Dubai-based Kerala man hatched dacoity plot in Karnataka: Police

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

Kasaragod, Jul Aug 2: Police investigating into a decoity case in Karnataka have unearthed an international network of decoits. Nearly six months after a gang of dacoits robbed a Kerala-based merchant of his jeep along with a cash of Rs 6 lakh on the national highway near Bilikere in Hunsur taluk in the district, the Mysuru district police have succeeded in cracking the case.

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Interestingly, the case leads to the kingpin in?Dubai, who hired a gang of dacoits in Bengaluru to execute the task on February 9.

Disclosing this to media at his office auditorium on Saturday, Mysuru district Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare said the three accused in the case — Umar, aged 31 years, Yasar?Araffat, 30 and Saifuddin, 28, all from Malappuram,?in Kerala — have been arrested. The kingpin is in Dubai, while three other accused are in?Bengaluru, he added.

Reacting to media queries, he said, “As the investigation is still underway, I cannot disclose the name of the kingpin. It was this man in Dubai, who got wind of huge cash being transported from Bengaluru to Kerala on that day, and handed over the job to a local gang in Bengaluru”.

Umar was the driver of the same jeep that was waylaid and lifted later, who actually leaked the information (of money in the vehicle) to the man in Dubai, the SP said.

On February 9, after midnight, Mohammed Shafiq a merchant, also from Malappuram, along with others, was returning to his native from Bengaluru, when the vehicle was waylaid in a filmy style.?A?goods tempo rammed into their vehicle from behind, while an?Innova car came across, only to force stop the jeep.

Much before Shafiq could understand what was happening, the gang of dacoits, suspected to be 10 members, broke the window glasses, sprayed chilli powder on the occupants and attacked them, before pulling them out of the jeep. They, later, made away with the four-wheeler, along with the cash and cellphones. So, Shafiq had lodged a complaint at Bilikere station.

A team, led by Assistant SP (Nanjangud sub-division)?A?Prakash Nikam, comprising Hunsur Circle Police Inspector M?Dharmendra, district crime investigation bureau (DCIB)?Inspector Gopalkrishna among others, was constituted.

Among the three arrested, two were informants, while the actual perpetrators, who carried out the operation remain to be arrested. An amount ot Rs 3.25 lakh has been recovered from them.

The SP said Shafiq could be a gold merchant who was carrying the amount after disposing the valuables in his possession, at Bengaluru. However, he has produced relevant documents, while the chances of more cash being carried at the time of the incident cannot be ruled out, he?said.

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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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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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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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