If I am not JD(S) candidate for Rajya Sabha then it's moneybag: BM Farooq

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 27, 2016

Mangaluru, May 27: Fiza group proprietor and Bearys Welfare Association President, BM Farooq remained a frontrunner for the Rajya Sabha ticket from the Janata Dal (Secular) even as the party chief HD Deve Gowda is all set to finalise a Muslim candidate.

farooq
To elect a candidate successfully, JD(S) requires 45 first preferential votes from MLAs. The party has 40 MLAs in the Assembly, but with the help of independents, the party would be able to ensure the nominee's victory.

Mr Gowda's move could well tantamount to killing two birds with one stone. By picking a Muslim candidate, he would not only succeed in checkmating rebel MLA Zameer Ahamed Khan, but also an attempt to send a strong message to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who has been projecting himself as messiah of the poor and the downtrodden.

The brother of Mangaluru City North Congress MLA BA Mohiuddin Bava, who has been in touch with the JD(S) leaders for the last nine days, says that the future belongs to regional parties.

“A good opportunity has come along. I want to do something good for the state, country and especially my community. HD Kumaraswamy has been a good friend of mine for the last seven to eight years. And now Deve Gowda has given his consent,” he said.

Mr Farooq is a BE (Mechanical) and also has a MBA (marketing) degree. He is the CMD of Fiza Developer and Inter-Trade Pvt Ltd, which commissions wind energy projects. He is a joint developer with realty majors like Prestige and Godrej Properties. One of the major projects completed by his group is Forum Fiza mall in Mangaluru. His group also owns the cricket team Mangalore United in the Karnataka Premier League.

"From my party (there are) no aspirants other than me," he fumed. "If I am not (a) candidate then it is some moneybag."

On the other hand, Mr Kumaraswamy, denied charges that they have auctioned the seat to Mr Farooq.

But the disagreement between a few JD(S) leaders after Thursday's meeting has led to the party deferring the announcement of Mr Farooq's name. Some say this is only a formality, meant to give him more time to 'manage' extra legislators from other parties.

Also Read: Modi govt brought India's economy to grinding halt, says AIMC chief

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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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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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

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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