Mangalore-Dammam inaugural flight takes off - WATCH VIDEO!

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh Vamanjoor)
April 3, 2013

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Mangalore, Apr 3: The historic Mangalore-Dammam direct flight with 160 passengers onboard finally took off from Mangalore International Airport at 5 p.m. (IST) on Wednesday.

A festive atmosphere prevailed at the Mangalore International Airport as for the first time in its six decades of history, overwhelmed passengers from Mangalore are directly flying to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today.

Passengers who boarded the Mangalore-Dammam inaugural flight from the airport in Bajpe were enthusiastic over the direct flight which could save trouble for the large number of expatriates from the region of coastal Karnataka working in Saudi Arabia. As many as 59 passengers from Mangalore were on board the flight which took off at 5 p.m. today, airline officials said. The 160-seat capacity flight began its journey from Calicut with passengers from Kerala at 3 p.m. and landed at Mangalore at 4 p.m.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP K Jayaprakash Hegde, Mangalore MLA U T Khader and Chairman of Coastaldigest.com Mohammed Asif were among those who were on-board. Deputy General Manager of Air India Express, Mangalore Melwin D'Silva presented the boarding cards to the dignitaries and welcomed them on the inaugural flight.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Khader said that a large population from Mangalore and other parts of coastal Karnataka, used to frequent Dammam, Jubail, Riyadh and other parts of Saudi Arabia for work-related purposes. The long-standing demand of a direct flight linking Mangalore with the major cities of Saudi Arabia has been fulfilled today, due to the continuous efforts of Amaco chairman Mohammed Asif and members of various organisations, who met several prominent people such as Praful Patel, S M Krishna, Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes and several others urging them to facilitate a direct flight between Mangalore and Saudi Arabia. The flight will also serve as an opportunity for growth for Mangalore International Airport, he said, wishing that more flights would become operational from Mangalore to Saudi in the coming days.

Mr Hegde and Mr Khader will be visiting Saudi to participate in the Coastaldigest.com gala to be held in Jubail on Thursday evening.

Airport Director T Radhakrishnan, Air India Express of Mangalore Melwin D'Silva and airport manager for Air India Sudhir Bhat accorded a warm welcome to all the passengers checking-in for the Air India Express flight IXE 385, which landed in Mangalore from Calicut.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has made all arrangements for the smooth operation of arrival and departure of flights from Dammam. Mangalore is now connected with Dammam in Saudi Arabia with the commencement of flight IXE 385. Air India Express will operate flights twice a week from Mangalore to Dammam on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the return flight leaving Dammam on Thursday and Sunday.

Passengers thrilled

The air link to Dammam was a long-awaited connection by the local travelers and NRIs. Before the flight took off from Mangalore as per schedule, many eager passengers shared their enthusiasm and appreciation for the flight which was made possible through the efforts and dedication of several people.

Visibly happy, Bajpe Zakariya, a prominent NRI industrialist in Saudi Arabia, who checked-in along with his family said that he was delighted over the commencement of the direct flight. “People and representatives of various organizations have worked hard for the past three years for the commencement of this flight and today the dream has come true. This flight will be useful for the people of entire coastal Karnataka, especially Dakshina Kannada, since a large number of people from this area are employed in Saudi, said Mr Zakariya, who employs over 250 Indians in the Kingdom.

Ali, another passenger said that he was eagerly waiting for this day. “I am feeling happy. I had never imagined that I will directly fly to Dammam from Mangalore so soon,” said Ali who has been working in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade.

Naveena D'Souza, hailing from Udupi, visits Saudi once every six months to avoid the expiry of her Saudi visa. Travelling with her son and daughter, she told Coastaldigest.com that she was very happy about the direct flight. “Since me and my children hold Saudi Arabian visas, visiting the Kingdom every six months is inevitable. So far, it was a hassle travelling to Saudi each time, since it would always result in wastage of time. The direct flight will make our journey easy now,” she said, smiling.

Her son, Flanish said that prior to the direct flight, they had to travel to Saudi via Mumbai, Bahrain or Dubai, which would make it difficult for them. A lot of time would be wasted waiting in the airports and the duration between two different connecting flights would be very less, making it hard sometimes to catch the next flight on time. The direct flight will help us reach our destination faster, so now, we can directly fly to Dammam in less than five hours without trouble or wasting much time, he said.

A youngster Afzal, travelling with his family said that the direct flight made their journey stress-free.

Chief Operating Officer of Air India Express Ansbert D'Souza conveyed his warm wishes to the passengers travelling on the flight and his gratitude to the people of Mangalore for their support.

Watch Video!

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Media Release
December 23,2024

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The Shepherds’ International Academy celebrated its Annual Day on 18/12/2024 at Town Hall with great enthusiasm and spirit. The theme, Essence of Life, focused on fostering moral values, life skills, and holistic development among students, aiming to instill in them the values of kindness, responsibility, and gratitude.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Santosh Soans, a renowned pediatrician and former President of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, was welcomed, along with other dignitaries, by the Head Boy Maaz and Head Girl Amal of the school.

The program commenced with a warm welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Swathi Arshekar, followed by the Principal, Ms. Lubna Banu, addressing the gathering.

A special tribute was paid to the late visionary leader, Mr. Ahmed AK, and advisor, Mr. S.M. Basheer, whose guiding principles continue to inspire the school. Quoting the leader’s words, the Chief Guest, Dr. Soans, said, “We took so much from society; now it’s time to give it back to society.” He emphasized how these words formed the foundation of the school and encouraged everyone to carry forward this vision of service and responsibility.

