1. Home
  2. Udupi couple tell of Libya nightmare after safe return

Udupi couple tell of Libya nightmare after safe return

March 6, 2011

CL11

Udupi, March 6: “It's a war like situation indeed…We had to simply evacuate behind everything we earned…” This is how Dr Giridhar Kamath and his wife Dr Vrinda Kamath, the professor couple, who returned their home in Udupi safely, last Saturday from conflict-torn Libya expressed their frustration and helplessness.

The couple had been to Libya along with their only daughter Ashwini, who is now a four year old cute girl.

The husband and wife were serving as professors of Prostodontics and Forensic Medicine respectively at the Sebha University Medical College, in Sebha, a semi urban area loyal to Libyan Strongman Muammar Qadafi, since October 2009.

“The situation there was literally terrifying. Even the small boys were made to handle the light machine guns with live cartridges. Truckloads of armed men were on a route march firing in air”, said Dr Vrinda.

“While coming back, we were forced to cough up four times, for Libyan Dinar to US currency conversion”, she said.

Dr Giridhar said: “Last week Indian Embassy asked us to get ready to leave Libya. In a hurry we could not get the official channels for money conversion. We were forced to do that in a black market. In the process we lost all that we earned in the last one and a half year”

He said, “In fact pro Qadafi men are ruling the Sebha. They are supplied with guns to shoot at sight the traitors or anti Qadafi citizens. They are conducting routine night checks and surprise checks on the houses”.

The Libian government announced an incentive of 500 Libyan Dinar per head, to the Libian citizens working for the government. Likewise, their home rentals (government provides homes to government servants on rental basis) were also waived off. Government's that move scared us and we decided to leave, he added.

Dr Giridhar also said that they do not have plans to return to Libya, even if the situation returns to normal, as they were on a two years contract.

Replying a question Vrinda also said that Dr Shanawaz Manippadi and Dr Abdul Sattar from Mangalore were also living in Sebha.

“Shanavaz had come back home on a vacation and as soon as the violence erupted we informed him not to return to Libya. Abdul Sattar returned to India in the same flight we returned”, she added.

6giridha

CL12

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 15,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 15: The new Karnataka Minister for Forest Anand Singh on Friday said that he is ready for 'change in the portfolio' as opposition parties are leveling charges against Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for appointing him, despite having 15 cases registered under Forest Act against him.

"If Chief Minister wants to change my portfolio, I am ready," he added.

Speaking to newsmen here, he said that there are 15 cases pending against him. The Legislator from Vijayanagara in Mine rich Ballari district said anyone can go through the Chargesheets and find out whether there are any direct charges against him. Claiming that the cases against him were 'minor violations', he had earlier linked them to traffic violations by a vehicle owner.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
April 25,2020

New Delhi, Apr 25: Karnataka Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday said that a journalist from Bangalore Urban, who has tested positive for COVID-19, is one out of 15 new cases reported in the state.

He further said that out of the 15 new coronavirus cases, six each are from Bangalore Urban and Belagavi and one each from Mandya, Chikkaballapura and Dakshin Kannada. The state's tally is now 489.

"#COVID19 Update: From 5 pm, 24th April till 12 noon today. A total of 489 cases, 15 positives, 18 deaths & 183 discharges," Sudhakar tweeted.

India's total number of coronavirus positive cases has climbed to 24,506 including 18,668 active cases, 5,063 cured/discharged/migrated and 775 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said today.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
March 5,2020

Mar 5: The Karnataka government on Thursday proposed to increase rate of tax on petrol and diesel by three per cent which would make the fuel dearer by Rs 1.60 and Rs 1.59 per litre, respectively.

Presenting the 2020-21 budget in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa proposed to increase rate of tax on petrol from 32 per cent to 35 per cent and diesel from 21 per cent to 24 per cent, as part of additional resource mobilisation measures.

Yediyurappa, who also holds the finance portfolio, increased excise duty on Indian Made Liquor (KML) across 18 slabs by six per cent.

However, to promote affordable housing, the government proposed to reduce stamp duty on first time registration of new apartments/flats costing less than Rs 20 lakh from existing five per cent to two per cent.

This is the first budget of the BJP government after coming to power last year; it's the seventh presented by Yediyurappa.

"For the year 2020-21, a total amount of Rs 55,732 crore is provided for stimulating economic growth sector", the Chief Minister said.

He said the revenue collection target for the Commercial Taxes department for the year 2020-21 is fixed at Rs 82,443 crore.

Stating the government had fixed a revenue target of Rs 20,950 crore for the excise department for the year 2019- 20, he said at the end of February Rs 19,701 crore had been collected.

"We hope to achieve the budget target."

He also hoped with the increase in rates and effective enforcement and regulatory measures, the Excise department would be achieving the target of Rs 22,700 crore fixed for the financial year 2020-21.

On the transport sector, Yediyurappa said it is proposed to levy motor vehicle tax on contract carriages having seating capacity to carry more than 12 passengers, but not more than 20 passengers at the rate of Rs 900 per seat per quarter.

He said it is also proposed to levy vehicle tax on new model sleeper coaches which are granted permits under section 88 (9) of MV Act 1988 at the rate of Rs 4,000 per sleeper per quarter.

Noting that a target of Rs 7,100 crore revenue collection is expected to be achieved in 2019-20 in transport sector, he said for 2020-21 revenue collection target has been fixed at Rs 7,115 crore.

He said the revenue collection target for 2019-20 under stamps and registration was fixed at Rs 11,828 crore and against this Rs 10,248 crore has been collected till the end of February 2020 which is 87 per cent of full year target.

While the revenue collection target for 2020-21 under stamps and registration is fixed at Rs 12,655 crore.

Comments

Add new comment

About text formats
  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.