Bank heist mastermind arrested; a portion of the looted valuables seized

September 18, 2015

Kasaragod, Sep 18: The police on Thursday arrested the alleged mastermind behind the heist at the Eriyal branch of the Kudlu Service Cooperative Bank here.

Over 20 kg gold ornaments and Rs.5.13 crore in cash were stolen from the bank in a daylight robbery on September 7.

Shereef, 42, hailing from Chowki near here and residing at Pachambla, near Kumbla, was arrested by a special team headed by Kasaragod DySP T.P. Ranjith. The police also recovered nearly 10 kg of gold ornaments pawned at a bank, District Police Chief A. Srinivas said at a press conference here on Thursday.

A portion of the looted valuables kept in a bag along with receipts of the pawned ornaments were recovered from a pit at Shereef’s residence. The prime accused was rounded up from the Karwar railway station early on Thursday.

Mr. Srinivas said Shereef escaped to Goa after robbing the bank and returned home only to flee on learning that the police were searching for him.

He said the police had reached Ernakulam on a tip-off that the accused was in the city. Shereef who had flown to Mumbai from Ernakulam later reached Panaji in Goa before leaving for Karwar in neighbouring Karnataka, where he was trapped with the help of the Railway Protection Force.

The police had earlier arrested Mehshookh, 28, for extending support to the five-member gang that looted the bank located along the Kasaragod- Mangaluru National Highway.

A 30-member investigation team, divided into three squads, are in search of the other suspects, Mr. Srinivas added.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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