Businessman 's family end lives after sending suicide notes on WhatsApp

[email protected] (The Hindu)
May 29, 2014

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Belgaum, May 29: Three of a family allegedly consumed poison, in what appears to be a suicide pact, at a hotel here in the early hours of Wednesday.

The deceased were identified as Hubli-based businessman Mahantesh Mallikarjun Dhawan (46), his wife, Shobha (38), and son, Amogh (12).

The deceased left a suicide note and also sent it on WhatsApp, holding a Hubli-based jeweller and his two sons responsible for his financial problems.

According to the police here, Mr. Dhawan, a businessman engaged in industrial valve manufacturing at Belur industrial area in Dharwad, and his family left home after informing relatives that they were going to Goa to take their son for a medical examination. However, they went to Belgaum and booked a room at a hotel on Tuesday.

The police suspect that the family consumed the poison around 12.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

During preliminary investigations, it was revealed that Ms. Shobha had called her brother and wished for his family 's well-being. She disconnected the call after mentioning suicide. Her brother, who became anxious, called back but got no response.

He immediately informed the police control room in Hubli and requested that they trace the family.

However, all three were dead by the time the police traced their location in Belgaum.

After conducting panchanama, the bodies were taken to the district government hospital for post-mortem. The bodies were handed over to relatives.

Relatives and friends of Mr. Dhawan staged a protest outside the jeweller 's shop in Hubli.

They kept the bodies outside the shop and staged a protest for nearly 40 minutes.

However, the shop was locked and the owners did not turn up. The police arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.

The protesters alleged that the jeweller had cheated many people by promising to double their money.

The persons responsible for the death of the Dhawan family should be arrested and legal action should be taken against them, they demanded.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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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 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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