Police lathi charge as bandh in Somwarpet, Madikeri turns violent

January 11, 2014

Madikeri, Jan 11: Unidentified miscreants assaulted two persons belonging to a particular community on Friday evening during the course of bundh called by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protest against attack on the district unit president of the party, Shuja Kushalappa, in Virajpet.

In first incident, a Ustad of a local masjid was assaulted when he was going to visit his student admitted in the district hospital. He was forced off his vehicle near the General Thimmayya Circle and made to walk by those taking part in the bundh. The protestors were also accused of robbing of money.

In the other incident, the pregnant woman who was on her way to the district hospital too was asked to get off an autorickshaw and walk to the hospital.

Following the incident, a group of people gathered at the Indira Gandhi Circle demanding that four persons from another community be arrested for assaulting the Ustad.

A few miscreants attacked three grocery shops and a hotel owned by people belonging to other community, who were carrying out business, at Kagadikatte near Somwarpet. They also assaulted the owner of a shop, said an eye witness.

In retaliation to the assault, a few persons from other community tried to create choas using lethal weapons. However, to disperse the crowd, the police resorted to lathi-charge. The police have taken 10 persons into custody from both communities and both the communities have filed separate complaints.

The RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, frontal organisations of the BJP, among others, had supported the bandh. Government and private hospitals functioned as usual while shops of the chemists and druggists remained open. Supply of essential services was not hit due to the bandh.

Attendance was thin in the government offices, including the Deputy Commissioner's office in Madikeri on Friday.

Schools and colleges, which closed down due to the sammelan, did not function. Supporters of the bandh went around several offices in the morning made the forest office, post office, public sector banks to down shutters.

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Elusive bamboo shrimp resurfaces in Mangaluru estuary after 70 years

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December 7,2025

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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Mangaluru police issue alert over fake traffic fine payment Apps and links

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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