Catholic leaders in Mangalore press for probe into Jacintha's death

[email protected] (CD Network)
December 10, 2012
denis_moras
 
Mangalore, December 10: Amidst wide outrage and anguish, suspicions have arisen over the mysterious and tragic death of senior nurse Jacintha Saldanha, hailing from Mangalore, last Friday in London after the Kate hoax call.

 

Although her death is not being treated by authorities in London as suspicious, people have their doubts. Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese Fr Denis Moras expressed his concern over the strangeness of Jacintha's death, and the events that followed.

 

Speaking at a press conference at the Bishop's House in Kodialbail on Monday, he said that with the little information gathered from published media reports, it was difficult to know what the exact cause of her death was.

 

“According to Jacintha's family members, they are not being allowed to contact her husband Benedict in London by the British police department. They have had no direct contact whatsoever with him after the sole phone-call on Friday relating the news of her death. There has been relay of information that even Benedict and her two children have not been allowed to see her body, which shows the indifference of London police. The exact cause of death also has not been made clear so far. Hence, through Union Minister M Veerappa Moily and AICC General Secretary Oscar Fernandes, we hope to bring attention to this matter and urge the Indian government to probe the circumstances leading to Jacintha's death. Our immediate priority is to repatriate her body and hand it over to her family members in Shirva,” he said.

 

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary and Catholic leader Ivan D'Souza said, “Jacintha was very mild-natured, and having known her since her childhood, it is difficult to believe that she has committed suicide, over a hoax call. The family members are devastated by the news of her death. Hence, an investigation is a must to find out the exact cause of death,” he said, urging the government to take appropriate action to bring her body back.

 

If family members are to be believed, two policemen from London had arrived at their doorstep in Shirva (Udupi district) on Saturday for questioning, according to Mr D'Souza.

 

Joint secretary of Karnataka State Women Congress Leena Mathais, Fr Maxim Noronha and Marcel Monteiro were present during the press conference.

moras_ivan

Related:

India awaits details of Mangalore-origin nurse's death

Mangalore-origin nurse found dead in London after Kate hoax call

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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