Youth dies as truck topples at Thokkottu; locals stage protest; case against NHAI

coastaldigest.com web desk
December 18, 2018

Mangaluru, Dec 18: The death of a truck cleaner sparked off a massive protest and vehicular traffic came to a grinding halt on National Highway 66 for more than an hour at Thokkottu Junction on the outskirts of the city on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar (25), a resident of Shikaripura in Shivamogga. According to a source, the traffic police had signalled the truck driver to stop the vehicle for a routine inspection at Thokkattu junction. Heeding to the instructions of traffic cop, the truck driver had pulled the vehicle aside.

In a tragic turn of events, the concrete slab covering the drain caved in and the truck overturned. The cleaner, Vasanth Kumar, in an attempt to save his life jumped from the truck but in the process got crushed under the truck.  The cleaner Kumar was trapped under the truck for nearly 10 minutes.

Later, an earth mover from a nearby construction site was pressed into service and a profusely bleeding Kumar was extricated from under the truck and shifted to a private hospital in Deralakatte. Kumar, however, succumbed in the hospital, the source added. The accident sparked off protests.

Condemning the incident, over 500 residents and vehicle owners staged a protest by blocking the vehicles on the highway. The protesters blamed the accident on the irresponsible act of traffic police and demanded compensation for the family of the deceased.

The protesters also demanded an immediate stop on toll being collected on NH 66 until the work on four-laning and service roads were completed.

They also urged the police commissioner and deputy commissioner to visit the spot and listen to their grievances. Following the traffic blockade, the vehicles were seen lined up on the highway for many kilometres. They alleged that the truck was stopped on the orders of traffic cops present at the spot.

The police had been stopping vehicles at Thokkottu Junction for booking cases and causing inconvenience to the movement of vehicles. The delay in the completion of the flyover at Thokkottu had resulted in congestion at Thokkottu and the traffic police’s decision to book cases had further aggravated the situation, they claimed.

DCP (Crime and Traffic) Uma Prashanth visited the spot. Following her assurance, the protest was withdrawn to facilitate the movement of vehicles on the highway. As tension prevailed at the site, police immediately deployed KSRP personnel to maintain law and order. The truck was transporting firewood from Karkala to a fishmeal factory in Ullal.

The DCP said a case has been registered against lorry driver Jaya Poojary for negligent driving, NHAI officials and contractor for the poor quality of roadworks that led to the collapse of slabs covering the drainage. A case was registered under IPC Section 279, 304 (A), a source added.

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News Network
October 12,2024

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Udupi: In a significant operation, the Malpe police have arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals who were illegally residing in India using forged Aadhaar cards. Udupi Superintendent of Police, Dr. Arun K, stated that the arrests followed after an immigration incident involving one of the group's members.

Muhammed Manik, one of the arrested individuals, was caught attempting to travel to Dubai via Mangaluru International Airport with a fake passport. Alert immigration officers at the airport detained him and handed him over to the Bajpe police, who registered a case. Following this, the Udupi police, acting on the information provided by the Bajpe police and immigration authorities, conducted an investigation that led to the arrest of the seven individuals in Hoode village, Paduthonse, Udupi.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Hakeem Ali (24), Sujon S K alias Farooq (19), Ismail S K (30), Kareem S K (20), Salam S K (22), Rajikul S K (20), and Mohammed Sojib (20), all hailing from Bangladesh.

The group entered India without any valid documentation and managed to acquire fake Aadhaar cards, which they used to stay in the country illegally. According to police sources, a person named Kajol from Agartala assisted them in obtaining the fraudulent Aadhaar cards, while a Bangladeshi named Usman facilitated their illegal entry into India under the guise of employment. Both Kajol and Usman are currently at large.

The Malpe police have registered cases under several sections, including Sections 19(2), 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2), and 190 of the BNS, related to fraud and illegal entry. Interrogations are ongoing as the police seek further details in connection with the case.

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News Network
October 7,2024

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Mangaluru, Oct 7: In a heartbreaking turn of events, the search for Mumtaz Ali, chairman of Misbah Group of Educational Institutions, ended with the discovery of his mortal remains in the Phalguni river near Kulur. The somber discovery came after an exhaustive search, leaving a community in shock and sorrow.

He is the younger brother of former MLA Mohuiddin Bawa and former MLC B M Farookh. 

The incident has taken a deeply distressing turn with the filing of an FIR against six individuals, including a woman, who are accused of pushing Ali to a tragic end. 

The accused allegedly blackmailed Ali, fabricating a story about his involvement in an illicit relationship with the woman. Reports suggest that they extorted Rs 50 lakh from Ali and were unrelenting, demanding an additional Rs 50 lakh from him, casting a shadow over his final days.

The complaint, lodged by Ali’s grieving brother, accuses these individuals of driving him to despair through relentless blackmail and false accusations, ultimately leading him to take the tragic step.

In the early hours of Sunday, Ali left his home at 3 am, heading towards Suratkal, perhaps seeking some solace. A minor accident occurred when his car collided with a private bus near MCF. Despite the mishap, he offered a heartfelt apology to the bus driver and conductor—a gesture that now echoes with the pain of his unspoken struggles. After the collision, Ali made a U-turn near Panambur circle, driving back towards Kulur bridge, where his journey came to a sorrowful end.

Ali’s last moments hold an even deeper sadness, as he left behind a voice message in Byari, naming an individual who had been tormenting him mentally. Sent to his daughter and a close friend, the message revealed the unbearable burden he was carrying, hinting at his final decision to end his suffering.

This tragic loss has left the community and his loved ones grappling with unanswered questions and a profound sense of grief. As the investigation unfolds, the memory of Mumtaz Ali lingers, a reminder of the silent battles that too often go unseen.

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News Network
October 3,2024

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Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao reminded that V D Savarkar was not against cow slaughter as he himself was non-veg eater, PTI reported on Thursday.

"As a Brahmin he was eating meat, and he was openly propagating eating meat," said the minister at an event in Bengaluru.

Reacting to Gundu Rao's claim, BJP MP Anurag Thakur called Congress a "factory of lies" as he warned that India won't tolerate any disrespect towards Savarkar.

"By disrespecting Veer Savarkar they have shown that they don't respect freedom fighters. During the Congress government, Sardar Bhagat Singh was termed a separatist in textbooks...By making those who want to break the nation join the congress party, Rahul Gandhi is taking forward the ideology of 'tukde tukde' and he is a 'modern Jinnah' who speaks ill of the country abroad...," he said.

Meanwhile, a court in Maharashtra's Nashik district summoned Congress MP Rahul Gandhi earlier this week in a defamation case filed against him for his alleged objectionable remarks against the Hindutva ideologue.

The complainant, who is the director of an NGO, claimed he watched a press conference addressed by Gandhi in Hingoli and also a speech made by the Congress leader in November 2022.

He alleged that Gandhi, on the two occasions, by his words and visual representations knowingly harmed the reputation of Veer Savarkar and also tried to defame the latter's image in the society.

According to the complainant, Gandhi said "Savarkar is BJP and RSS jin" which was defamatory in nature.

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