Mangaluru sub-agent who sent Jacintha to Saudi Arabia arrested

The Hindu
August 13, 2017

Mangaluru, Aug 13: The city police have arrested a sub-agent who was instrumental in sending Jacintha Mendonca, a home nurse from Karkala in Udupi to Saudi Arabia, after promising her a job in Qatar.

James D'Mello, 30, a resident of Kulashekar, was arrested on Saturday based on a complaint by Jacintha's son Vinroy Mendonca, and was remanded in judicial custody.

Efforts are on to nab the main agent, who lives in Mumbai. Jacintha, 46, from Karkala in Udupi district, was promised a job in Qatar for a salary equivalent to Rs 25,000. In June 2016, she left Mangaluru, but eventually landed in Saudi Arabia. The family had been receiving money regularly. However, in November, Jacintha called her children to say she was being held captive under inhuman conditions by her employer in Saudi Arabia.

Police said they had interrogated James in June, when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had in a tweet directed the Indian ambassador in Saudi Arabia to bail out Jacintha. James had promised that he would pressure his main agent, Shabha Khan of Mumbai, to bring Jacintha back to India by the second week of July, but did not keep his word.

During interrogation, James told police that the main agent had taken Rs 5 lakh from the 'kafil' (Saudi employer) and drawn up an agreement for two years. He later paid James Rs 25,000 for his job. However, the kafil is not allowing Jacintha to return until the agreement expires. "We will arrest the main agent soon," police said.

Jacintha left from Mumbai to Qatar on June 19, 2016, but landed in Yanbhu, Saudi Arabia. There, she had to look after her Saudi employer's 10 children from three wives, and was required to work for over 16 hours a day. In the process, her health deteriorated and her pleas of inability to complete work fell on deaf ears.
 

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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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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