Rape on minor by teachers: School faces derecognition

Bangalore, Jul 19: Vibgyor High, the City school where a six-year-old girl was raped, may be staring at more troubles as the Education Department on Friday asked the management why the school's No Objection Certificate (NOC) should not be withdrawn and urged the ICSE?Board to derecognise the school.

As Vibgyor High in Marathahalli is an ICSE school, the State government has to issue an NOC?for it to function under the ICSE?Board. Commissioner for Public Instruction Mohammed Mohsin said the department viewed the sexual assault on the child seriously and a show-cause notice under Section 39 of the Karnataka State Education Act has already been served. The notice was served on the direction of Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee.

The department has also written to the ICSE?Board to withdraw recognition to the school. A?deputy director has been asked to inquire into the incident, said a release from the Commissioner.

Speaking to Deccan?Herald,?Mukherjee, who is in New Delhi on an official engagement, said he has told Principal?Secretary (Primary?Education) Rajkumar Khatri to file a detailed report on the incident and send it to the Human?Resource Development Ministry (HRD).

The HRD Ministry on Friday sought a report from the State government on “how the school failed to honour the requirements of safety and security of children on its premises, which is one of the critical responsibilities of school management”. The ministry also sought details of the action taken by the State government.

In a related development, Bangalore Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar said the culprits who raped the girl will be arrested soon. After a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K J George on Friday, Auradkar said arrests will be made by Saturday morning. He, however, did not elaborate on the identity of the suspects.

Police sources said all the male employees of the school have been questioned and the investigators have zeroed in on two persons. It is said that one of them is a gym instructor and the other a security staff.

The question of booking the school management or anyone else for hushing up the matter would be considered only after the culprits are arrested.

It has to be ascertained why the police were not informed of the matter soon after the incident.

The girl was sexually abused on July 2 but the family and police were kept in the dark for more than 10 days. The victim's parents lodged a complaint with the Varthur police on July 14.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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