Services of some trains in Mangaluru region to be affected
Thiruvananthapuram airport to increase flight operations by 22%; Bengaluru top on list
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is increasing flight operations by 22 per cent, taking weekly air traffic movements to 732 from 600. The surge in services comes into effect with the winter schedule, which began on Sunday and runs until March 28, 2026. There has been a growing demand for air travel from Thiruvananthapuram, particularly to metro cities and popular international destinations. Domestic operations will see the most notable rise, with several new routes being introduced and existing ones expanded. New services to Navi Mumbai, Mangaluru, and Tiruchirapalli are set to begin soon. Flights to major cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi and Kannur will also increase. Weekly domestic air traffic movements will rise from 300 to 406, registering a 35 per cent increase. Bengaluru will top the list with 92 flights per week, followed by Delhi with 84 and Mumbai with 70. Chennai will have 42 weekly services, while Hyderabad and Navi Mumbai will have 28 each. Kochi will be connected with 26 weekly flights, followed by Tiruchirapalli with 12, Kannur with 10, Pune with eight and Mangaluru with six. International operations are also set to grow, with weekly movements rising from 300 to 326, which is a 9 per cent increase. Flights to major Gulf and Southeast Asian destinations will expand, strengthening Thiruvananthapurams role as a major travel hub for expatriates and tourists alike. There will be 66 weekly flights to Abu Dhabi, followed 56 to Sharjah and 28 to Dammam. There will be 24 services each to Kuwait and Mal, and 22 each to Dubai, Muscat, and Kuala Lumpur. Doha will have 20 weekly flights, Singapore 14, Bahrain 10, Colombo eight, Riyadh six, and Hanimaadhoo four. The winter schedule, in effect until March 28, 2026, will be one of the busiest operational phases for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
Karnataka: Case filed against RSS leader over hate speech
Mangaluru: Police said they have registered a case against an RSS leader and the organisers of a Deepotsava event held in Uppalige, following a complaint from a resident here. According to a release from Puttur Rural Police on Sunday, the complaint alleged that Kalladka Prabhakar Bhats speech, aired on the Kahale News YouTube channel, incited Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Air India To Operate Daily Flight Between Mangaluru and New Delhi from Oct. 27
Air India Express, will introduce a second daily flight between Mangaluru and New Delhi from Oct 27 to supplement its existing Delhi service
Over 5,000 saplings distributed under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam-2.0 in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: SAF playing active role in curbing hate content on social media
Expert PU College in Mangaluru celebrates Deepavali
Mangaluru: RPF personnel returns left-behind luggage to passenger
Mangaluru to have one more flight to Delhi, new flight to Thiruvananthapuram from October 27
There will be more weekly flight connections to Dammam, Doha, Kuwait, Jeddah, Bahrain during winter schedule 2025 of airlines which will come into effect from October 26
Interstate drug syndicate kingpin arrested by Delhi Police
Zamjith alias Samjhu (38), a native of Kerala, was apprehended in Mangaluru on October 21; police say he was operating the syndicate from Thailand; three members of the syndicate were arrested by police in July
Mangaluru Police Launch Manhunt After Late-Night Stabbing Incident
The accused are said to be Gururaj, a known rowdy-sheeter from Surathkal and associated with Bajrang Dal, along with his associate Alex Santosh, Sushanth, and Nithin.
Southern Railway GM directs officials to build additional tracks at Mangaluru Central
R.N. Singh conducts detailed inspection of major station redevelopment and infrastructure works of Palakkad division
Police open fire at cattle transporter in Karnataka
Mangaluru: Police opened fire on a man allegedly involved in illegal cattle transportation after he tried to evade arrest, officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday evening in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada district when the accused, identified as Abdullah (40), a native of Kasaragod in Kerala, was transporting ten cattle in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Sandalwood stars share their treasured Deepavali moments
With crackling laughter in the air, the aroma of sweets wafting through homes and streets wrapped in festive cheer, the glow of Deepavali has already enveloped the city, and the homes and hearts of celebrities are no different. For many, the festival is about sharing quality time and a hearty meal with family, while for others, its about finding new ways to celebrate or simply pausing to relive the warmth of childhood memories. Memories That Sparkle Aditi Prabhudeva, actor Actor Naveen Shankar lights up at the mention of his childhood Deepavali. He remembers the sparkle of rockets (fireworks that shoot up into the sky) streaking across the night from his village days. Wed put rockets in bottles and watch them shoot up. The colours bursting in the sky still fascinate me, he smiles. For the Hungund-born actor, Deepavali was simple yet magical. When I was a kid, getting new clothes was the highlight. Wed wait for it the whole year, he recalls, the nostalgia unmistakable in his voice. For actor Aditi Prabhudeva, the festivals glow lies in the memory of her grandmothers home. As children, wed decorate the doors, light red clay lamps on the terrace and all around the house, she says. The air, she remembers, would buzz with excitement. The best part was the childlike thrill of lighting firecrackers and brightening every corner, she adds. Actor Dushyanth, who is making his debut with Gatha Vaibhava , sees Deepavali as more than just a festival of lights. For him, its a celebration of legacy. My grandfather would narrate stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and about Karnatakas ancient kings during Deepavali gatherings. Those stories made me fall in love with our history and culture, he shares. His memories carry the scent of the soil riding cows, lighting firecrackers and sharing food with cousins. On-set Cheer Dushyanth, actor Sharing how he celebrated the festival in a simple yet memorable way on the sets of Gatha Vaibhava with the films cast and crew, Dushyanth says, We were in Mangaluru and wrapped up the shoot before Deepavali. To celebrate the festival, we held a small puja, relished sweets and wished each other. The celebration was truly meaningful. Shankar too recalls being part of a Deepavali puja on the sets of Gultoo , his first film. Before rolling, the team gathered and performed a puja. This was my first Deepavali celebration as an actor and indeed a special one. Deepavali for actor Anupama Gowda is a sense of togetherness. During festivals like Deepavali and Ugadi, artistes