Lokayukta public grievances meeting: 48 cases disposed of in DK

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh)
November 22, 2014

Mangaluru, Nov 21: Stringent action will be initiated against government officials for misusing the government funds, warned Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao.

In the public grievances meeting at Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat hall here on Friday, he said that withdrawing funds by submitting a few photos of works undertaken and using it for personal benefit will not be tolerated.

Ariyadka gram panchayat member Lokesh Rai said the poor quality of waste management unit is constructed in the gram panchayat limits. Records showed that roads have been developed in the gram panchayat limits. In reality, no development works have been initiated. The Lokayukta gave one month time to the gram panchayat to respond.

Activist G Hanumantha Kamath accused the MCC of giving permission to an unauthorised building near Hampankatta signal. Inspite of bringing the issue to the notice of the MCC, no action was initiated when the building was under construction. The building has no single site approval or parking space.

The Lokayukta directed MCC Joint Commissioner to conduct a survey in the presence of both the parties on December 11, at 11 am. He also directed to pass an order by January 5, after hearing their objections.

Referring to another case, Kamath complained that the work on an illegal building is in progress at Kadri for the past six months. Showing the latest photos, he said that builder does not possess license.

When the MCC Commissioner defended himself saying that license has been issued to the builder, Lokayukta said that he wanted to see the copy of the license.

The MCC officials showed the license copy, which was signed on November 14. If the MCC had issued license few days ago, then how come the work was initiated six months ago, asked Kamath.

Nalini G Shetty of Sinchana Mahila Mandala of Pejavara Kenjar village said that an illegal liquor shop is functioning in Thokkodi. The gram panchayat had passed a resolution against the liquor shop. However, the excise department has issued license to a shop which is functioning on an illegal building.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Sadashiva Prabhu said that the decision of renewal of license was taken following the High Court order to the Excise Department. The Lokayukta said that the authorities should collect public opinion as well.

Gilbert D'Silva of Muduperar village said that funds have been misappropriated in the gram panchayat. However, no action has been initiated against erring officials.

Reacting to it, Zilla Panchayat CEO Tulasi Maddineni said that the Panchayat Development Officer of the village has been suspended and inquiry is is progress.
Krishna Shetty Thamar said that government land has been sold in Kotekar village. There are 400 poor applicants seeking land to construct houses in the gram panchayat. The available 94 acre government land should be distributed among poor. The district administration said that the issue of Kumki land is before the High Court.

Lokayukta directed the CEO to conduct an inquiry on the available government land in the village, except cases pending in the court. In the public grievances meeting, Lokayukta received 72 complaints, 48 were disposed of and notices have been issued to concerned authorities in 24 cases.

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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 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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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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