Reflections 2015: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi

executive@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)

January 1, 2016

Mangaluru/Udupi: As another year goes by, leaving with us many fond as well as disturbing memories, we take a look at some of the important events and incidents of the year 2015 in twin districts of coastal Karnataka.

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January

New Top Cops for Mangaluru, Udupi

Senior IPS officer S Murugan was transferred from Karnataka State Industrial Security Force and posted as the new Commissioner of Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate on January 1. He replaced R Hithendra, who was posted as Inspector-General of Police (Police Headquarters). Along with Mr. Hithendra, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K.V. Jagadeesh also was transferred. He was replaced by K. Santosh Babu.

On the other hand K Annamalai, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Karkala Sub Division, was promoted and posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) of Udupi district on January 1.

9-year-old boy killed by 15-year-old neighbour

A Class 4 boy, who went missing after leaving his home at Kota in Kundapur taluk on January 10, was found dead in a well under mysterious circumstances two days later. Police retrieved the body of Sughosh Adiga (9) from a well at Bannadi-Upladi area with the help of local residents and fire personnel and sent it for post mortem. According to police he was accidentally murdered by his 15-year-old neighbour, who later threw the dead body into a well.

Togadia, Kalladka Bhat provoke people

In spite warning by the Dakshina Kannada district administration and the presence of around 1,500 policemen and Rapid Action Force personnel at the venue, speakers at theVirat Hindu Hrudaya Sangama' crossed the limits and apparently mocked and abused non-Hindu Indians.

Thousands of Sangh Parivar activists had gathered at the Mahalingeshwara Temple grounds in Puttur on January 16 to get “guidance” from Vishwa Hindu Parishad's International Working President Dr Praveen Togadia and RSS Kshetreeya Sampark Pramukh Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.

Padma Shri awards for Heggade, Pai

Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade and IT honcho T V Mohandas Pai are two among the seven persons from Karnataka chosen for the prestigious Padma Awards. Heggade was conferred with Padma Vibhushan while Pai was given Padma Shri in New Delhi on January 26. BJP patriarch L.K. Advani, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar were also among the nine Padma Vibhushan awardees, the second highest civilian award of the country.

February

Christian prayer hall attacked

A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat accused Mother Theresa of converting people into Christianity in the pretext of service, miscreants targeted a place of worship belonging to Christians on the outskirts of Mangaluru. St Joseph Vaz worship centre located at Panir near Deralakatte in Mangaluru taluk was attacked by miscreants in the last week of February.

March

Mangaluru gets new Mayor

As expected Jacintha Vijay Alfred of the Congress was elected Mayor of Mangaluru City. Purushottam Chithrapura was elected her deputy.In the mayoral election, held on Corporation on March 12 they defeated the BJP candidates. The post was reserved for woman candidate. The Opposition BJP in the council had fielded Roopa D Bangera as mayoral candidate.

Sexual abuse of nursery girl

A tense situation had prevailed in Thokkottu and Ullal localities of Mangaluru taluk a three-and-half year-old girl was sexually abused by a school van driver on March 13. The girl, a nursery student of Mangalore One School, located near Thokkottu, was allegedly raped inside a school van by the driver, putting the spotlight back on rising incidents of sexual abuse of school-going minors across the country.Widespread protests were held in Mangaluru demanding the closure of school.

Immoral police stop college trip

In mid March a group of hate-mongers belonging to Sangh Parivar pelted stones at a bus and local residents after forcing a degree college at a village in Mangaluru taluk to cancel its scheduled educational tour citing the presence of Muslim boys in the bus. The students and lecturers of Government First Grade College, Mudipu, on the outskirts of Mangaluru, were in for a rude shock evening as a gang owning allegiance to Hindutva outfits waylaid their bus and warned against continuing their journey together.

April

Accident victim's liver taken to Bengaluru

The police in Mangaluru on a busy Monday evening (April 13) stretched themselves to create a traffic-free corridor. For once, it was not for a VVIP but for a harvested organ of an accident victim that had to reach Bengaluru within 45 minutes for transplantation. The efforts proved successful. The box containing the liver of accident victim Jeevan Vijay Fernandez, reached the Mangalore International Airport within the stipulated time. A special flight is airlifting the heart to Bengaluru.

May

First phase of Varahi project launched

The first phase of the Varahi lift irrigation project across Varahi River at Hole Shankaranarayana in Udupi district was formally inaugurated by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah May 4. The foundation stone for the project was laid 35 years ago by then chief minister Gundu Rao. The entire Varahi Irrigation Project is expected to be completed in next two years.

