Two fishermen shot dead by Italian vessel in high seas; captain arrested

naeem@coastaldigest.com (CD Network)

February 16, 2012

Mangalore, February 16: Two fishermen, who had left for fishing in a fishing boat from Kollam last week, were shot dead in the high seas off Alappuzha, Kerala on Wednesday.

Official sources confirmed that two fishermen, one each from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, were fired upon mistaking them to be pirates by security officials of an Italian cargo vessel in the deep sea after being mistaken for pirates.

Meanwhile, the Captain and the guards of the Italian ship have been taken to custody.

The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the Italian Ambassador to discuss on the issue. According to TV Reports, the Kerala Police is being pressurised by Italian authorities into not arresting the ship crew.

The Italian ship did not alert Coastal state authority when they were attacking pirates. The Coast guard said that the Italian ship broke protocol by shooting. According to the IMO guidelines, shooting should be used as the last resort.

The vessel's authorities have apologised for the incident, claiming that they mistook the fishermen for pirates.

The incident is believed to have occurred about 14 nautical miles off the Alappuzha coast, nearly 400 kms away from here.

Fishermen in Kollam said the fishing boat, which left Kollam in Kerala a week back, was on its way back when the incident occurred.

The Kerala cabinet on Thursday decided to give Rs 5 lakh compensation each to the next of kin of the two fishermen.

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Mangaluru set for mega infra boost: CM to inaugurate new DC office & indoor stadium

News Network

May 10,2025

Mangaluru, May 10: A new chapter in Mangaluru’s infrastructure story unfolds on May 16, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrives to inaugurate two transformative projects: the newly built Deputy Commissioner’s Office at Padil and a world-class indoor stadium at Urwa.

These developments signal a strong push toward better governance and enhanced urban amenities in the coastal city.

₹75 Crore DC Office

The new DC Office, spread across a modern campus at Padil, comes with a price tag of ₹75 crore. Initially budgeted at ₹55 crore, the project received an additional ₹20 crore under the Smart City Mission, aimed at integrating technology and convenience in public administration.

“This facility reflects our vision of a centralized, people-friendly government. With 23 departments under one roof, citizens can now access services more efficiently,” said District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

The phased relocation of departments will begin on the day of inauguration and be completed over the next 2 to 3 weeks.

₹35 Crore Indoor Stadium Opens Doors

Also on the agenda is the grand opening of Mangaluru’s new indoor sports complex in Urwa, built for ₹35 crore. This ultra-modern facility is equipped to host national-level indoor events and will offer quality training infrastructure for emerging sports talent in the region.

Initiated during Siddaramaiah’s previous term, both the stadium and DC Office projects are now ready for public use and are expected to create lasting impact.

“These projects are not just buildings. They are investments in governance, youth, and the future of Mangaluru,” said Rao.

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With 91.12% pass percentage in SSLC, Dakshina Kannada tops Karnataka

News Network

May 2,2025

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district has secured the top position in Karnataka in the SSLC (Class 10) results for the academic year 2024–25, with a pass percentage of 91.12%, as announced on Friday.

In the previous academic year (2023–24), the district had ranked second in the state with a higher pass percentage of 92.12%. Despite a 1% drop in the pass rate this year, the district has risen to the top position. In 2022–23, it had ranked 17th with 89.52%.

Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Venkatesh S Patagar attributed the district’s improved rank to several focused initiatives. Among them were the timely completion of the syllabus by December 2024 and subject-wise special classes.

Special attention was given to slow learners through dedicated support classes. The department also organized fortnightly parent meetings to track students' academic progress.

To instill discipline and a consistent study routine, schools made regular wake-up calls to students in the mornings and evenings. Other initiatives included model question paper practice, the 'Jnana Sinchana' live YouTube series, online doubt-clearing sessions, and interactive radio phone-in programs.

Students were also encouraged to attempt the 'Vijayeebhava' question paper series, developed and published by the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Udupi.

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