Family members of homestay attack accused claim their innocence, demand release

[email protected] (CD Network)
September 4, 2012

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Mangalore, September 4: A few family members of those arrested in connection with the Morning Mist Homestay attack on Tuesday appeared before the media claiming their innocence and demanding their release.

Addressing media persons at Press Club in Mangalore, family members of Taranath, Venugopal, Taranath Alva and Rajesh claimed that they were innocent and had nothing to do with the homestay attack.

“Taranath Alva had only been to the spot to see what was happening as people had gathered there. By the time he went there, the incident had already taken place. He has nothing to do with the attack”, said Chandrika Alva, wife of Taranath Alva.

Ms. Alva said that her family is currently going through tough times sans a bread winner with her husband being in jail. “It is just me and my old father-in-law now at home. Our days pass by with great difficulty. My father-in-law needs medical attention and his medical expenses alone come up to Rs. 2000 every month. We are now only busy with running around meeting people asking them to get our dear ones released. For the first time in our life, we have stepped into police stations and court rooms”, she said.

Vidyavathi, wife of Venugopal, also claimed that her husband was innocent. “My husband is not of that kind. He is an auto rickshaw driver and he would in fact help people even in the middle of the night. I see my child and I get saddened over whatever has happened”, she said.

Sarvani, mother of Taranath Kannur, said that her son was not associated with any organization and was innocent. Taranath is the younger brother of Subhash Padil who was not in the city when the attack took place, she said. He was on his way to Mysore when he was informed that his brother Subhash had been arrested. He returned back to Padil to see his brother on being told that he had been injured in the incident. But the police arrested him from his residence that night, she said.

The family members of those arrested said that they have even met the Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner asking for their intervention without much success.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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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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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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coastaldigest.com news network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy has issued a high-alert warning to vehicle owners regarding a surge in cyber fraud targeting those looking to pay traffic violation fines. Fraudsters are reportedly exploiting recent government discount schemes on traffic penalties to deceive citizens.

The Scam: How Fraudsters Strike

Criminals are using SMS, WhatsApp, and social media to circulate suspicious links and APK files (Android application packages). They claim these apps allow users to pay e-challans at a discount.

•    Device Hacking: Downloading these unauthorized apps gives hackers full access to the victim's smartphone.

•    Financial Theft: Once the phone is compromised, fraudsters intercept OTPs and personal data to drain bank accounts.

•    Phishing Sites: Fake websites mimicking official portals are also being used to harvest banking credentials.

Already, two residents within Mangaluru city limits have reported significant financial losses after falling victim to these fraudulent apps.

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