by Anisa Fathima, Daijiworld.com, Mangalore
January 7, 2007
The last day of the year 2006 brought news that rekindled the hopes of introduction of cargo handling facility at the Bajpe Airport. The Mysore Sales International Ltd (MSIL) officials who visited the airport expressed their keenness to start the facility at the earliest.
The traffic at the airport has increased in the recent times especially after the introduction of the direct international flight. Also, there are prospects of more international flights from other Gulf destinations. In such a scenario, it is vital that facilities like cargo handling are introduced at the earliest, so that not only will the airport be upgraded, but it will also be convenient to the passengers.
Nowadays we have come across a few cases where passengers have had to face a lot of inconvenience owing to luggage capacities. The introduction of cargo handling will enable the people to send their baggage through cargo and hence alleviate the problem of excess luggage weight. The presence of the customs department at the airport will speed up the process of cargo handling, which will cater not only to passengers but also for import-export firms.
BAJPE AIRPORT: PROSPECTS OF EARLY CARGO HANDLING BRIGHTEN
Come New Year, and we were back with communal tension rocking the region. The incident happened during the Hindu Samajotsav, where, despite a strong police security, a few miscreants began pelting stones injuring some citizens.
Thanks to the quick action of the police, the tension was subdued in no time. Fear also gripped Kundapur as incidents of stone pelting and assault brought the region to a standstill.
It was certainly a bad beginning to the year. In the last few months we have repeatedly witnessed instances of communal violence. When violence had hit the region in October 2006, there was a lot of talk about steps being taken to stop such an occurrence in the future; but nothing seems to be done, and communal outfits are still having a gala time creating unnecessary nuisance.
The main culprits here are not the people, but evils like unemployment, illiteracy and poverty which make the people victims of groups who only want to fulfil their personal agendas at the cost of innocent lives. The end sufferers are the families whose members would be taken into custody. Perhaps the only heartening things here were the presence of mind shown by the police, and the restraint shown by the public in general.
BANTWAL IN TENSION – STONE PELTING TRIGGERS VIOLENCE
KUNDAPUR: VIOLENCE-HIT KANDLUR LIMPS BACK TO NORMALCY
The other big news of the week was the capture of the elusive Mulki Rafiq who has been prime accused in the murder of Ananth Polali and is said to have masterminded the murder of Sukhanand Shetty. Rafiq and his wife Zohra were produced in court and remanded to judicial custody.
Mulki Rafiq was probably the most wanted criminal in the police records. The police had been on the lookout for more than one-and-half years and finally near the end of the year he was finally caught. The capture is a sign of the efforts and perseverance put in by the police force though it took so long for his capture, considering the average size of the district and surrounding areas.
Very severe punishment should be meted out which would send a strong signal to other criminals. Would the number of crimes decrease now that he has been captured, or will it strengthen the resolve of Rafiq’s accomplices to perhaps take revenge? For all we know, Rafiq may even split the beans on murders he’s not connected with.
MANGALORE: MULKI RAFIQ PRODUCED IN COURT - REMANDED TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY
Moving on with news relating to the upholders of law, the police department in Udupi launched the revolutionary e-beat system in 20 police stations across the district. This will not only help keep a check on police patrol, but also improve efficiency in the police department.
It was high time that the police department upgraded itself to suit modern demands. The age-old beat system that had been followed up till now had resulted in cropping up of several irregularities in the police patrol system. Many a time the constables would write down visit timing different from the actual time, thereby making it difficult for the officer in-charge to keep a check.
Now, with the electronic e-beat system, the constables will no more be able to pull wool over their senior’s eyes. This was also necessary in view of the troubles like theft and violence that have been erupting at nights. With the constables being present at their respective beat points, it might be hoped that miscreants would be kept at bay.
UDUPI: E-BEAT SYSTEM LAUNCHED IN POLICE STATIONS
Meanwhile, the protesters against the Nagarjuna Power Project continued to cry hoarse all during the week. It was a major setback to them when the High Court rejected the Nandikur Jana Jagruthi Samiti’s plea for status quo on the project.
The tussle between the Nagarjuna Power Company Limited (NPCL) and the protestors led by the Jana Jagruthi Samiti has been going on for months now, finally reaching the court.
While the Samiti alleges that the project would harm the environment, the company insists that only the shrubs and bushes have been cleared which would not harm anyone. It does not look like matters will rest soon, with the Samiti announcing National Highway bundh in the coming week.
With such protests that cause inconvenience to the public, it looks like the Samiti is causing more problems than the company. The company is determined to go on with the project and now that it has gained support from the law too, things are certainly looking bleak for the anti-Nagarjuna group.
UDUPI: HC TURNS DOWN PLEA FOR STATUS QUO ON NAGARJUNA PROJECT
The first week of the New Year was quite eventful with news relating to law dominating headlines. If the first week is anything to go by, the year should be quite an exciting one!
Anisa Fathima
Earlier Weeks
Anisa Fathima - from 'Exclusive Archives'