Drug cartel: Former Mayor meets City Police Chief along with son

August 11, 2011

Mangalore, August 11: Former Mayor Ashraf, along with a Congress delegation and his son Araf, on Wednesday evening met Mangalore City Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh to clarify the issues raised in the wake of allegations against his son Araf.

Araf was accused of luring a girl in to drug addiction and planning to pack her off to Mumbai. The girls' father Mr Arjun had even accused Araf of trying to convert his daughter.

Ashraf in his meeting with the police commissioner claimed that his son was innocent and was pursuing his education in Mumbai. He also urged the police commissioner to investigate the issue and reveal the truth to the public.

Ashraf revealed that the girl had shared a friendship with Araf. He had warned the girl against a friendship with Araf taking into account the communal sensitivity of the region.

He said that a month ago, girl's father Arjun had stormed into his house with some Bajrang Dal activists and demanded to know Araf's whereabouts. Later the girl's mother and sister had approached him demanding to speak to Araf.

Ashraf said he had called his son from his number out of sympathy for the distressed mother, who claimed that her daughter had left for Mumbai. She also proposed a Marriage between Araf and the girl. But Ashraf said he denied any such relationship.

Ashraf also said that he had recorded the conversation between him and Arjun and provided it to the police.

It can be mentioned that a delegation comprising Bajrang Dal and VHP activists recently met city police and demanded to take action against Araf, accusing him of being a part of drug mafia.

Mr Singh said that the police were looking into both the complaints and that the girl's friends were being questioned. But a case had not been registered yet as the girl had not given a statement, he added.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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