SC directs Hadiya’s father to produce her before it on Nov 27

Mangaluru, May 15: In a shocking development, five residents of Udupi district, who recently came from United Arab Emirates today tested positive for covid-19.

As many as 49 passengers among over 175 repatriates who were brought from Dubai to Mangaluru International Airport on May 12 were from Udupi district.

Hence they were quarantined in Udupi district and their throat swabs were sent for testing on the same day. Today, five of them obtained positive report. They were today shifted to TMA Pai covid-hospital from their hotel rooms.

Belagavi, Feb 24: Almost a month after a soldier was reported missing following a trip to Gokak's Godchinamalaki falls, his wife and her lover - who was her car driver - were arrested in Belagavi for his murder.

Police said the accused, Prashant Patil, and two friends tried to throw Deepak Pattanadara, 32, off a cliff after slitting his throat. Deepak's wife, Anjali, had registered a missing case with police on February 4, saying her husband had gone on a trip with friends on January 28 and hadn't returned.

In a twist, Deepak's elder brother lodged a complaint at the same police station, alleging that Anjali was behind the disappearance.

Anjali and Prashant, both 26, were arrested on Saturday while Prashant's two friends are absconding. Deepak's decomposed body has been recovered.

Deepak, who was posted in Delhi and was on the verge of retirement after 14 years in the army, had suspected his wife's alleged affair, police said. He'd bought a car for Anjali in 2019, and since he was home only twice a year, he hired Prashant as the driver. Anjali and Prashant grew close but when Deepak asked Anjali about the affair, she denied it outright.

When Deepak came home during vacation, the duo planned to eliminate him, police said.

Vijayapura, June 18: Shoukat Ali Sumbad, a local farmer, has donated land for the construction of Chennamma memorial, modelled on the Kittur fort, at Sindagi town in Vijayapura to celebrate the town's connect with the valorous Lingayat queen who fought the British in 1824.

Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swamiji of Lingayat Panchamasali Peetha Kudala Sangam said Shoukat Ali came forward to donate his land adjacent to the state highway when local authorities failed to provide land for the memorial. 

"The committee led by Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Swamiji sought a 15x10 plot but when I went through their plan of constructing a model of Kittur fort, I decided to donate 425 sq ft," said the 61-year-old farmer. 

"Rani Chennamma is the pride of every Indian, irrespective of caste and creed, and my contribution is nothing compared to her sacrifice for the nation," he added.

Shoukat Ali, who lives in the neighbouring town of Almel, said he is a man of modest means but proud to make the contribution. "I own nine acres of land in Almel. I have six sons and two daughters. Two of my sons run small businesses in Mumbai. Ten of us live in a small house in Almel," he said.

“I also work as a broker to sell or buy sites. I had bought 15 guntas of land in Sindagi for my children some 15 years ago. When our MLA MC Managuli and Swamiji sought land for the memorial, my entire family agreed wholeheartedly” Shoukat Ali said.

“As Chennamma’s history is linked to Sindagi, there has been a demand for a memorial here since 2008, but the town municipal council failed to provide land due to political and technical reasons,” said Swamiji. 

“There were plans to observe a Sindagi bandh in the first week of June to protest the indifference of authorities. But then Sumbad gave us his land. We have formed a committee to construct a model of Kittur fort and a bronze statue of Chennamma at a cost of Rs 28 lakh,” he added.