the Vijaya Bank in Mulki. 

According to sources, a gang of miscreants stabbed all three. While Abudl Lateef succumbed to his injuries, the other two are responding to the treatment. 

Police have registered a case. Investigations are on. 

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News Network
April 20,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 20: As many as 59 people were arrested on Monday for attacking police and health officials at the minority dominated Padarayanapura in the city when they went to quarantine some people, police said.

"Fifty-nine people have been arrested (in Padarayanapura) and have been taken into custody. The people attacked the officials who had gone to quarantine some poeple who were the primary and secondary contacts of three COVID-19 patients," a police officer said.

A large number of people, mostly youth from the minority community poured on to the road on Sunday and thrashed the health workers who had gone to quarantine some people who were the primary and secondary contacts of the health workers.

The officials were allegedly beaten black and blue.

Some local residents who went to the rescue of these officials were also thrashed.

According to police, one among the arrested is a woman by name Firoza who had allegedly instigated the mob to attack the health and police officials.

Subsequently, a large number of police personnel were deployed in the area to avert any untoward incident and to quarantine those who are suspected to be infected with COVID- 19.

Blowing sirens, a strong contingent of policemen carried out a flag march in the area.

The Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao later called on Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and briefed him about the situation in Padayarayanapura.

The violent incident drew angry reactions from various quarters.

Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said an incident like the one at Padayarayanapura will not be tolerated.

"I met Chief Minister and briefed him about the incident. He has told us to act strictly. I have told the same to my officials. We won't tolerate such acts by anyone. We have arrested 59 people. Five FIRs have been registered," the minister told reporters.

Bommai, who visited the area took the senior police officials to task for not being present on the spot when the incident took place.

"Where were you? What were you doing when the incident happened?" he questioned a senior police officer.

"We will demonstrate to the people what is containment zone, what is seal down and what is police action," he said.

Condemning the incident, Health Minister B Srimulu warned those who indulged in such activities.

"The inhuman act of attacking police and health workers in Padarayanapura is highly deplorable. Our government will take appropriate step against those indulging in the attack on health officials and police officials who had gone there to protect them," he tweeted.

BJP's firebrand MP Shobha Karandlaje reacted sharply.

"Seculars attack #CoronaWarriors when they were quarantining the secondary contacts of #Covid19 in Padarayanapura of BLR. While #HealthcareHeroes are working overnight to contain #CoronaPandemic, these morons are assaulting our heroes! Let's not be soft on these anti- nationals!" Karandlaje tweeted.

Meanwhile, the minority leaders called on Congress state president D K Shivakumar to persuade the people of the minority community to assist in identifying the COVID-19 patients or carriers.

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy too condemned the attack and demanded stringent action against the culprits.

The Congress MLA from the area B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan while condemning the incident, sought to know why the health workers and police officials went to the area late in the night and not in the morning.

"Why did the police and the health workers go in the night when I had told the BBMP Commissioner that I will take them at 10 am?" Khan told reporters.

Defending those who attacked the government officials, Khan said they were uneducated labourers who didn't know what they were doing.

Padarayanapura and Bapuji Nagar were among the first areas to be completely sealed as people were not abiding by the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.

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News Network
January 25,2020

Udupi, Jan 25: The accused, who planted a crude bomb at the Mangalore International Airport on January 20, was brought to Udupi on Saturday, to collect information, as part of the spot investigation, police said here.

According to police officials, accused Aditya Rao was brought to Karnataka Bank Kadiyali branch, where Rao had a Safe Locker. The team opened the locker and seized the documents, along with a Box.

They said the seized documents, along with the Box, will be sent to the FSL for investigation.

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