Anti-Israel angle ‘created’ in Bengaluru blast; loopholes emerge in NIA claim

[email protected] (News Network)
January 30, 2016

Bengaluru, Jan 30: The National Investigation Agency’s shocking revelation that terrorists had tried to target an Israeli delegation by planting bomb on Church Street in Bengaluru, has left behind some loopholes in the case raising questions over the credibility of its claim.

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While a communiqué by NIA on Friday stated that Alam Jeb Afridi alias Rafeeq had confessed to planting the bomb on Church Street in 2014, city police officers who carried out the initial probe are ‘surprised’ they did not zero in on him till now.

“He had carried out the instructions of his handler who had informed him about the probable visit of an Israeli delegation to the said café (Coconut Grove) for dinner that night,” the communiqué stated.

However, local police as well as the Israeli consulate claimed that they had no knowledge of such a delegation or a visit to Coconut Grove on December 28, 2014. What has them ‘worried’ is the revelation that it could have been a planned attack targeting the Israeli establishment in the city, said a senior police officer who probed the case.

According to the NIA, Alam Jeb Afridi alias Rafeeq, has also confessed to the arson attack on the Israeli visa centre in Mittal Towers on M.G. Road on the intervening night of 29th and 30th November, 2015. A lot of ‘anti-Semitic hate literature’ was recovered from Afridi’s residence, the statement said.

In the said incident, someone had hurled a kerosene bomb, setting off a fire and also dropped a note written in Arabic. The city police had dismissed it as the result of a ‘civil dispute’ in the building. Several city police officers said that this is the first time they heard of an Israeli delegation planning to visit the restaurant or that the blast was part of a planned attack on the delegation. They added that it is surprising that they were not aware of any such delegation. “We had been co-ordinating with all the central intelligence agencies on the probe and nowhere did we come across this information,” a senior police officer, now posted out of the city said.

Ziv Shalvi, Deputy Chief of Mission and Spokesman, Consulate General of Israel, Bengaluru also denied knowledge of any such delegation. “There was no official delegation or any official from the consulate that I know of visiting Coconut Grove on the day of the bombing,” he said adding that the consulate did not believe that there were any specific anti-Semitic sentiments in the city. “We are constantly co-ordinating with the city police, confident of their protection and work.”

Comments

Abu Maryum
 - 
Saturday, 30 Jan 2016

Truth will reveal after 10/15 years!! that s what happening now in our
country when ever some tragedy happen and some people arrested in this regards!!

BOOM
 - 
Saturday, 30 Jan 2016

Many twists with lies & deceptions are done to justify cases on the innocents. Any way The one who gave us soul will not live these deceivers, He will live some troubles on their own stupidity so that the smart & intelligent people to recognize the reality of their deception.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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News Network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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