June

College girl found dead near temple

A college-going minor girl was found dead under suspicious circumstances near a temple in the forest area of Henberu village in Udupi district on Udupi, June 17. The deceased was Akshata Devadiga (17), daughter of Babu and Radha Devadiga residents of Henberu village. She was pursuing her II PU science at a junior college in Byndoor.

July

Mudslide kills three labourers

In a heart-wrenching tragedy, three migrant labourers were buried alive while a fourth was shifted to a hospital in a critical condition after a large chunk of clay fell on them at a construction site at Farangipet in Bantwal taluk on the outskirts of the city on July 14. The victims were identified as Milon, Thorikol and Maiminol, all natives of West Bengal.

Bajrang Dal activists storm mosque

A group of trouble-mongers owing allegiance to Sangh Parivar stormed a mosque on July 17 morning at Kokkada village under the limits of Uppinangady police station in Dakshina Kannada district and assaulted a physically challenged youth before leaving the spot. The attack took place at around 6 a.m. when only Kalanadar (27), a physically challenged local youth and few children were present in the Badria Juma Masjid. Others had left the mosque after praying Fajr namaz in congregation.

August

Don Bannanje brought to Udupi

Underworld don Bannanje Raja, who was extradited to India from Morocco was finally brought to Udupi on August 15 in connection with the murder of Ankola businessman R N?Nayak. He is being tried in only 16 of the 44 cases he is said to be involved in. The Nayak murder case of 2013 formed the basis for the Moroccan government to extradite him. The case is being tried under KCOCA (The Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act, 2000).

Muslim youth stripped, tied and thrashed

In a shocking incident, a few dozens of activists swearing allegiance to a saffron outfit assaulted a Muslim youth in broad daylight in the heart of the city on August 24, for accompanying a woman belonging to Hindu community. 28-year-old Shakir, a manager of a super market had to spend several days on hospital bed after the brutal assault by the goons.

Killer Bhuvith Shetty released within hours

Bhuvith Shetty, a Bajrang Dal leader from Bantwal taluk was arrested by police a day after he openly justified the assassination of a veteran scholar of Karnataka and issued a veiled terror attack threat against another rationalist thinker. He was arrested on charge of posting provocative comments on twitter on August 31. However, he was released after a couple of hours. (Same person murdered a Hindu youth in Bantwal in November)

September

Jokatte activists held for blocking MSEZ work

A group of activists including Democratic Youth Federation of India State president Muneer Katipalla were arrested on September 3 when they staged a protest against Mangalore Special Economic Zone at Jokatte in Mangaluru taluk. In two months this was for the second time anti-pollution activists being arrested by jurisdictional Surathkal police on charge of obstructing the MSEZ authorities from carrying out work on a corridor road in Jokatte.

Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway blocked

For the first time after several years in Dakshina Kannada district, people of all religions and communities on September 15 joined their hands together for a cause and brought the ever-busy Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway to a standstill by holding a massive protest at Uppinangdy. The work on the about Rs 13,000 crore project had started in September at Sakleshpur in Hassan district, which had been opposed by politicians, local people and environmentalists, saying it would dry up the Nethravati river here, the lifeline of Dakshina Kannada district.

The activists who have been opposing the Yettinahole river diversion project held a series of protest in September. Former minister and Chikkaballapur MP M Veerappa Moily was gheraoed by the people several times.

October

Teen raped and murdered by villager

A teenage girl was found raped and murdered at Karikodlu near Kundapur on October 1. The victim was Suchitra Naik (19), daughter of Govind Naik, a local resident. Within hours after the dead body was recovered, police managed to arrest Manikanta (26), who raped and murdered the girl. The arrested thwarted the attempt of saffron outfits to give communal tinge to the incident.

Bajrang Dal activist murdered in Moodbidri

A gang of six miscreants on October 9 brutally murdered a Bajrang Dal activist near his flower shop at Moodbidri on the outskirts of Mangaluru. Massive protests were held by saffron outfits demanding the arrest of killers of Prashant Poojary (29), who had also involved in a few petty cases. Police have registered cases against 17 persons in connection with this murder. Already 10 persons have been arrested.

Manipal gang-rapists sentenced to life

Nearly two–and-a-half-years after a medical student and was abducted in an auto-rickshaw and gang-raped in Manipal, three accused in the case were sentenced to life. The Udupi District and Sessions Court on October 15 convicted the three persons to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1.10 lakh each. The three convicted persons are Yogish Poojary, Hariprasad Poojary and Ananda.

