Mangalore This Week - Aug 27 - Sep 2
by Anisa Fathima - Daijiworld.com Mangalore
We have often come across people impersonating as officials. This week Mangalore too saw a couple of impersonators in the guise of Lokayukta officials, who extorted as much as Rs 12.5 lac from their own friend, Manjunath, an assistant town planning officer of MCC.
The paradox here is that through one criminal offence, another came to light. The corruption and underhand activities going on in our corporation offices are clear here - or else how would one explain the ready cash amounting to Rs 12.5 lac that Manjunath handed over to the 'officials?' If Rs 12.5 lac was so easily coughed up, what could be the actual amount of cash that was stashed at home? How come he easily became victim of blackmail, when the impersonators are said to have worked as brokers in the corporation office and were very well known to him? In all this hassle, why nobody is asking the basis question how an ATPO could have had so much of unaccounted money at home and no one from income tax department or Lokayukta questioning him on the source of that money? These are the questions citizens are mildly whispering but none wants to raise in public, since we may still need these corrupt corporation staff when we have to get some work done there.
If he was innocent, he would have probably refuted the charges and refused to pay. The real Lokyukta officials would do well to look in to this case and bring the guilty to book.
Read more -
Mangalore: Bunder Police Nab Fake Lokayukta Officials for Extortion
On the brighter side, the youth of Mangalore had a gala time with two prominent colleges of the city, St Aloysius and St Agnes, organizing national-level fests. While St Agnes College conducted 'ComQuest' on August 28 and 29, St Aloysius College (SAC) held 'ACME 2006,' on August 31 and September 1. Both the fests were by and for commerce students. It was celebration time for the students, with lots of nail-biting contests, grand feasts and thrilling moments.
College fests are an important part of the learning process. They not only inculcate leadership and organizing skills in a student, but also bring the student community closer and boost their competitive spirit. Fests have become common in all the top colleges of the district, and this trend has also helped colleges in notching up a bit or two in the image and popularity charts.
Read More:
Mangalore: Symbiosis of Pune Walk Away with Trophy at St Agnes ComQuest '06
Mangalore: National-level Intecollegiate Fest 'ACME-2006' Opens at St Aloysius College
Meanwhile, it was another step towards realizing the dream flight of Dubai-Mangalore, when Air India Express set up its counter at the Mangalore Airport close on the heels of the announcement by airport director M R Vasudeva.
NRI's will definitely have something to cheer about with this news, as it has been a long-awaited project, especially for Mangaloreans based in Dubai and other places in the Gulf. If all goes well and if the airlines cooperate, the maiden flight is to land in the first week of October, but whether this will really happen is a question no one would like to answer so soon. But as far as the airport is concerned, everything is in place. If the airlines do not take the initiative, there is nothing that the airport authorities can do nor can they take any blame.
Read more:
Mangalore: Air India Express sets up Counter in Bajpe Airport
The region is developing not only in the field of business and infrastructure but also in the field of medicine too. Recently, the doctors of Kasturba Hospital Neuroscience Centre, Manipal, performed a rare surgery when they removed a tumour from the centre of the brain of the patient Santosh.
Earlier, a team of doctors from Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore performed the first cochlear implant surgery on a three-year-old girl, again heralding a new dawn in the field of medicine in the region. With advance in technology and science, we can expect a lot more innovative ideas and techniques emerging in this area. The day is not far when even a person with a rare problem need not step out of the city to be treated successfully. It is probably owing to the many medical colleges and well-equipped hospitals (though not all of them are so) in the twin districts that we are witnessing such pioneering efforts.
Read more
Udupi: KMC Surgeons Perform Rare Surgery for Tumor Removal from Brain
The week which began with a crime ended with a crime. A major theft case was reported at a hotel in Udupi district wherein a family from Mumbai was holidaying, were robbed of cash and jewellery amounting to over 4 lac rupees.
The incident, apart from bringing shame to the district with regards to the safety of tourists, also speaks of the callousness and wisdom (?) of the tourists in carrying so much cash and jewellery while on a holiday. While the hotel where they were put up should have had provided better security, the tourists themselves are more to blame for the theft. The incident could well serve as a lesson to tourists everywhere as well as to hotels.
Read more
Udupi: Theft in Hotel – Rs 4 lac Worth Cash and Ornaments Stolen
Earlier Weeks
For more news from MANGALORE - Please Click Here