127 couples including 19 inter-religious enter wedlock in Dharmasthala

April 30, 2016

Mangaluru, Apr 30: As the sun set, as many as 127 couple entered into wedlock at the 45ht free mass marriage ceremony organised by Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade at Dharmasthala on Friday.

The rituals of tying knots were held at the Amrutavarshini Sabha Bhavana at the auspicious Godhooli Lagna at 6.50 in the evening. The marriage rituals were held as per the customs of their respective castes.

A total of 22 pairs belonging to scheduled caste and 19 inter-religious marriages were the speciality of this time. The 11,925th pair, Manoj A S of Chikkamagaluru and Divya, was a special pair as the bride is hearing and speech impaired.

Traditional cloth and jewels were provided to the brides and bridegrooms. The newly-married couples took oath of leading a life of moral values.

Speaking on the occasion, Muzrai Minister Mahohar Tahsildar said the inter-religious marriage is helpful in the eradication of caste system.

He said the government provides Rs 50,000 if the people belonging to different castes tie nuptial knots in mass marriages.

He said Rs 3 lakh will be provided to a woman belonging to Scheduled Caste, if she marries a man from another caste and Rs 2 lakh will be provided to a man belonging to Scheduled Caste, if he marries a woman from another caste. The chief minister?has reserved separate funds in the budget for the purpose, he added.

Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade said it is a misconception that the mass marriages are meant for only poor.

Former cricketer Brijesh Patel, Hemavati V Heggade, D Harshendra Heggade, MLA?K Vasant Bangera and others were present on the occasion.

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A very good initiative for stopping the caste systems. But then why are the marriage rituals being conducted aiding to each caste?

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Mangaluru NRI returning from Saudi Arabia arrested over Instagram post

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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Elusive bamboo shrimp resurfaces in Mangaluru estuary after 70 years

News Network

December 7,2025

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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