Israel set up GHF to implement genocide in Gaza under the pretext of aid distribution: US Army veteran

A young Indian expatriate worker from Jharkhand was tragically killed in Saudi Arabia after being caught in a crossfire between local police and suspected liquor smugglers.

The victim, Vijay Kumar Mahato (around 25 years old) of Dudhapania village in Giridih district, had been working for the past nine months with Hyundai Engineering and Construction as a tower line fitter. According to reports, he had gone to a work site to collect materials on the instructions of a senior company official when police opened fire during an anti-smuggling operation.

Vijay, who happened to be passing through the area, was accidentally struck by a police bullet. He was rushed to hospital with injuries but succumbed on October 24.

Shortly before his death, Vijay sent a WhatsApp voice message to his wife, Basanti Devi, saying he had been hurt in a crossfire. His family initially believed he was recovering, unaware that he had already died.

“He told his wife he was caught in a crossfire and injured,” said Sikander Ali, a social activist who works on migrant worker issues. “The exchange of fire reportedly took place between Jeddah police and an extortion gang linked to the illegal liquor trade.”

Ali said the family learned about his death only after the company informed them on October 24.

Efforts Underway to Repatriate the Body

Following the incident, Dumri MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato wrote to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, demanding an impartial probe into the circumstances of Vijay’s death.

In his letter, the legislator urged the embassy to ensure a thorough investigation and expedite arrangements to bring back the body. He also called for legal and financial assistance to be extended to the bereaved family.

Officials from Jharkhand’s Labour Department said they are coordinating with Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia to repatriate the remains.

“We immediately contacted the Indian Embassy and are in touch with Jeddah police to complete the formalities,” said Shikha Lakra, Team Leader at the Migrant Control Cell.

Call for Compensation

Social worker Sikander Ali said he had also alerted the state labour department and Giridih district administration to support the family and seek compensation from Saudi authorities.

Vijay is survived by his wife Basanti Devi, two sons — Rishi Kumar (5) and Roshan Kumar (3) — his father Suryanarayan Mahato, and mother Savitri Devi.

Mangaluru: The Kavoor Police have arrested two individuals accused of duping several residents of Mangaluru’s Kavoor area by promising overseas jobs and collecting nearly ₹1 crore without providing employment.

City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy C.H. identified the accused as Prakruthi U. (34) of Anekal taluk, Bengaluru, and Aldon Rebeiro (42) of Gangolli, Kundapura.

Acting on a complaint from multiple victims, police registered a case at the Kavoor Police Station. During the probe, officers recovered 24 passports, allegedly seized from the victims under the pretext of visa processing, along with 43 grams of gold ornaments worth about ₹4.3 lakh and two mobile phones from the accused in Bengaluru.

Both suspects were taken into custody and produced before the jurisdictional court, the commissioner said.

According to investigators, around 40 people were cheated within Kavoor Police Station limits, while another complaint was filed at Mulki Police Station by a victim claiming similar fraud. The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of ACP (North Sub-Division) Shrikant K and led by Inspector Raghavendra M. Byndoor, assisted by PSI Mallikarjun Biradar, Head Constable Nagarathna, and Constables Raghavendra, Praveen, and Riyaz.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has released the official list of recipients for the 2025 Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards, honouring 70 individuals across diverse fields — including actor Prakash Raj — for their outstanding contributions to society.

For the first time, the awards were finalised without an open call for applications. Recipients were chosen on the basis of district representation and social contribution, said Minister Shivraj Tangadagi at a press briefing held at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.

“The selection was made based on district-wise and social parameters. Most of those recommended by the advisory committee were approved. The committee met four to five times to finalise the deserving candidates,” the minister said.

In a first, two achievers from the Samagara Haralayya community have been recognised this year. Following a prior decision, no organisations were considered for the award in this edition.

A total of 12 women are among this year’s honourees. Minister Tangadagi noted that some had submitted self-nominations, which were accepted as they were found deserving.

Each award carries a 25-gram gold medal and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh. The felicitation ceremony will be held on 1 November at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru, at 6 pm.