The Chairman, Ar. Mohammed Nissar, shared his thoughts on the late leader’s enduring legacy, reaffirming the institution’s mission of holistic education that integrates academic excellence with strong ethical values.

The cultural program was a vibrant celebration of the theme Essence of Life, showcasing various values through engaging and meaningful performances.

The theme Essence of Life was designed to inspire students and the audience to reflect on the fundamental principles that give life its true meaning. It emphasized the significance of living a balanced and purposeful life, grounded in strong moral and ethical values. Key aspects of the theme included nurturing family bonds, expressing gratitude, conserving resources, and practicing mindfulness. The school’s aim was to create a foundation of values that would shape students into compassionate, responsible, and well-rounded individuals, ready to make a positive impact on the world.

A welcome note was given by Zahaa, followed by The MCs—Areen Ahmed Shareef, Sharah Syed, Mohammed Ibrahim, Khatija Aleena, Tisha, and Ahsan Hassan T—set the stage by entering with a seed of goodness, a symbolic act where a fruit was added to a tree after each performance, representing the values instilled through the acts.

The cultural program began with “We Are All Amazing” A lively action song celebrating self-worth and individuality by Montessori 1.  Also a skit, celebrating the love, unity, and strength of family bonds, titled Humara Pyaara Parivar. “TED Talk” A thought-provoking talk by a student of Mont 2 Iqra Abdulla on Being Bored is healthy. “Skit on the Right Path” A dramatic performance highlighting the significance of making ethical and moral decisions. “Kindness act” A heartfelt gratitude to the Helping ladies of school. 

The Annual Day celebration was a true reflection of The Shepherds’ International Academy’s mission to nurture well-rounded, value-driven individuals. The theme Essence of Life was seamlessly integrated into every performance, leaving a lasting impression on the audience about the importance of living a life guided by values, responsibility, and service.

The event was a resounding success, showcasing the creativity and talent of students while delivering a strong message about moral values and community service.

The Shepherds’ International Academy remains committed to fostering learners who excel academically and ethically, making a positive impact on the world.

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News Network
December 12,2024

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Angry BJP lawmakers stormed Assembly Speaker U T Khader’s chambers at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, escalating tensions after the ruling Congress turned the tables on the saffron party over the Panchamasali Lingayat community’s reservation issue.

The friction began when Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar, a Panchamasali Lingayat, was allowed to criticise the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government’s controversial decision to scrap the 4 per cent Muslim quota, reallocating it equally to Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Kashappanavar slammed the BJP’s move, accusing it of being a mere election gimmick.

“The previous BJP government created two new reservation categories, 2C for Vokkaligas and 2D for Lingayats, just before the 2023 Assembly elections,” Kashappanavar said. “When challenged in the Supreme Court, the BJP government admitted it would not implement the decision. They announced it for votes but backtracked in court, misleading Panchamasali seer Basava Jaya Mrityunjaya Swami.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Kashappanavar alleged that RSS members had incited violence during a protest for enhanced Panchamasali Lingayat reservation. This claim enraged BJP lawmakers, who demanded the comment be expunged. However, Speaker Khader permitted Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to read aloud the BJP government’s affidavit to the Supreme Court.

“If the Panchamasali Lingayat community has faced injustice, it is because of the BJP,” Gowda declared, sparking further protests from the opposition. BJP leaders accused Khader of being “one-sided” and disregarding a point of order raised by BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar.

When Khader adjourned the session for lunch, the confrontation boiled over. Opposition Leader R Ashoka, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, MLAs Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Sunil Kumar, and others barged into Khader’s chambers. Chaos ensued as shouting and hollering echoed through the halls, prompting marshalls to intervene.

“The Speaker was warned that if he continued behaving this way, we would boycott the session,” Narayan stated afterward.

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News Network
December 25,2024

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Bengaluru: Police Inspector of Khanapur station has been suspended for dereliction of duty by allegedly letting in political leaders and others inside the station while BJP MLC C T Ravi was in custody in connection with a case registered against him, officials said on Wednesday.

The suspension order was issued by the office of Inspector General of Police, North Zone, Belagavi on December 21, they said.

On December 19, Ravi was arrested by the police from the premises of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi for allegedly using a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the legislative council hall.

According to the official order, when C T Ravi was taken to Khanapura police station for safety reasons, Police Inspector Manjunath Nayak, who was in-charge of the station, was told to use the staff and assign suitable duties to them.

It was also ordered to block the entry of any person other than the accused inside the police station. However, many political leaders and mediapersons stormed inside the police station. This created a noisy atmosphere inside the station, it stated.

The order further stated that as a responsible police inspector grade officer, Nayak failed to prevent several political leaders from entering Khanapur Police station, thus creating a tumultuous atmosphere.

He violated the order of superiors, showed negligence and carelessness while performing duty. Therefore, a departmental inquiry was initiated and Nayak was suspended from service with immediate effect for dereliction of duty, the order stated.

According to a police statement issued on Wednesday, after registration of case under section 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in Hirebagewadi police station here, Ravi was taken into custody and handed over to the investigating officers.

However, Ravi was shifted to Khanapura police station considering the security aspect and the huge crowd gathered near Hirebagewadi police station.

"A large number of mediapersons, supporters and party workers gathered and created a chaotic atmosphere in Khanapura police station. There was also the possibility of additional supporters and Congress workers arriving. All these factors also had the potential to disrupt public order," the police stated.

Keeping in mind Ravi's safety, he was shifted to Ramadurga, it said.

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