ATS team from Pune visits Bhatkal

Mangalore, December 19: A four-member anti terror squad (ATS) from Pune visited Bhatkal on Wednesday to cross verify whether there was any terror funding link to gold smuggling operations carried out by five gold smugglers, who currently are in Dubai.

Intelligence sources said the team could not find any connection to smuggling and terror funding. The team led by ATS inspector Nirmal Kumar completed its investigation and left for Pune on Thursday.

The ATS team was also investigating whether there was any connection between courier Noor Mohiddin Bapa ,36, of Bhatkal, who was arrested recently in Pune and IM operative Ahmed Siddibapa alias Yasin.

The Air Customs Officials had arrested Badrul Muneer Ambidattil, 42, of Kerala at the Pune airport on October 15 for allegedly trying to smuggle gold worth Rs 63 lakh into the country, from Dubai.

In the second case, garment supplier Noor Mohiddin Bapa, 36, of Bhatkal was arrested on November 29, while trying to smuggle gold ornaments worth Rs 35.28 lakh from Dubai. Sources said one of them had told officials during interrogation that the gold smuggling operations were not profitable, but chiefly used for funding terror activity. The ATS team could not find any relation between Bapa and Siddibapa during their investigations.

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From malls to highways, Kannada signboards to be enforced in Dakshina Kannada

News Network

February 4,2026

Mangaluru: Urban local bodies and gram panchayats should make the use of Kannada on signboards mandatory while issuing trade licences to commercial establishments, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said. He also called for regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Presiding over the District Kannada Awareness Committee meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, Darshan said the city corporation would be directed to ensure that shops operating in malls prominently display their names in Kannada. “All commercial establishments, including shops, companies, offices and hotels, must mandatorily display their names in Kannada on signboards,” he said.

The deputy commissioner added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be instructed to include Kannada on signboards along national highways. Banks, he said, would be directed through committee meetings to provide application forms in Kannada.

“Even if English-medium schools and colleges impart education in English, their signboards must display the institution’s name in Kannada. Steps will also be taken to ensure that private buses display place names in Kannada,” Darshan said.

During the meeting, committee members raised concerns over the closure of Kannada-medium schools in rural areas due to a shortage of teachers and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures. They also pointed out that several industries employ workers from other states while overlooking local candidates.

Members further demanded that nationalised banks provide deposit and withdrawal slips in Kannada. It was brought to the deputy commissioner’s notice that the presence of staff without knowledge of Kannada in rural branches of nationalised banks is causing hardship to local customers.

Meanwhile, MP Srinath, president of the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, urged the district administration to allot land for the construction of a district Kannada Bhavana in Mangaluru.

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