of various serials gather, dance, sing and play games and it becomes fun episodes covering almost 2-3 days, she says. Home, Sweet Home Naveen Shankar, actor Deepavali brings along warm memories of home for actor Milana Nagaraj. I make sure I visit my hometown during the festivity and celebrate together with my family and cousins. What makes the festival special this year, though? For me, celebrations have evolved with my daughter, Pari, in the picture. Last year, she was just three months old, now she is slowly getting to know things. I cant wait to see her reactions to the festivities, especially the lights, she notes. While he no longer bursts firecrackers, Shankar loves watching others enjoy the activity. These days, the celebration has become a quiet affair at his home, especially after rescuing and adopting strays. I avoid loud sounds, but the spirit of Deepavali remains. Capturing The Essence Anupama Gowda, actor What truly completes the celebration for everyone is the array of good food carefully arranged on the table. Devouring carrot payasa, holige, and whatever is made fresh at home adds essence to the festival. Its the one time you dont count calories, Nagaraj laughs. Prabhudeva agrees, as she adds chakli, kodubale and holige on her festive food list. For Gowda, her festival favourites are obattu, obbattu saaru and chitranna. Another aspect of the celebration is the clothes one wears to mark the occasion. Nothing can match the soul of a traditional wear. The festive vibe truly comes alive when you get ready wearing the outfit of your choice, Prabhudeva adds, sharing that this year shes more excited to dress up her daughter than herself. Dushyanth also shares his love for traditional wear, as he adds, Western clothes are comfortable, but traditional ones carry meaning. At the end of the day, its all about following our roots.
Karnataka govt will be bringing law to curb misinformation: Siddaramaiah
Mangaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that his government will be bringing in a law aimed at curbing misinformation. He also stressed on the need for communal harmony for any district or state to develop and prosper. We are bringing a law against misinformation. We will file cases against those indulging in misinformation, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Spirited away : Heres a deep dive into the roots of Bhoota Kola depicted in Kantara
With actor Rishab Shettys captivating depiction of the bhoota aradhane or daivaradhane tradition in Kantara , the spirit worship practice has catapulted to mainstream attention all over the state. With the release of the films sequel, Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 , the fascination over the folk tradition reached new levels, with videos showing fans impersonating the spirit avatar. Following this, the makers requested the audience not to indulge in impersonations out of respect for the centuries-old tradition, which is significant to communities in Tulu Nadu. Kannada Development Authority chairman and researcher Purushothama Bilimale points to the 14th and 15th centuries as the origin of the daiva aradhane tradition. This is the time when the agrarian sector took over from shifting agriculture and the concept of private land ownership emerged in coastal Karnataka. During that time, forest-dwelling communities lost land ownership and it was occupied by Jain agriculturists, says Bilimale, pointing out that while the first movie dealt with similar themes of land and caste conflict, the sequel is historically inaccurate. There is no relationship between the history of the Kadambas who ruled in the fourth and fifth centuries and bhootas. This shift resulted in a social conflict that is often reflected in the origin stories of deities recorded in pardanas or oral epics told through singing. Some deities like Panjurli (the boar deity in Kantara ) are animistic, but a major category are human deities, who led a life of fighting against injustice and died an untimely death, attaining deity status, explains former vice-chancellor of Karnataka Folklore University K Chinnappa Gowda. The deities then go on to take revenge on wrong-doers or protect their devotees. Bilimale elaborates, saying, Most of the bhootas hail from the lower strata of society. For example, there is a deity called Kalkuda Kallurti, who is part of the community of sculptors. The story goes that he was asked to build a gommata by the King, but the latter told his servants to cut off the sculptors right hand and left leg so he could not build any other gommatas. He dies by suicide and becomes a daiva. Researcher Chithra Kallur adds, There are around 500 different bhootas or daivas documented so far but there may be many smaller spirit deities that likely havent been documented yet. These daivas are also divided into hierarchies and different communities like the pambadas, paravas and nalikes impersonate different deities. Attending the ritual Despite the deeply spiritual nature of the kola, it is an open-door practice where respectful visitors who want to experience them are welcome. On the day of the kola, the entire village gathers. As an outsider and researcher, I have benefited from being an outsider, who are the first to be called upon by the daiva and blessed when addressing the devotees, he says. But how does one attend a kola if they happen to find themselves in the Tulu region? Kallur says, The season for kola starts after Deepavali and goes on till May. Each sthana has a fixed time of the year when kolas are organised. In December, youre bound to find banners announcing a kola or nema in Mangaluru. Impersonating the deity A glimpse from Bhoota Kola rituals Unlike folk theatre and dance forms like Yakshagana, Dollu Kunitha or Veeragase that periodically see performances in the city, this has not been the case with Bhoota Kola due to the spiritual nature of the practice, where the performer is possessed by the deity. This seems to be at the core of why fans of the film impersonating it have upset believers of the tradition. Kallur says, You have to perform it on a specific day and theres a ritualistic process of impersonating the deity. It involves putting on makeup, paraphernalia, the family singing the dietys pardana and finally, the mask being handed over to the performer. Theres also a systematic process of the deity leaving the body. It is a ritual that is at the core of the belief system of Tulu culture. Apart from the music, dance and storytelling serving as an outlet for the communitys frustrations, at the core of the kola is also the deitys conversation with devotees. The oracle speaks fearlessly. It could be problems of the community or the family the bhoota delivers justice and this tradition acts as a folk judicial system, explains Gowda. Bilimale adds, Temporarily, people of the lower caste become deities and have complete control over society. But after the performance, they go back to working under the zamindar. Its an outlet for anger, but afterwards, things go on as usual.
