Govt is aware of increased underworld extortion bids in Mangalore '

July 2, 2014

Bangalore, Jul 2: Karnataka home minister K J George said that he was aware that underworld gangsters were making threat calls to businessmen and influential people, especially in coastal cities of Mangalore and Udupi.

In his reply to a query by Karkala BJP MLA V?Sunil Kumar, the minister conceded that gangs making extortion bids had increased.

Mr George said gangsters looked for publicity so that they could extend their activities. “Even I am facing a life threat. (But) I am not sacred... ' ' the minister said without giving details of the caller. He said the details of all the cases could not be divulged.

Mr Kumar said Udupi businessmen and others had been scared because of threat calls and the situation was scary.

He said that even areca nut growers were getting threat calls because prices of the drupe had shot up sharply.

Another BJP MLA Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said that even police officers were receiving threat calls.

George replied: “No one gets scared just because they get threat calls. Even I am facing threats. Birth is accidental and death is imminent. The police are not scared either.”

In Udupi alone, as many as 22 cases of threat calls made through the Internet from abroad have been recorded in the last three years. Twelve people have been arrested in four cases. They are being interrogated about underworld elements. The assistance of Interpol has also been taken, he added.

Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said that such threats were not restricted to Udupi.

Mr George said the police would be instructed to take immediate action if complaints about extortion or threat calls were received.

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Mangaluru’s public transport revolution: 100 new govt electric buses to end private ‘trip-cutting’

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

• Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

• State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

• Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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