Adieu Ramadan! Eid al-Fitr in coastal Karnataka on Sunday

Mangaluru: As many as 22 affiliated private degree colleges under Mangalore University (MU) will be shut down voluntarily after they failed to seek renewal of affiliation, primarily due to poor student enrolment and operational constraints. The decision was taken at a recent Academic Council meeting of the university.

The 22 colleges are:

Aaba Women’s First Grade College, Surathkal

Anjuman First Grade College, Mangaluru

Amrutha College, Padil

Silicon College of Advance Studies, Konchady

Moegling Institute of German Language, Balmatta

Sarsa College of Arts and Science, Mangaluru

Rosario College of Management Studies, Bolar

Karavali College of Education, Mangaluru

Premakanthi College of Education, Mangaluru

Sapientia Bethany First Grade College, Nelyadi

Sri Sharada Women’s College, Sullia

Ramakunjeshwara College, Ramakunja

Hazaratha Sayad Madani Banatha Women’s College, Ullal

St. Sebastian College of Commerce, Ullal

St. Thomas College, Belthangady

Mar Ivanios College, Kadaba

Madhava Pai College, Manipal

Mookambika First Grade College, Byndoor

Varasiddhi Vinayaka First Grade College, Kundapur

B.D. Shetty College of Business Management, Udupi

Vidyanikethana First Grade College, Kaup

Krishnabai Vasudeva Shenoy Memorial College, Katpady

Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.L. Dharma said principals of the affected colleges informed the university that they were compelled to suspend admissions for several courses after failing to secure the prescribed minimum number of students. Consequently, the managements opted for voluntary closure under Section 65 of the Karnataka State Universities Act, 2000.

Apart from low enrolment, other administrative and financial factors also contributed to the decision to shut down the colleges, the Vice-Chancellor said. He clarified that the closures will not affect students who are already enrolled and currently pursuing their studies. The colleges have been directed to continue providing all student-related services, including verification of marks cards and academic records.

After the closure of these 22 colleges, the total number of colleges affiliated to Mangalore University will stand at 167, comprising 109 private colleges, 32 government colleges, nine autonomous colleges, 13 BEd colleges, and four constituent colleges.

Mangaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a clear majority in the Bajpe and Kinnigoli town panchayat elections in Dakshina Kannada district. Vote counting was held on Wednesday.

The town panchayat elections were conducted for the first time on December 21, four years after the upgradation of the Bajpe and Kinnigoli gram panchayats.

In Bajpe, elections were held for 19 seats. The BJP won 11 seats, while the Congress secured four seats. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) won three seats, and one seat was won by an independent candidate. A total of 59 candidates were in the fray. The counting of votes took place at the Mangaluru Mini Vidhana Soudha.

Bajpe Town Panchayat was formed in 2021 by merging the Bajpe and Malavoor gram panchayats.

In Kinnigoli, the BJP won 10 seats, while the Congress secured eight seats. A total of 42 candidates contested the election. The vote counting was held at the Kinnigoli Town Panchayat office. The Kinnigoli Town Panchayat was formed by merging the Kinnigoli, Mennabettu and Kateel gram panchayats.

BJP workers celebrated the party’s victory in both Bajpe and Kinnigoli. Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta, district BJP president Sathish Kumpala and other party leaders were present.

A 30-year-old man from Kumragodu village in Brahmavar taluk has been cheated of Rs 15,95,005.90 in an online investment fraud linked to a bogus e-commerce and digital marketing scheme.

According to the complaint filed by Arun Acharya, he came across an advertisement on Instagram on July 22, 2024, posted by an entity calling itself “E BOSS Marketing & Services Company,” which claimed to offer lucrative opportunities in e-commerce, digital marketing, and dropshipping.

After contacting the mobile number mentioned in the advertisement, the accused began communicating with him via WhatsApp and provided training on investing money and earning profits. Initially, Arun received high returns on his investment, which helped gain his confidence.

Trusting the scheme to be genuine, he transferred money in phases between September 2024 and December 19, 2024, through NEFT transactions to bank accounts of E BOSS Marketing & Services Company, allegedly owned by one Har Simran Singh. The total amount transferred was Rs 15,95,005.90.

However, after receiving the money, the accused stopped paying returns and failed to refund the invested amount, thereby cheating the complainant.

Based on the complaint, Brahmavar police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act and are investigating the matter.