Three years after 'no more' report, parents still wait for their missing son

[email protected] (CD Network)
June 13, 2012

Kasargod, June 13: More than three years after the mysterious disappearance of a Kasargod based sailor on board a merchant vessel, a committee has been formed to press the authorities to launch a high level enquiry into issue.

A meeting held here on Tuesday has decided to formally commence their struggle demanding justice for the parents of Pradeep Raj (26) – who allegedly jumped off the Panama-registered MV El Eltanin, which was sailing towards China from the United States three years ago– on June 23 through a public meeting.

raj

Pradeep Raj

Continued wait

The poor elderly couple- Nagesha Chettiyar and his wife- are under shock since last three years, have been running from pillar to post to find out what happened to their bread winner son.

They have been knocking on all possible doors - right from those of their local legislator to those of senior ministers in the state and the central government - and have also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for help.

Residing in a small house at Kudlu near here, they are shedding tears quietly recalling their last telephone conversations with Raj. “He had called us on April 6, 2009 just before the ship set sail from Panama to China with a 22-member crew that included 13 Indians. He again called us, and also his sister who lives in Dubai, when the ship reached Hawaii on April 24. He sounded very cheerful. He was planning to do a course to become a Fifth Engineer. He was a brilliant student who passed his diploma course (mechanical) with distinction,” recalls Chettiyar.

parents

Grief stricken parents of Pradeep Raj

A few days later, i.e. on May 2 and 3, they received two telegrams from his recruiting agency, Mumbai-based Marlow Navigation India Pvt Ltd, saying that Raj is missing. Subsequently, in the last week of June in the same year, they received a report saying that Pradeep is no more.

“The report is vague. It says Pradeep jumped into the water. It says there are no witnesses,” says a grief-stricken Chettiyar couple who are not ready to believe that their son is dead.

Though the couple have requested the Shipping Minister and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister, among others, to take the initiative to find the whereabouts of their son, there has been no breakthrough in the case so far.

“I was informed that the government had asked the company to re-investigate the matter. However, our wait has still continued,” Chettiyar said. “Because of the anxiety, we don't get sleep at night. My wife is suffering from stress and is taking sleeping pills.”


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News Network
March 3,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 3: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Tuesday issued guidelines to its employees, as per advisory issued by World Health Organisation (WHO), to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"The BMTC has provided general information on the topic and SOPs for daily life and operations to our employees as per advisory issued by the WHO. The corporation has started a communication campaign about Coronavirus indicating its characteristics, known ways of infection and recommended preventive measures. This information was distributed to the staff, drivers and conductors through Whatsapp, pamphlet and email," informed BMTC.

"The information was also distributed through pamphlets at bus stations. An awareness campaign is being taken up by sharing relevant information through social media," it added.

The BMTC further said that the circular was issued to create awareness among the cleaning personnel who work in depots.

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News Network
May 21,2020

Bengaluru, May 21: With temples yet to open for devotees as coronavirus restrictions are in place, the Karnataka government is preparing for live streaming of sevas (service) and poojas offered to deities at temples that comes under the state's Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Department.

The government has also decided to develop an app and web-based software with an intention to provide information to devotees regarding temples, also to facilitate online donations and advance booking for various sevas offered there.

Regarding online live streaming, Commissioner of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Department has written to the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts and Executive Officers seeking a list of temples that comes under their jurisdiction where such facility can be provided.

"It has been intended to do online live streaming of sevas and pooja rituals at temples that come under the department in the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis. In this regard it is requested to provide a list of temples where online live facility can be provided to devotees, by abiding the traditions and practices of the temple," the letter said.

Though the temples are holding daily poojas and rituals, they are not open to public for now, with COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions in place.

Officials had recently had stated that the department was planning to have a standard operating procedure (SOP) in place, that needs to be followed at temples in a post lockdown scenario, once they are opened for the public.

There are over 34,000 temples in the state that come under the department.

Meanwhile, in another letter to DCs of 15 districts, also Executive officers and administrators of 'A' grade temples, aimed at development of app and web-based software, the Commissioner has sought information regarding sevas offered at temples in their jurisdictions and those sevas for which option can be provided for devotees to do advance booking.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 19,2020

Udupi, May 19: Within minutes after health and family welfare department announced four fresh covid-19 cases in Udupi district, a girl who had come from central part of Karnataka tested positive for the coronavirus thereby taking the count of cases detected after last evening to five. 

With this the total number of confirmed covid-19 cases in the district rose to 16. Three among them have recovered. One patient died last week. There are 12 active cases. 

According to sources, the 17-year-old girl from Chitradurga had visited KMC hospital in Manipal for cancer treatment on May 16. 

Her throat swabs were sent for corona testing on the following day. Today she obtained a positive report. Hence, she was shifted to Dr TMA Pai Covid hospital.

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