Hoax bomb threat disrupts Dubai-Mangaluru flight
Several houses damaged in lightning strike in Mangaluru
Mahakalipadpu twin RuB commissioning to take two more months
Mangaluru Smart City Ltd., has just commenced the earthwork for the approach roads on Jeppinamogaru and Morgans Gate sides at the RuB site
Harassed by senior, 19-year-old BBA student dies by suicide in Bengaluru
BENGALURU: A 19-year-old second-year BBA student of a private college has died by suicide at a rented house where she was staying with her friends. The victim is said to have taken the extreme step due to the harassment and torture from her senior from Kerala. The incident happened on Friday in Green Garden Layout in the Bagalur police station limits. The deceased Sana Parvin, who hailed from Somwarpet in Kodagu district, had come to the city to study at a private college in Kadusonnappanahalli. Her father, Abdul Nazeer, a civil contractor by profession, has filed the complaint against the suspect, identified as Rifas, who hails from Thrissur district in Kerala, who had passed out two years back. A case of abetment to suicide under Section 108 of BNS was filed. The complainant stated that his daughter took her life because of the continued harassment by Rifas. He is said to have been harassing her to be in a relationship with him. The suspect is absconding, said an officer. On Friday, around 11 am, one of Sanas teachers called the complainants wife and informed her that Sana was unwell and asked her to come immediately. The wife informed the complainant, who left his hometown for Bengaluru. Around 2:30 pm., while he was on his way, his younger brother, Abdul Jabbar, called and told him that Sanas condition was serious and asked him to come to Dr B.R. Ambedkar Hospital in K.G. Halli. The complainant reached the hospital around 5 pm. His brother informed him that around 10 am, Sana had hanged herself at her residence. When her college staff had taken her to a private hospital, doctors declared her dead, according to Nazeers complaint. About 10 months ago, Sana had called her parents and told them that Rifas was harassing, stalking, blackmailing her, and physically assaulting her. The complainant had then called the college and informed them about the issue. The authorities had called Rifas and warned him, according to an officer, based on the complaint. Nazeer, who went to the Bagalur Police Station, spoke to his daughters housemates and found out that his daughter had remained back at home, complaining of breathing difficulty. She had also sent a message about this in her college WhatsApp group. When her friend rushed back home around 10.30 am, they saw people taking Sana to the hospital as she had hanged herself inside the house. MAN FROM PUTTUR FOUND DEAD IN CITY LODGE BENGALURU: A 20-year-old man from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a lodge room in Madiwala police station limits. The victim had come to the lodge along with a woman suspected to be his girlfriend from Virajpet in Kodagu and stayed there for eight days. They had checked in on October 9. However, the person was found dead sometime after his girlfriend checked out on Friday. The deceased P Thakshith was found dead in a sleeping posture with a blanket covering him around 6.30 pm on Friday. The police suspect that he must have died of cardiac arrest. The police who have registered a case of unnatural death are waiting for the postmortem report. On Thursday, around 9 pm, Thakshith had informed the ward boy of vacating the room the next day. On Friday, around 6.15 pm, when Alim, the ward boy, went to remind Thakshith, there was no response. The lodge staff informed the police. The Madiwala police, who entered the room by breaking open the door, found him lying dead on the bed. It is said that both of them studied together at a college in Panambur in Mangaluru. The family members of the deceased have not suspected anybody. Prima facie, it appears that the death must be natural. If the report suggests foul play, then the woman who was with him will be summoned for questioning, said an officer. They were paying the room rent regularly. They had also complained of food poisoning and had gone to a medical store to buy tablets, the lodge manager said. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.) MAN KILLS WIFE SUSPECTING HER FIDELITY, ARRESTED Bengaluru: An electrician who strangled his wife to death on suspicion that she was having an illicit relationship was arrested by the Hebbagodi police on Thursday. He was trying to portray it as an accidental electrocution. The incident took place at their residence in O Shakti Layout on Wednesday. The accused Prashanth Kumar (25), was married to the deceased, Reshma (32), a domestic help and a native of Kalaburagi. The couple had been living in a rented house on 2nd Cross, O Shakti Layout, Maragondanahalli. Reshmas first husband had died due to health complications, and she has a 15-year-old daughter. Nine months ago, she married Kumar after they met through social media. Around 5 pm on Wednesday, Reshmas daughter returned home from school and found her mother unconscious, police said. She alerted family members and neighbours, who rushed Reshma to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead. However, Reshmas elder sister grew suspicious of her death. When she questioned Reshmas daughter, the girl revealed that her mother and stepfather often had arguments and that the bathroom was locked from the outside. Kumar was arrested on Thursday. He confessed that in a fit of rage, strangled her to death. He dragged her to the bathroom, placed her hand in a bucket, and switched on the water heater to make it appear as a death caused by electric shock, the police said.
