After BJP’s complaint Election Commission forces govt to transfer Hassan DC Akram Pasha

News Network
March 31, 2019

Bengaluru, Mar 31: The Election Commission has sprung into action in Hassan and Mandya districts, where JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s grandsons Prajwal and Nikhil, respectively, are making their electoral debut.

On Saturday, Hassan deputy commissioner Akram Pasha was shunted out close on the heels of Hassan BJP legislator Preetham Gowda complaining against him with the Election Commission. Gowda had charged that Pasha had a good number of relatives and contacts with political leaders in Hassan district, preventing a free and fair election. 

Pasha, who had taken charge only a month ago, has been replaced with IAS officer Priyanka Mary Francis.

The JD(S) has fielded Prajwal, son of Public Works Minister H D Revanna. He is taking on BJP’s A Manju.

Mandya DC to face probe

In Mandya, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjiv Kumar said allegations that deputy commissioner N Manjushri had taken a “one-sided” decision in clearing the nomination papers filed by Nikhil would be inquired into.

Independent candidate Sumalatha, who is supported by the BJP, had complained that Nikhil’s nomination papers were not in order. Her election agent had pointed out that his papers did not have Form No 26 (affidavit), Column 7, 7A and 8. Manjushri cleared his papers on the grounds that the Representation of the People Act allowed candidates to file the remaining affidavits during scrutiny.

“We have noted the concerns being raised (about one-sided action) and we will have an inquiry,” Kumar said during his visit to Mandya in light of the confusion surrounding Nikhil’s nomination papers.

Kumar also pointed out that once the returning officer accepted the nomination after scrutiny, the legal remedy could be sought only in court. “But we will look at whether or not there were any administrative lapses,” he added.

Nikhil, son of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, is the JD(S) candidate against Sumalatha, the wife of late actor-turned-politician Ambareesh, who is contesting as an independent after the Congress denied her the ticket.

Sumalatha has complained that the state government was misusing official machinery to her disadvantage. Earlier in the week, the BJP petitioned the EC seeking the transfer of over a dozen “biased” officers across the state.

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News Network
December 2,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 2: Mangaluru International Airport responded to a medical emergency late on Monday night. Air India Express flight IX 522, travelling from Riyadh to Thiruvananthapuram, was diverted to Mangaluru Airport after a passenger in his late 30s experienced a medical emergency on board.

The Airport’s Operations Control Centre received an alert regarding the passenger’s health condition. The airport activated its emergency response protocol, mobilising the airport medical team and coordinating with stakeholders including CISF, immigration, and customs. 

Upon landing, airport medical personnel attended to the passenger, assessed his condition, and arranged to shift him to a local tertiary-care hospital for further treatment. The passenger’s relatives accompanied the passenger, who incidentally received necessary medical care on board, which helped stabilise the situation.

Following the handling of the emergency, the flight departed for Thiruvananthapuram at 2:05 am on Tuesday.

"We appreciate the cooperation of all parties involved, and this incident reaffirms our ongoing commitment to prioritising passenger safety and readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies with professionalism and care," the Airport spokesperson said. 

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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