Sporadic untoward incidents in Ullal, Surathkal amid prohibitory orders

[email protected] (CD Network)
November 17, 2015

Mangaluru, Nov 17: The communal clashes that erupted in Ullal after Bantwal was gripped with tension, had not abated in spite of tight security arrangements made by the police department.

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Despite additional police forces deployed in Ullal as per the instructions of police commissioner S Murugan after a bus was pelted with stones on Sunday, several untoward incidents have occurred including further stone pelting by miscreants late on Sunday night.

Stones were pelted at a home located in Ullal junction late on Sunday night, as well as Gopalkrishna Bhajan Mandir in Abbanjara near Ombantukere in Ullal. In addition, miscreants have also pelted stones on two vehicles travelling along NH 66 during the late hours on Sunday. Another car in Thokkottu-Kapikad was targeted by miscreants who pelted stones at it. Cases have been lodged in this regard at Ullal police station.

In view of these incidents, police department has tightened security arrangements in Ullal as precautionary measures. On orders from the police commissioner, shops and business fronts were closed after 6 p.m. on Monday as part of the tightened security, and a curfew-like atmosphere prevailed in Ullal after evening hours. Additional security measures have been deployed at sensitive areas in Mastikatte, Mukkacheri, Mogaveerpatna and Kodi in this regard.

All necessary arrangements were made for the movement of additional security forces in Ullal area on Monday night, in view of the stone pelting that occurred on Sunday.

Vehicles set on fire

Suratkal: Miscreants have set fire to two vehicles parked on the side of the road at Chokkabettu in Suratkal in the night.

The vehicles belonging to Lathesh and Ravichandra had been parked alongside each other on the side of the road, since the road leading to their homes was being concretised.

In the morning, it came to light that miscreants had set fire to the two cars. The Hyundai Eon belonging to Lathesh was burnt along with its registration documents and garments with Rs 50,000.

The back portion of the Maruti Swift belonging to Ravichandra was damaged in the fire. A case has been registered in Suratkal police station in this regard.

Prohibitory orders

In wake of frequent untoward incidents in certain parts of the taluk despite prohibitory orders, Police Commissioner of Mangaluru S Murugan said that Section 144 was still in place as a precautionary measure in Suratkal and Ullal areas for additional three days.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the police chief said that security arrangements had been tightened in sensitive places in the police Commissionerate limits, in view of untoward incidents. Rapid Action Force and additional security forces have been deployed in several sensitive areas in the taluk. In addition, Section 144 will be clamped from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in Suratkal and Ullal areas till Wednesday, he informed.

Pointing that minor incidents of violence continued to occur in Commissionerate limits, he said that such incidents were a hindrance for the maintenance of law and order. Along with police monitoring, the cooperation of people is required in preventing such crimes, he said, appealing to public to be wary of provocative acts by miscreants and not to indulge in activities that would cause disruption of peace.

Demonstrations banned

In wake of the communal tension in several parts of Dakshina Kannada, deputy commissioner has issued an order prohibiting protests, demonstrations, public meetings of any kind till November 20.

Moreover, no public programmes will be allowed to take place in Ullal limits till peace is not completely restored, it was decided in a meeting jointly held with police officials.

During night hours, the police department has decided to conduct inspection of vehicles at random in Ullal. It is also learnt that another peace meeting would be held shortly under the leadership of DCP (Crime & Traffic) Sanjeev Patil.

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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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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

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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