With the arrest of BJP leader Nagaraj, total arrests in Chikkaballapur blast case mounts to eight

News Network

February 26, 2021

Bengaluru, Feb 26: The number of persons arrested in connection with the blast at a crusher at Hirenagaveli, Chikkaballapur district, is now eight after the police nabbed G S Nagaraj, one of the four partners of the quarry and a local BJP leader.

Known as Gudibande Nagaraj, he was one of the main accused in the quarry explosion case. He was on the run since the explosion claimed the lives of six labourers of the crusher during the late hours of February 22. The tragedy occurred when they were attempting to hide the cache of explosives in the forest land behind the crusher, after raids by authorities earlier in the day.

Another person identified as Ganesh, hailing from Tamil Nadu, was also arrested by the police for questioning, as he is learnt to have to conducted blasting at the crusher a few months ago.

Nagaraj was among the four partners running the quarry. Three others, Venkatashiva Reddy, Raghavendra Reddy and Madhusudan Reddy were arrested on Thursday.

According to Chikkaballapur police, eight accused in the blast case are now arrested. A total of 15 people were named in the FIR, which was initially filed against the crusher on February 7 and updated post the explosion.

Apart from the six people who perished in the incident, one more dead person - Imthiyaz, one of the partners of the quarry, who passed away two months ago - was also named in the FIR filed by the police.

CID officials, who took over the case, launched their investigation into the incident.

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NRIs push for better air connectivity between Mangaluru and Singapore after AIE setback

News Network

January 13,2025

Mangaluru: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in Singapore remain determined to establish direct air connectivity between Mangaluru and Singapore despite setbacks. This follows Air India Express' (AIE) recent decision to postpone its planned direct flight service on this route, disappointing many expats.

In response, NRIs have proposed an alternative solution: extending IndiGo's existing Singapore-Bengaluru flight to Mangaluru. Currently, the Singapore-Bengaluru flight lands at Kempegowda International Airport at 7:40 AM, but passengers cannot board the 9:00 AM Bengaluru-Mangaluru connection due to insufficient transit time. Extending the Singapore-Bengaluru flight to Mangaluru would address this issue and benefit travelers.

Rajesh H. Acharya, director of HQ Connections in Singapore and coordinator of the Singapore Tuluver community, expressed disappointment over AIE's handling of the situation. "We’ve been advocating for this route since 2017, and it was close to becoming a reality. However, the sudden postponement and lack of stakeholder support have delayed our efforts," he said.

A petition has been submitted to IndiGo Airlines requesting the introduction of a direct Mangaluru-Singapore flight. Alternatively, it suggests extending IndiGo’s existing Singapore-Bengaluru flight to include Mangaluru. Expats have also approached Scoot Airlines in Singapore for direct connectivity. However, the lack of 'Point of Call' status for Mangaluru Airport remains a significant hurdle for international flights.

Despite the challenges, NRIs continue their efforts to make direct air connectivity between Mangaluru and Singapore a reality.

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Speaker U T Khader inspects Padil DC Office project, sets January inauguration target

News Network

January 3,2025

Mangaluru: The long-awaited DC office complex in Padil is nearing completion, with plans underway to inaugurate the facility during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s visit to Mangaluru for the State Olympics meet on January 17. Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader inspected the site and emphasized the urgency of completing the ₹75 crore project within the set deadline.

“We aim to finish the work by January 10 so that the inauguration can align with the Chief Minister’s visit. However, the final decision will depend on the project’s readiness by then,” Khader stated during his site inspection.

The ambitious project, reflecting the rich Tulu Nadu heritage in its design, received administrative approval on April 28, 2015. Following delays, the work order was issued on February 3, 2018, and construction began on March 17, 2018. Khader assured that the building's traditional architecture will extend to its surroundings, including an aesthetically designed entrance gate.

Spread across 5.89 acres, the complex boasts a total plinth area of 21,054.88 sq m, encompassing multiple levels:

Basement: 4043.88 sq m
Ground Floor: 7553.36 sq m
First Floor: 4158.94 sq m
Second and Third Floors: 2561.28 sq m each
Roof 1 and 2: 88.07 sq m each

The facility aims to centralize government services by housing most departments—except Revenue and RDPR—under one roof. This initiative, Khader highlighted, will streamline operations, save time, and enhance convenience for both officials and the public.

"Officials have been directed to expedite the remaining work, ensuring its timely completion," he added, reaffirming the government’s commitment to creating a functional and visually iconic administrative hub for the region.

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