November

Madoor Isubu, Ganesh Shetty murdered in jail

Madooru Isubu and Ganesh Shetty, the two under-trials lodged in Mangaluru jail were hacked to death by a rival gang on November 2. The incident raised security concerns in the prison and many under trials were shifted to different jails. According to police weapons were thrown over the jail wall by rival gang to execute the murder.

Murder, bandh, violence by Saffron outfits

Saffron outfits forcefully imposed a bandh across Dakshina Kannada district on November 13, a day after a group of miscreants brutally murdered a youth belonging to Hindu community and attempted to murder his Muslim friend when the two were returning from work place in Bantwal taluk.

The Sangh Parivar blamed Muslim outfits for the murder and staged violent protests across the district on the day of bandh violating prohibitory orders.Later it came to light that the murder was committed by Bajrang Dal leader Bhuvith Shetty and his associates in order to disrupt peace in the society.

Naushad Kashimji murders convicted

The third Additional District and Sessions Court, here on November 25 convicted five persons of hatching a murder plot and murdering Mangaluru based reputed city-based advocate in 2009. Two other accused charged with the same offences were acquitted of all charges against them. Naushad Kashimji, who was known as the most successful criminal lawyer human rights advocate in Mangaluru, was shot dead outside his apartment in the city on April 9, 2009.

December

‘Dilwale' stopped; activist threatened

Activists of Bajrang Dal on December 20 evening tried to raid three multiplexes and theaters across Mangaluru to stop the screening of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dilwale. The reason for the agitation was the statement made by the King Khan against rising 'intolerance' in India last month. Dozens of Bajrang Dal supporters on social media threatened to rape and murder a Mangaluru based woman activist when she raised voice against Bajrang Dal activist for forcefully stopping the screening of the film.

Poojary, Shetty retain MLC seats

Despite facing rebellion within the party, Congress candidate Pratapchandra Shetty has retained his Legislative Council seat along with Bharatiya Janata Party's Kota Srinivas Poojary in Dakshina Kannada local authority constituency which also comprises of Udupi district. While Srinivas, former minister breezed through securing 2,977 first preferential votes out of the 6,534 votes cast, Pratapchandra bagged 2,237 first preferential votes to make it past the post.

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AIE flight crash brings back memories of 2010 Mangaluru crash

coastaldigest.com news network

August 8,2020

Mangaluru, Aug 8: As visuals of the Air India Express flight crash at Kozhikode international airport emerge, one cannot help but be reminded of an eerily similar and unfortunate accident that occurred a decade ago. The August 7, 2020 tragedy brought back memories of the 2010 crash.

It was on May 22, 2010 that an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 flight from Dubai to Mangaluru over shot the runway while landing at Bajpe airport and fell into a cliff. Of the 160 passengers and 6 crew members on board, 158 were killed (all crew members and 152 passengers) and only 8 survived.

Even back then, the plane had split into two. The crash has been termed as one of India's worst aviation disasters.

The final conversations between Air traffic control (ATC) and the pilot prior to the landing showed no indication of any distress.

Like the Mangaluru accident, Karipur crash too happened when the flight was attempting to land.

The captain of the aircraft which crashed at Mangaluru, Z Glucia, was an experienced pilot with 10,000 hours of flying experience and had 19 landings at the Mangalore airport. Co-pilot S S Ahluwalia, with 3,000 hours of flying experience had as many as 66 landings at this airport. Both the pilot and co-pilot were among the victims.

An investigation into the accident later found that the cause of the accident was the captain’s failure to discontinue an ‘unstabilised approach’ and his persistence to continue with the landing, despite three calls from the First Officer to ‘go-around’.

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As border closure hits medicine supply, three activists in Mangaluru turn Good Samaritans for Kerala patients

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April 13,2020

Mangaluru: The Karnataka-Kerala border closure at Talapady amidst nationwide Covid-19 lockdown has not only prevented the movement of vehicles and people from Kasaragod to Mangaluru but also stopped the supply of life-saving drugs from Karnataka’s medical hub to its bordering district.

Hundreds of people from Kasaragod and Kannur districts who were treated in hospitals of Mangaluru for past several years are still dependent on some of the medicines that are available only in Mangaluru. Such medicines have become inaccessible for Keralites following the border closure. Every day, a number of people from Kerala call their acquaintances in Mangaluru to see if there is a way to get medicine.

In fact, Karnataka government has blocked all 23 roads that connect the state with Kerala. The reason given was, Kasaragod is the hotbed of coronavirus and allowing traffic even in emergency cases might lead to spread of Covid-19 in border districts of Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Mysuru. The attitude has resulted in the death of around a dozen people in Kasaragod district in last couple of weeks.