Passenger traffic at Mangaluru International Airport up by 10.95 % in first half of 2025-26
Total Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) saw a 16.20% jump in the first half of FY 2025-26
The airline proposes to to operate the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram service thrice a week
Vocal, Bansuri, and Sarod concerts at Ramakrishna Mutt in Mangaluru on Oct. 19
More local flavour in menu of Vande Bharat trains in Kerala
KASARGOD: The menu of Keralas Vande Bharat trains just got more exciting. From Thalassery veg biryani, Alleppey veg curry and Varutharacha chicken curry to Kerala chicken curry, Kerala-style chicken roast, Nadan kozhi curry and local fritters, passengers opting to dine on board the Express trains will have a variety of local options to choose from. The IRCTC released the new menu recently. The menu has been revised to offer more Kerala cuisine varieties, said an IRCTC official. The move comes after the Southern Railway (SR) terminated the contract of the caterer following frequent complaints and the IRCTC was tasked with bringing new catering firms. Kochi-based Brindavan Food Products was responsible for serving food on board Vande Bharat Express trains in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. However, the zonal railways cancelled the contract following frequent complaints of poor quality. In May, the health wing of the Kochi corporation raided the companys kitchen and found stale and expired food products. The firm, however, moved the Madras High Court for a stay and continued serving the food. Recently, the Madras HC vacated the stay after the SR submitted details of the complaints and proof. Following this, the SR terminated the contract and asked the IRCTC to rope in new firms to serve food on the trains. IRCTC sources in Ernakulam said Sankalp Recreation Pvt Ltd and AS Sales Corporation have been roped in to supply food in the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express and Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express. Passengers welcomed the change, saying they could spot many local recipes. Frequent Vande Bharat travellers like Nizar Peruvad, who is also the convener of Kasaragod Railway Passengers Association, said he had started going for the no food required option after a couple of bad experiences. This new menu is interesting. There is Thalassery biryani, Alleppey curry and all. It is a welcome move, Nizar said. Nizar also suggested that the new catering companies provide only half-litre water bottles to passengers during the journey. At present, Vande Bharat travellers are provided complimentary water bottles usually of one litre. Many take just a sip and leave bottles, wasting water. Smaller bottles would generate less waste. There is no harm in collecting another bottle if one is still thirsty, Nizar opined. Many passengers said the catering companies should not compromise on quality. The previous menu, too, seemed very good on paper. Passengers need quality food. Catering companies should stick to quality and consistency, said V Avinash, an IRFCA (Indian Rail Fans Club) member and a train researcher from Palakkad. Major changes to lunch and dinner menu Malabar veg/chicken biryani, Thalassery veg biryani, Alleppey veg curry, Veg mezhukkupuratty, Varutharacha chicken curry, Kerala chicken curry, Kerala-style chicken roast and Nadan kozhi curry are new additions Dal-based curries in lunch and dinner have been replaced with more local flavour Breakfast menu remains more or less same with options like idlis, appams, idiyappams and upma paired with kadala or green peas curry, egg curry, scrambled eggs and veg cutlets Snacks box sees the addition of fritters like garam pakoda, ullivada, parippuvada, sharkara upperi and unniyappam. From the old menu, pazhampori has been retained
Karnataka to Develop New Inland Waterway in Mangaluru
The Karnataka Maritime Board is set to develop a new inland waterway in Mangaluru
Mangaluru police attach properties of sureties
Sullia MLA suggests relocating Kaniyoor station, develop railway terminal at Yeladka
Bhagirathi Murulya tells MoSR for Railways V. Somanna the terminal station will help Railways introduce more trains and decongest stations in Mangaluru
Passenger Detained At Mangaluru Airport With 500 Gms Of Hydroponic Ganja
The seizure was immediately reported to the NCB Bangalore and the local police: Reports
Redevelopment of Mangaluru Junction Railway Station nears completion
Works were taken up under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a total cost of 15.80 crore, says Southern Railway
Railways to run Hubballi-Mangaluru-Bengaluru special trains to clear Deepavali rush
The trains will have one first class AC coach, one AC two-tier coach, two AC three-tier coaches, ten sleeper class coaches, four second class coache
Cyber crimes are seeing a downward trend in Bengaluru
While traditional crimes have seen a dip, cyber crimes have recorded an exponential spike over the years. But, said Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, the number of cyber crimes is seeing a downward trend over the last two years and awareness is the key in bringing it down further. In an interaction with TNIE, he spoke about several issues -- from crimes, technology in policing, to the never-say-die drug menace, and, of course, the notorious city traffic. Excerpts. As Bengaluru police commissioner, what are the major challenges you see in the city, and how are the police handling them? Bengaluru is a happening city and has a lot of people from outside and from different professions. If we observe the crime trend in Bengaluru, we have different types of crimes -- cyber crimes related to one sector, bodily offences by construction workers and crimes restricted to particular areas. Crime patterns are changing and police need to keep updating themselves. We are seeing good results. Bengaluru traffic is another major issue. How useful is technology in identifying changing crime patterns? The Integrated Command Centre gives an analysis of crime patterns. We have 320 112 vehicles and we get around 2,000 calls per day. We observed that the crimes are less at night, just 10% of what we see during the day. Based on this, we altered manpower and deputed them to checkpoint duty. Such interventions have helped reduce small crimes. Our initiatives like Safety Island and other safety apps are helping people in distress and allowing us to catch culprits quickly. All these apps are run on artificial intelligence (AI). Right from the call from the public, to the time the vehicle departs to the spot and the feedback is received, everything is managed by AI tech. We can say that our response time is less than 10 minutes within which our men can reach any spot in Bengaluru. With the introduction of technology in law enforcement, we are seeing a decrease in the number of on-ground police personnel. Dont you think the presence of police personnel adds to public safety? Its a good point. Since I have become commissioner, I have ensured that foot patrolling goes on in sensitive areas. Technology adds to our work, but we cannot do away with manual policing. We do have nearly 23,000-strength force in the city and want it deployed on the streets as much as possible. We have to make ourselves visible and serve our beats. Technology and manpower go hand-in-hand. What is being done to address Bengalurus infamous traffic? As of now, there is a lot of infrastructure work going on. After the Greater