List of Awardees 2025

Literature

•    Prof. Rajendra Chenni – Shivamogga
•    Thumbadi Ramayya – Tumakuru
•    Prof. R. Sunandamma – Chikkaballapur
•    Dr. H. L. Pushpa – Tumakuru
•    Rahamat Tarikere – Chikkamagaluru
•    H. M. Poojar – Vijayapura

Folklore

•    Basappa Bharamappa Choudki – Koppal
•    B. Thakappa Kannur – Shivamogga
•    Sanningappa Satteppa Mushennagol – Belagavi
•    Hanumantappa, Marappa, Chilangi – Chitradurga
•    M. Thopanna – Kolar
•    Somanna Dundappa Dhanagonda – Vijayapura
•    Sindhu Gujaran – Dakshina Kannada
•    L. Mahadevappa Udigal – Mysuru

Music / Dance

•    Devendrakuamr Pattar – Koppal
•    Madivalayya Sali – Bidar
•    Prof. K. Ramamurthy Rao – Mysuru

Cinema / Television

•    Prakash Raj – Dakshina Kannada
•    Vijayalakshmi Singh – Kodagu

Administration / Medical

•    H. Siddayya, IAS (Retd.) – Bengaluru South (Ramanagara)
•    Dr. Aalamma Maranna – Tumakuru
•    Dr. Jayaranganath – Bengaluru Rural

Social Service

•    Sulagitti Eeramma – Vijayanagar
•    Fakkeeri – Bengaluru Rural
•    Corine Antoinette Rasquinha – Dakshina Kannada
•    Dr. N. Sitarama Shetty – Udupi
•    Konandur Lingappa – Shivamogga

Sculpture / Crafts / Visual Art

•    Umesh Pambada – Dakshina Kannada
•    Dr. Ravindra Korishetti – Dharwad
•    K. Dinesh – Bengaluru
•    Shantaraju – Tumakuru
•    Jaffer Mohiyuddin – Raichur
•    Penna Obalappa – Bengaluru Rural
•    Shanti Bai – Ballari
•    Pundalik Shastri (Budabudake) – Belagavi

Kannadigas Abroad / Outside State

•    Zakariya Bajpe (Saudi Arabia)
•    P. V. Shetty (Mumbai)

Environment

•    Ramegowda – Chamarajanagar
•    Mallikarjun Ningappa – Yadgir

Agriculture

•    Dr. S. V. Hittalamani – Haveri
•    M. C. Rangaswamy – Hassan

Media

•    K. Subramanya – Bengaluru
•    Amshi Prasanna Kumar – Mysuru
•    B. M. Haneef – Dakshina Kannada
•    M. Siddharaju – Mandya

Science & Technology

•    Ramayya – Chikkaballapur
•    Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar – Davanagere
•    Dr. R. V. Nadagouda – Gadag

Cooperation

•    Shekharagouda V. Malipatil – Koppal

Yakshagana / Theatre / Performing Arts

•    Kota Suresh Bangera – Udupi
•    Airbail Anand Shetty – Udupi
•    Krishna Parameshwara Hegde (K. P. Hegde) – Uttara Kannada
•    Gunduraj – Hassan
•    H. M. Paramashivayya – Bengaluru South (Ramanagara)
•    L. B. Sheikh (Master) – Vijayapura
•    Bangarappa Khudanpur – Bengaluru
•    Mime Ramesh – Dakshina Kannada
•    D. Ratnamma Desai – Raichur

Education

•    Dr. M. R. Jayaram – Bengaluru
•    Dr. N. S. Ramegowda – Mysuru
•    S. B. Hosamani – Kalaburagi
•    Nagaraju – Belagavi

Sports

•    Ashish Kumar Ballal – Bengaluru
•    M. Yogendra – Mysuru
•    Dr. Babina N. M. (Yoga) – Kodagu

Judiciary

•    Justice P. B. Bhajantri (Pavankumar Bhajantri) – Bagalkote

Sculpture / Painting / Handicraft
•    Basanna Monappa Badiger – Yadgir
•    Nagalingappa G. Gangur – Bagalkote
•    B. Maruti – Vijayanagar
•    L. Hemashekar – Mysuru