Even after the intervention of the Supreme Court a few days ago, the authorities in Karnataka are facing the allegation of being hostile either by blocking the way ahead or turning a deaf ear to the patients reaching their border.

At this juncture, three Good Samaritans – P K G Anoop Kumar of Canara Engineering College, Mangaluru, Satheesh Shetty of Kasaragod Patla and P Jayaprakash of Ponnangala – have come to the aid of the Malayalee patients who are dependent on medicines from Mangaluru.

The three activists who are currently staying (in fact stranded amidst lockdown) in Mangaluru, are delivering life-saving medicines to patients in Kerala through Kerala fire servicemen and policemen posted at the Talapady border.

Anoop Kumar says that took the initiative after a woman, Maria Augustine from Chemberi (Taliparamba) Nellikkutty, contacted him for a medicine. He managed to buy it from a medical store in the port city and handed it over to a Kerala fire serviceman at Talapady border.

All three are activists of Communist Party of India (Marxist). After moving to Mangaluru, they set up ‘We Donate Charitable Society’ to donate blood. The activists say that they are ready to dispatch medicines from Mangaluru to any person in Kerala. Those Keralites who are in need of medicines from may contact: 888471344 - Anoop, 9895135881 - Jayaprakash

Comments

Salute to you dears. May God bless you. HOpe public and Govt will appreciate your sacrifice and support you.

Great Job

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Birders ‘Walk the Chirp’ in Manipal

coastaldigest.com news network

February 3,2020

A motley group of as many as 150 birders ‘walked the chirp’ in search of their feathered friends in and around the countryside of Manipal. The occasion was the 10th Edition of Manipal Bird Day organised by Manipal Birders Group on Sunday, February 2nd, 2020.

The day began ‘Bird Walk’ from Hotel Sheela Sagar (Opposite MIT campus) at 6:30 a.m. The birders divided themselves in smaller groups of 10-12 members and followed 13 different trails which took them through different terrains like hills, plains, paddy fields and wetlands. The idea was to sight as many birds as possible and record their presence in the region.

When the walk ended at about 10:00 a.m., the different groups have recorded a total of 125 species of birds, which was a bit lesser than the sighting of the yester years. “The 10th edition this year has seen a very good growth of interest among people. At the same time a decline has been seen in the bird species sighted compared to previous years,” said one of the organisers. Some of the rare birds sighted were Indian Pitta, Oriental Turtle Dove, Fork-Tailed Drongo Cuckoo, Orange Breasted Green Pigeon, Eurasian Marsh Harrier and Malabar Pied Hornbill.

The bird walk was followed with an interaction session at KMC Food Court and MAHE Vice Chancellor Dr. H. Vinod Bhat presided over the function. He felicitated six people who actively participated recently in a rescue mission of abandoned birds in Manipal.

A program then continued with a talk on ‘Ethical Photography’ by Dhruvam Desai, final year student of MIT, Manipal. This was followed by ‘Backyard Birding’ with Shubha Bhat from IISc Bangalore. She spoke on different ways to feed the birds with water using different materials for bird baths. “I have recorded 120 species of birds from bird baths in my garden,” she said. She encouraged the participants to have bird baths in their gardens or flats which will help quench the thirst of these little winged wonders during summer.

The participants involved themselves actively in the interaction sessions. The event was accompanied with an art exhibition titled ‘Feathered Jewels’ by Aditya Bhat. He presented around 18 paintings all from his memory of birding encounters.

Participation in Manipal Bird Day was open to all and entry was free.

MANIPAL BIRD DAY

Manipal Bird Day is an annual event dedicated to celebrating birds in Manipal. This day long event brings together a large number of birders from Manipal, Udupi, Mangalore, Mysore, Bangalore, Davangere and other places. Around 150-200 people gather and are split into different teams. They visit the assigned regions and count as many birds as possible. This non competitive event focuses on spreading awareness regarding the diverse avifauna around us. Turn out for this event has been increasing from 3 people to 200 in last 10 years. This is the 10th edition of Manipal Bird Day.

MANIPAL BIRDERS CLUB

Manipal Birders Club started as a Facebook group after the release of the first edition of “A Birders Handbook to Manipal” to share information about the latest sightings. It is now a formal group of over 500 like-minded members that meets at least once a week to go on bird walks. It is now a large birders community and a medium to organize events, bird walks and discussions about birds and sightings.

The next step would be to involve a higher number of local and young birders who will dictate the change in environment around the town in the coming years. With the co operation of Zoology and natural sciences students and other nature enthusiasts and faculty of different colleges weekly birding sessions have been conducted to involve and encourage more and more people to bird and get connected to the nature and to try to understand the changes happening around us, the media release issued by the group said.