Bengaluru Authority was formed, the city has been split into five corporations and there is improved coordination among parastatal agencies. Anything that affects free flow of traffic is immediately addressed. Our traffic police are advised not to focus on booking cases, but managing traffic. The long-term measures are upgrading police stations, increasing staff and automating traffic signals. Our Cobra bikes will focus on illegally parked vehicles obstructing traffic. We have identified 96 high-density corridors in the city where towing will start soon. What is your view on road rage? In my opinion, traffic congestion has to be blamed partly (as it frustrates people). We take road rage seriously. Hoysala patrol vehicles help a lot by reaching the spot quickly and defusing the situation. Given the transition of BBMP into GBA, do you think the Bengaluru police could benefit from restructuring as well? We operate at the station level. Our network and pattern of operation is entirely different. We just need to keep parity with the increase in population by adding more police stations. I dont think there is a problem at this juncture. We have informed deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) that GBA commissioners know their areas well and that their operation is entirely different from our work. You mentioned that police stations can be added. When will that need be felt? Are you in conversation with the government regarding this? You must have noticed the addition of three police stations on the outskirts of the city. We dont need to add more stations within the city for now, but the strength of the force can be increased sufficiently. It is adequate as of now, but we can add more to serve specialised wings coming up. We will do it as and when required. One in four crimes are cyber crimes. What is being done to curb them? The number of cyber crimes has gone down this year and it reduced even last year. We can say that there is increased awareness among the public as they dont share OTPs easily now. However, cyber fraudsters are innovating ways to fool people. We have instructed our officials that immediately after they find out a new modus operandi, people should be informed through social media along with solutions to avoid it. What demographics do fraudsters belong to? Fraudsters and criminals are not based here, but victims are. Its perhaps because the city is financially developed due to the number of IT employees here. New modus operandi (MO) come up every day. We have mandated our departments to post on social media every time a new MO comes up, so that people are aware and do not fall victim. Every week, we have a cyber cell meeting to discuss new developments. Can you tell us a bit about the Mane Manege Police programme? The programme is almost one-and-a-half-months old. It is going on well, and it is very intensive. We are prioritising senior citizens and desolate people. A good example of the programmes efficacy was a drug bust we succeeded in based on information and valuable leads secured from the programme. Since you mention drugs, how big a problem is it in Bengaluru? It is not specific to Bengaluru. Nevertheless, it is a place where both transit and consumption happen rampantly; it is quite a serious issue. We cannot blame any specific community, but many foreign nationals here on expired visas are culpable. International courier and road transport are also major routes. This year, we have seized more than Rs 81 crore worth of drugs. We urge people to report such cases, under the promise of anonymity. We are also banking on inter-agency cooperation (involving the Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, etc) to tackle this. It has to be a joint effort. We also look inward: 11 of our staff have been dismissed because they were found to have links with drug peddlers. When we have zero tolerance towards drugs, involvement of our men cant be tolerated. This must have also sent a message to our staff who are engaging in such illegal activities. It is a continuous process. Your counterparts in Mangaluru and Belagavi are conducting random blood sample tests on students and others. How do you look at it? Do you propose to do it in Bengaluru? It is a very ticklish issue. In my opinion unless and until we have specific information we must not go ahead as it is invading the privacy of someone. The Mangaluru and Belagavi police must have had some information. When we have information here, we take our Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team. Recently, we raided a five-star hotel and a pub and took blood samples. We take blood samples when we have a little bit of information. Randomly doing something is not correct in my opinion. What is the role of citizens in stopping drug menace? Citizens must give information to us, then we will take care of the issue. We will maintain confidentiality. The information can be put on the app of the city police. Details of those giving information will not be known. We have to see how a drug consumer is trapped and how to get him/her out of it. The department has tied up with rehabilitation centres. We have Well Being Officers, who keep interacting with our own staff who may have all kinds of problems. Some of them may be addicted to liquor. We have got information about some people who are into drugs through the Well Being Officers. It is very difficult to get peddlers, who use online platforms like dark net to supply drugs. We have very good technology with our crime branch. We use decoy customers and monitor online platforms. How do you compare the crime scene in Bengaluru with other metro cities? In my experience of working in Bengaluru, it is a safe place compared to other cities. It is a cosmopolitan city. People from everywhere work here and are busy with their own professions. A crime here is highlighted because of the IT sector and the city being on the world map. The police are careful here and do not take chances. We are very sensitive to issues, especially regarding women and children. The department has a lot of infrastructure. The city is geographically not so big compared to other cities. We can cover each and every area fast. Not only now, it has always been safe here. This is the reason why so many people come and settle here. Are crimes like the killing of spouses or those related to college students on the rise in Bengaluru? Is it a worrying trend? Spouse killings are all personal issues. We are in a society where no one has time for each other. Bengaluru is a happening city. Now nothing is a taboo. It is a pan-India phenomenon, not specific to Bengaluru. It is happening even in rural areas. The city has a lot of cultural mix as people from everywhere come here. Colleges should take up sensitisation issues. Recently, some students were involved in an incident and the college was asked to take action against students. Some police stations like SG Palya, Soladevanahalli and KR Puram have only educational institutions under their jurisdiction. Most of the time, policemen will be interacting with students. In some instances, the police have called parents of students when they are caught for something. Is the number of women in the police force increasing? Yes. Of the 25 DCPs in the city, five are women. All new recruitments are being done with the 33% new quota for women. Did you always want to be a police officer, or were you interested in any other profession? Since my childhood, I wanted to be in the administrative