ISIS link allegation: NIA arrests NRI on his arrival at Kerala airport from Qatar

News Network

April 10, 2019

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it had on Tuesday arrested an alleged sympathizer of Islamic State from Kerala, upon his arrival here from Qatar.

39-year-old Shaibu Nihar, a resident of Vattakandathil House in Kozhikode, was arrested from Calicut International Airport. He was produced before a special NIA court in Ernakulam and was sent to judicial custody up to April 22.

The NIA said that the case was originally registered at Wandoor police station under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on November 6, 2017 on the basis of disclosures made by accused arrested earlier in connection with the case.

"Disclosure made by Hamsa U.K. contains allegations against Shaibu Nihar and other accused persons that while they were working in Bahrain and attending classes at Al Ansar Salafi Centre, there they had shared jihadi ideology and decided to join the ISIS in Syria. Most of his associates had left Bahrain and joined ISIS in Syria," an NIA statement said.

During 2016-2017, Shaibu Nihar had facilitated travel of some of his associates to Syria with the intention of joining Islamic State and waging war on its behalf against the Syrian government, the agency said.

Shaibu Nihar, the NIA said, had also himself planned to travel to Syria to join the proscribed outfit in December 2016 from Bahrain while running an advertising company there.

Following the arrest of some of his associates in October 2017, Shaibu Nihar had shifted to Qatar, where he continued his advertising company, the NIA added.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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