Motorcycle-borne attackers create panic among people in Bhatkal

February 12, 2012

Bhatkal, February 12: Despite a stern warning by the police, the attacks on vehicles on National Highway 17 in Bhatkal and surrounding villages by motorcycle-borne miscreants continued on Friday night too.

The unidentified attackers have been creating fear among commuters by throwing soft drink and soda bottles at their vehicles in and around Bhatkal since 15 days. In some cases, the miscreants even tried to run over some persons with stolen motorcycles. They also brought the stolen motorcycles under the speeding vehicles on the national highway.

Despite patrolling by the police and vigilance by local people, three trucks were attacked within 15 minutes on Friday night on the outskirts of Bhatkal. The modus operandi in these cases was similar. The miscreants came on motorcycles and threw bottles at the vehicles coming in the opposite direction. In many cases, passengers and drivers suffered head and eye injuries.

On Thursday, M. Narayan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bhatkal, had held a meeting and sought the cooperation of the people to catch the miscreants.

Mr. Narayan even warned that the police would not hesitate to open fire at the miscreants, depending on the situation. Patrolling has been intensified in the area and people have been asked to keep a vigil on the miscreants.

A few days ago, a stolen motorcycle was laid on the highway, but an alert driver avoided it. The police suspect that the intention of the miscreants is to create fear among the people.

But people are of the opinion that the miscreants are professionals. However, the police have expressed confidence that they would nab the miscreants soon.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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