services. I was fascinated by government jobs in uniform since my father was in the Army. How much time do you get to spend with your family? I make sure to take time out and enjoy moments with my family. We work under a lot of pressure, so I always tell my juniors to spend time with their families. How do you handle a crisis? I strongly believe in teamwork. When we face a crisis, I call my joint commissioners, and we sit together to discuss solutions. I also encourage them to discuss matters with their subordinates. We have a workforce of around 23,000. What the commissioner says should reach the last constable. Without interacting with juniors and understanding the intensity of a problem, we cant find effective solutions. In fact, many of the best solutions come from my junior staff. I always tell my officers to stay positive. There are always challenges in the police department because people come to us only when they are in trouble. The police is one of the departments high in corruption. After taking charge, you suspended 18 staff. What measures are you taking to curb corruption? I can say I am a different kind of officer. I dont operate through victimisation. When I initially took charge, some of my friends and colleagues asked me why I wasnt suspending officers. I told them I dont suspend just to create fear. I suspended officials only after three months, and that too after giving them sufficient instructions and warnings. I called meetings from constables to ACPs and made my priorities and dos and donts very clear. Still, a few people went astray. I feel we should not be vindictive and give them a chance. You played a major role in Covid relief work. How was your experience? During the pandemic, my phone number became viral across Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. People used to call me thinking its a helpline. I used to get scolded: Sir, why didnt you bring my food? Many were from lower-income backgrounds and in desperation, so I knew I had to help directly. I coordinated volunteers, local shops and technology partners to distribute dry ration kits. We handled over 10,000 calls per day. For example, requests from Bihar were sent to the nearest SHO, who collected food packets from shops in our tech backup list and delivered them. Having IT-savvy youngsters as partners helped manage calls and coordinate responses efficiently. It was very satisfying to see relief reach those who needed it the most.
Demands to reinstate Mangaluru-Muscat direct flight service grows
Air India Express was operating four weekly flights between Mangaluru and Muscat which were halted mid-July
FIR Against Actor Jayakrishnan for Abusing Cab Driver
Malayalam actor, two associates booked in Mangaluru for hurling communal slurs at cab driver
MP asks Konkan Railway to provide coach watering facility at Udupi Railway Station
Coach watering facility is essential to start and terminate trains in between Madgaon and Mangaluru, says Kota Srinivas Poojary
Former Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers Director Prabhakar Rao passes away
Former Director of Mangaluru International Airport M.R. Vasudeva described Rao as a gem of a person always willing to help the community
Mangaluru Police Arrest Man For Posting In Support Of PFI
The accused was picked up near Urwa Stores in Mangaluru on October 9, and his mobile phone was seized for investigation: Reports
NCC cadets set sail on Malpe-Mangaluru-Malpe voyage
Boost For Coastal Innovation: Mangaluru Tech Park Gets Cabinet Nod
Giving details about the project IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the proposed project, to be taken up on survey numbers 129 and 113, will be implemented on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.
DGCA faults Indigos pilot training, slaps Rs 20 lakh fine
NEW DELHI: Indigo has been fined a penalty of Rs 20 lakh by the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), recently for faulty training of pilots in specific categories of high risk airports. The airline plans to legally challenge the order. In a disclosure filed in the Bombay Stock Exchange on Wednesday as mandated by SEBI regulations, Indigos parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, has reported that the DGCA had levied Rs 20 lakh penalty on it on September 26. Specifying the violation by the airline which resulted in the penalty, the airline attributes it to its alleged failure to use qualified simulators for pilot training at Category C aerodromes. Category C or high-risk airports refer to aerodromes with challenging approaches or complicated terrain and only pilots who have undergone specialised training can operate flights in them. The disclosure further states, The company is in the process of contesting the order before the appropriate appellate authority. Over 1,700 pilots in Indigo are provided this critical airfield training as revealed through an earlier order the airline had received from the regulator. Elaborating on what qualified simulators refer to, Captain Anil S Rao, president of the All India Pilots Association, told this reporter, All simulators used in aviation need to have a whole topographical view (realistic, actual view) of the airport and its surroundings t. A generic airfield will not have a topographic view. For instance, Calicut and Mangaluru airports have a 300-feet high table top and require what is known as a qualified simulator. Similarly, Srinagar, Port Blair, Leh, Aizawl and Shimla are among the category C airports. Kabul and Kathmandu in the vicinity too are classified under it. On August 11, DGCA had issued a show cause notice to Indigo in connection with lapses in simulator training. Earlier, Air India Express too had received a similar notice in connection with the Calicut International Airport.
Mangaluru Intl. Airport commissions two modern crash fire tenders
Sadanand Poojary elected Mangaluru IMA president
Karnataka Forms Special Task Force to Tackle Elephant Intrusions
The unit will function under the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mangaluru Division
Mangaluru police arrests absconding aide of Kali Yogish
Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan has become popular in W.B. too, says Swami Vidyamrutananda
One should develop a sense of ownership towards public spaces instead of limiting cleanliness to ones home, says the seer from Sarada Peeth
Mangalore University Physical Education Director passes away
Mangalore Universitys Director of Physical Education C.K. Kishore Kumar, passes away at 60 in Mangaluru.
Mangaluru Airport handles 8,168 passengers, highest in a single day
Mangaluru International Airport sets record with 8,168 passengers and 61 flight movements in a single day
Special train between Mangaluru and Delhi on Oct. 5
Traffic to be affected on October 2 evening in light of Mangaluru Dasara procession
Four youths held, minor boy booked for looting 1.5 kg gold from jewellery shop worker in Mangaluru
The Mangaluru police arrested four youths and booked a minor boy in connection with the looting of 1.5 kg gold from a jewellery shop worker by first waylaying his scooter and then abducting him in a car and assaulting him in the city on September 26
Faced with a shortage of enumerators which has hit the ongoing Social and Educational Survey in Mangaluru city, the district administration on Monday requested residents to voluntarily take part in the survey by filling the form online by accessing the link www.kscbcselfdeclaration.karnataka.gov.in.
