Police make no headway into murder attempt case; Rahim Uchil recovers

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 16, 2012
Mangalore, March 16: Mangalore City Police have failed to make any headway in the sensational murder attempt on Karnataka Beary Sahithya Academy Chief Rahim Uchil even a day after the heart rending incident.

It is learnt that police, during last 24-hours, have questioned several people including his relatives, friends and members of some organisations. A couple of hours after Thursday's brutal attack, Bajpe police had taken two persons from their jurisdiction into custody. However, both of them were released later in the evening.

Though the CCTV camera installed at the adjacent building of Presidium complex, in which the office of Beary Academy is located, had captured the scene of assailants entering into the office, their faces are not visible. All the six miscreants had covered their faces with kerchiefs. The CC TV camera at the building in front of the Academy office also has captured the images but they are of low resolution and the zoom images are not seen clearly.

rahimuchil

Mangalore City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh has expressed confidence to nab all the culprits soon. “Three separate teams have been constituted under the leadership of three inspectors - Thilak Chandra, Vinay Gaunkar and Venkatesh Prasanna. They are also looking for a clue and are taking help of local shop keepers and residents”, he said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Jagannath said that currently the probe was in progress in three different angles including religious and personal enmity.

Meanwhile, medical sources have said that Mr Uchil, who sustained severe injuries on neck, chest, hands and other parts of the body, was out of danger. “Though he is still in the intensive care unit, now he can speak” said a doctor.

According to Mr Uchil's wife Shahina it was God's grace that his life was saved. “I am a bit relieved now. I visited him in the morning and feel a lot better,” she said.

“He had received a threat call a month back. But I had not heard of any such things ever since. He generally would not speak about such things with me,” she said.

“He had a loud mouth. But he is not the person to take up a fight. He always helped people from our community. Our own people (Bearys) would come to him seeking some help or the other. We did not have many non-Muslim people coming to our place. But unfortunately, those people (Bearys) who sought his help talked ill of him from behind”, she said.

“He survived because he knew a trick or two to avoid such attacks. He must have used his arm as a shield when they came to slay his neck,” said a relative of him who was in the hospital.

Mr Uchil's marital life also saw some twists. Having married a second time there were many complaints against him. Recently there were rumours about a woman slapping him in Padubidri. But, he had denied the rumours, saying that it was a political conspiracy against him.

He was working as an Anchor in one of the local channels in the city. Mr Uchil was actively involved in BJP. He had struggled hard for the presidential post of the Beary Academy. Moreover, some of his recent statements following the Hindu Samajotsava in Uppinagady had sparked controversy.

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News Network
November 14,2024

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Bengaluru: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union government has requested the Karnataka High Court to direct the Mandya district administration and the state government to clear a madrasa operating within the premises of the historic Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna.

The Waqf Board, opposing this move, has claimed the mosque as its property and defended the right to conduct madrasa activities there.

The matter was brought before a division bench headed by Chief Justice N V Anjaria following a public interest litigation filed by a person named Abhishek Gowda from Kabbalu village in Kanakapura taluk. The petition alleged “unauthorised madrasa activities” within the mosque.

Representing the Central government, Additional Solicitor General of India for High Court of Karnataka, K Arvind Kamath argued that the Jama Masjid was designated as a protected monument in 1951, yet unauthorised madrasa operations continue there.

He noted that concerns over potential law and order issues have so far prevented any intervention. Kamath urged the court to direct the Mandya district administration to take action and vacate the madrasa from the mosque.

In defence, lawyers for the state government and the Waqf Board contested this request, stating that the Waqf Board had been recognised as the owner of the property since 1963 and, thus, conducting madrasa activities there is lawful.

After hearing both sides, the bench adjourned the case for further arguments, scheduling the next hearing for November 20.

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News Network
November 13,2024

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In the heart of Mangaluru, where rising air pollution is spurring public health worries, voices are calling for a greener, cleaner shift in the city’s public transport. Leading this call is APD Foundation, a Mangaluru-based environmental NGO, which has urged Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre to mandate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in public transport.

Abdullah A Rehman, CEO of APD Foundation, emphasized in a formal letter to the minister that Mangaluru’s public transportation system—efficient and organized with both government and private players—could transition smoothly to EVs in stages. He suggested that government-backed financial incentives, partnerships with EV manufacturers, and collaborations with environmental groups could streamline the switch.

Rehman stressed the potential of EVs to cut down emissions, enhance air quality, and reduce noise levels, noting the quieter operation of electric buses. He confirmed that a copy of his letter was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner as well.

However, Dilraj Alva from the Dakshina Kannada City Bus Association noted potential challenges, explaining that the shift might take up to two years due to infrastructure and budget hurdles. Most EV buses, he explained, are procured through aggregators, not directly by individual operators. The addition of charging stations and other essential infrastructure further complicates the transition.

Alva also raised the economic concern: while diesel buses are priced between ₹30-40 lakh, electric buses can cost up to ₹1 crore. Reflecting on recent meetings with companies, including one in Manipal, he questioned the assumption that EVs are an absolute solution to pollution. “EVs aren’t entirely eco-friendly, especially when considering battery disposal,” he cautioned.

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News Network
November 13,2024

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Bengaluru: An estimated overall 10.14 per cent voter turnout was recorded during the first two hours, since the voting began for bypolls to three Assembly segments in Karnataka on Wednesday, election officials said.

The voting began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm.

More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates are in the fray.

While Channapatna recorded 10.34 per cent voter turnout till 9 am, it was 10.08 per cent in Shiggaon, and 9.99 per cent in Sandur, election officials said.

Voters, including women and elderly were seen queuing up in front of polling booths in these segments.

By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna are necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) -- to Lok Sabha in May elections.

As many as 31 candidates are in the fray from Channapatna, while Sandur and Shiggaon have six and eight contenders, respectively.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the three segments for the smooth conduct of the polls.

The by-polls will witness a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Sandur and Shiggaon segments, while in Channapatna, JD(S) which is part of the NDA alliance is in contest against the grand old party.

Among the three segments, Channapatna is considered to be a "high profile", where the contest is between C P Yogeeshwara, a five time MLA from the segment and former Minister, who joined the Congress quitting BJP ahead of nomination, and actor-turned -politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is Kumaraswamy’s son and former PM H D Deve Gowda's grandson.

BJP's Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai, is fighting Congress Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former Chief Minister in the 2023 Assembly polls, in Shiggaon.

Bharath Bommai and his father cast their vote at a polling booth in Shiggaon segment.

In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife E Annapurna of Congress is contesting from the seat vacated by her husband, against, BJP ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu, who is considered close to party leader and former mining barron G Janardhan Reddy.

Annapurna, Tukaram and other family members cast their votes at a booth in the segment.

With Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Bharath Bommai contesting, the third generation of Gowda and Bommai families are in the fray in this by-poll. Both their fathers and grandfathers have served as Karnataka's Chief Ministers in the past.

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