Complete work or face protest during MCC council meetings: BJP

[email protected] (CD Network)
June 2, 2015

Mangaluru, Jun 2: The opposition party in Mangaluru City Corporation will continue to protest in upcoming council meetings against the failure of the civic body in initiating and completing several developmental works in the city, said MCC opposition leader and BJP member Sudheer Shetty.

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Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that BJP led opposition would continue the protest until the works were completed. He said that the renovation project of the Town Hall had been approved by the then-Mayor Mahabala Marla at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore. Although the renovation works were supposed to be completed by December 26, 2014 in time for its 50th anniversary, the project has been halted midway.

Out of a grant of Rs 99.75 lakh released by the MCC in the first phase, only Rs 30 lakh has been utilised before the project was halted. At present, the seats inside the hall and other equipment have been removed, leaving the interior of the building unfit for conducting programmes. Several Yakshagana artists and other cultural and social organisations are left without any platform to conduct their events and programmes, he said.

He said that various other development works under the Chief Minister's special grant of Rs 100 crore in the second phase had not been initiated by the MCC. Out of the 110 developmental works under the grant, only a sum of Rs 29 crore had been utilised till date while 33 works are still pending at a total cost of Rs 71 crore, he said, adding that no developmental work had been initiated under the Rs 100 crore special grant in the third phase.

Speaking on the occasion, MLC Ganesh Karnik urged the ruling party in the MCC to provide alternate arrangements for cultural artists and other organisations to conduct cultural and social programmes until the renovation of the Town Hall was completed.

Responding to a query, he said that internal conflicts among the district in-charge minister, deputy commissioner, local MLAs and MCC administrative committee and lack of coordination and planning had led to the delay in completing the renovation works of the Town Hall.

Sudheer Shetty said that the opposition members in the MCC council would continue their protest till the renovation works recommenced.
Senior MCC council member Premanand Shetty and others were present in the press conference.

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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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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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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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