One more special train between Mangaluru and Bengaluru
Three Arrested for Brutal Murder of Udupi Bus Operator
The arrested have been identified as Mohammad Faisal Khan (27), Mohammad Sharif (37) of Udupi and Abdul Shukur (43) of Mangaluru.
Mangaluru Dasara Marathon held; large number of runners take part in the event
The marathon was conducted in three categories - 21K, 10K, and 5K timed runs; around 1,600 people had registered for the event
Mangaluru-Shoranur special train on Oct. 1
11 students arrested and 12 kg cannabis seized in Mangaluru
Air India Express flight delayed by three hours at Saudi Arabia due to braking sensor failure
NEW DELHI : The four-hour journey of an Air India Express flight from Saudi Arabia to Mangaluru was delayed by three hours due to a braking sensor failure in the aircraft, said flyers on board. A total of 186 passengers were forced to cool their heels in their seats till the issue was rectified. Flight IX 886, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, was to depart from King Fahd International Airport to Mangaluru International Airport at 9.35 pm (Saudi Arabia time) on Friday. It finally left by 12.45 am on Saturday and reached its destination at 7.15 am, instead of its scheduled arrival time of 4.25 am. Aircraft braking sensors facilitate safe landing of aircraft. They prevent overheating of wheels and avert wheels lock-up using using anti-skid systems. Flyer Syed Mohammed Shakeel, who works in a private firm in Riyadh told this reporter, I had travelled from Riyadh to Dammam to board this flight to my hometown Mangaluru. Initially, the delay was said to be 20 minutes before we boarded. But later, the Flight Captain announced there was a technical issue and it was being sorted out. Aircraft engineers came on board and entered the cockpit. By 12.15 am, the Captain again made an announcement saying the aircraft had a braking sensor issue and it had been rectified. The aircraft took off sometime after that, he said. Passengers were put to much inconvenience, particularly those with children, he added. Shakeel added that this was the second time he was experiencing delays on the same Air India Express flight was having a fault. The previous time in March 26, the flight was delayed by 26 hours and we had to stay at hotel. Atleast it is not so bad this time, he said. Nihal Abdul Kadir, a finance and accounts professional, said, I was travelling with my wife and daughter. We were really worried over repeated delays in take-off by the flight. Some sensor issue was specified. The Ahmedabad Air India crash incident is still in our minds and so we were quite anxious. There was no proper information conveyed to the passengers too which was very frustrating, he charged. Many were hungry too as we were supposed to get our dinner after boarding. Only water was served and that too if we requested them. We finally got our food after the flight took off, Kadir added. P.A Hameed Padubidri, a pro-bono lawyer who assists Indians based in the Gulf, said, This is not the first time passengers face this kind of issue, which is recurring phenomenon with Air India Express. He detailed multiple instances when passengers suffered on the airline's flights from Gulf countries to India. In this specific instance, there was no clarity on when the aircraft would actually depart, leaving passengers anxious, he said. Passengers deserve timely information. Being held inside an aircraft for hours without updates or proper care raises serious concerns about transparency, passenger rights, and basic human dignity, he added. Air India Express has the maximum reach across the Gulf nations with its services connecting even smaller cities to India which makes flyers opt for it. Despite reaching out to multiple airline representatives since morning, Air India Express did not respond.
International travel picks pace in August, up by 7%
NEW DELHI: Airports across the country recorded 3.3 crore passengers in August 2025, marking a one percent increase from the 3.27 crore passengers who flew during the same period last year. Despite a negative growth domestically, international traffic has driven air passenger growth across the country, reveals the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The Air Traffic Report, made public by AAI on Thursday, reveals that 66,73,252 flyers opted to travel abroad last month, marking a 7.7% increase over the 61,93,449 flyers recorded during the same month in 2024. A total of 2,64,06,660 passengers travelled domestically in August 2025 as compared to 2,65,48,845 in the corresponding period last year, marking a slight dip of 0.5% (zero point 5). The Air Traffic Movements (Arrival and Departures) reveal a 1.5% dip with 2,54,440 ATMs in August 2025 versus 2,58,310 in August 2024. A similar comparison of the patronage registered in the first five months of the ongoing financial year reveals a 3.4% increase in overall passenger count over the previous year-- 17.03 crore flyers versus 16.47 crore flyers. Yet again, international patronage has seen an increase of 6.8% while domestic passengers have gone up by 2.6% in April August this year versus same period last year. Max growth in international flyers in Aug 25 Pune airport has recorded the maxiumum growth of 80.7% in international passengers in August 2025 (24,303 flyers) over August 2024. The other airports which have registered commendable growth in international traffic are Coimbatore with a 48% increase (28,990 passangers), Surat with 41% increase (15,442) Mangaluru 40.2% (72,849) and Bagdogra 37.5% increase (1877 flyers). Guwahati and Chandigarh airports have dropped more than 20% of their passenger recorded during the compared period last year. Domestically, the airports that have recorded a substantial increase in August this year over the figures recorded in the same month in 2024 are: Kishangarh 93.1% (11,277 psgrs), Jaisalmer 91.2% (64), Dharbanga 87.4% (66,826), Agatti 66.3% (8725), Guwahati 63.1% 727500), Tiruchirappali 56% increase, Cudappah 55.6% (426), Tuticorin 54.8% (29788) and Agra 43.5% (17496). AAI & ICAO sign project to review height restrictions The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) have signed a significant Project Document to review Indias national regulations on height restrictions around aerodromes, marking a key step in strengthening the countrys aviation safety framework. NHAI revises guidelines for signboards on highways The NHAI has updated its signboard guidelines, making roadside boards more informative and user-friendly. These boards will display details of at least 20 essential services and include QR codes for digital access to the most up-to-date information.
Mangaluru court rejects anticipatory bail plea of Puttur tahsildar
Govt. school teacher bitten by pet dog during Social and Educational Survey in Mangaluru
Mangaluru International Airport conducts full-scale aerodrome emergency exercise
Mangaluru City Corporation invites bids for building Ranga Mandira at Bondel
10 new tech driven companies begin operations in Mangaluru, Udupi-Manipal
According to Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), the Mangaluru Cluster, comprising Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Kodagu districts, has over 250 tech companies with about 28,000 employees
Special train between Mangaluru-Bengaluru
Denmark company opens 850-seater tech centre at wrkwrk in Mangaluru
Proposal for Tech Park in Mangaluru; 3,500-Crore plan awaits Cabinet nod
The park aims to transform Mangaluru into another Bengaluru for the IT sector in the next five years. The Minister urged local representatives to work together beyond party lines for the development of Mangaluru
IT-BT Department to develop Mangaluru region as a start-up cluster: Priyank Kharge
The department has already released 250 crore to develop infrastructure in the six identified clusters in the State, including Mangaluru
Mangaluru has great potential to be the data centre capital for Karnataka, says the Minister
Cusat denies links with Profcon
University says it has not hosted or endorsed any event by the name Profcon as part of the Wisdom conference in Mangaluru or any other location
Dasara package tour by KSRTC Mangaluru Division draws good response
Over 300 passengers travelled in seven KSRTC buses on the first day
The Minister of State for Railways inaugurates the additional RoB atop the Mangaluru-Mumbai Railway line on NH 169A at Indrali in Udupi
Patrons seek extension of Madgaon-Mangaluru MEMU Express to Subrahmanya Road
The extension enables optimum utilisation of the idling rake besides connecting Subrahmanya with a host of pilgrim centres along Karnataka coast
Coast Guard leads International Coastal Clean-up Day in Mangaluru
The concerted effort is aimed at addressing the pervasive issues of marine pollution and safeguard the delicate marine ecosystems
Police striving to improve emergency response time: Sudheer Kumar Reddy
SCDCC bank donates two multi-utility vehicles to Mangaluru City Police to augment patrolling
Bengaluru-Mangaluru day train services cancellation extended till mid-December
Railway Ministry approves SWRs proposal to extend line block for 44 more days to complete electrification on Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section
Patrons upset over lack of direct train connectivity from Karnataka to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu
While a bi-weekly express from Mangaluru remains a non-starter, one weekly service each from Hubballi and Mysuru terminate at Ramanathapuram
Mangaluru resident arrested for involvement in online betting racket
A process has been initiated to seize 50,000 from a few bank accounts operated by Nazir, the police said
Wont do banking with banks that dont promote welfare schemes
Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO suggests that the banks take the help of Mangaluru City Corporation and other urban local bodies to hold camps in the urban areas to enroll beneficiaries
Mangaluru International Airport bags six gold awards
IRCTC offers Panch Jyotirling Yatra via Mangaluru from November 21
Pilgrims can expect to visit Nageshwar, Somnath, Bhimashankar, Triambakeshwar and Girishneshwar along with Ellora Caves
Three cattle theft accused arrested, animal rescued in Mangaluru
The police said the cow was stolen from the cow shed of Umesh Alva at Adyar on September 13
Three held for cheating SBI of 2.5 crore through two loans by producing fake documents in Mangaluru
The city police have arrested three persons in connection with two cases of cheating the State Bank of India of a total of 2.5 crore by taking two loans by producing fake documents
Somanna to inaugurate additional railway overbridge at Indrali on September 21
Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna will inaugurate the newly constructed additional railway overbridge (RoB) on Malpe-Tirthahalli National Highway 169A atop Mangaluru-Mumbai railway line at Indrali in Udupi on September 21
Dharmasthala case: Skeletons recovered near Banglegudda forest
Mangaluru: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Dharmasthala case has reportedly recovered skeletal remains during a search operation in Banglegudda forest, near the Netravati bathing ghats in Dakshina Kannada district on Wednesday. According to officials, the recovery was made in an area previously marked as a possible evidence site during earlier witness depositions. The Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Govt. sanctions 90 crore for repairings roads in Mangaluru Assembly constituency, says U.T. Khader
Legislative Assembly Speaker and MLA for Mangaluru U.T. Khader said here on Tuesday that the State government has sanctioned 90 crore, under different schemes, for repairing roads in his Assembly constituency
Legislative Assembly Speaker and MLA for Mangaluru U.T. Khader said here on Tuesday that the State Cabinet recently approved the rules relaxed pertaining to the extraction of laterite stones
BJP stages day long dharna in Mangaluru seeking solution to shortage of laterite stones, sand in Dakshina Kannada
Mangaluru resident loses over 6 lakh in online job fraud
When he sought return of the invested amount, the complainant was told to transfer a larger amount
Mangaluru-Subrahmanya Road section gets electric loco-hauled passenger train for the first time
Mangaluru Central-Subrahmanya Road passenger train begins to run with an electric loco with effect from Monday
Bengaluru-Mangaluru day train services not likely to resume on November 1
Railway electrification work on Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya Road Ghat section did not progress as expected due landslips during the monsoon

