Gangolli, August 9, 2025: The Millennium Church Hall in Trasi is hosting a vibrant Jackfruit and Fruit Festival today (August 9) and tomorrow (August 10), offering a delightful experience for visitors.
The first-of-its-kind event in Trasi features a variety of jackfruits, including red, saffron, and yellow varieties sourced from Andhra Pradesh, alongside organic mangoes and jackfruit-based products from Karnataka and beyond. Special attractions include jackfruit holige and jackfruit jalebi, which are drawing significant attention from attendees.
The festival also showcases an array of fruit and flowering plant nurseries, vegetable and flower seeds, and agricultural tools, with over 100 stalls providing diverse options for visitors. The event was inaugurated by local church clergy and is open to the public from morning to evening on both days.
Padubidri, August 9, 2025: A tragic accident occurred near Hejamadi Mini Toll on National Highway 66 in Udupi district, resulting in the death of a local resident, Tushar, on August 8, 2025.
According to the complainant, Praveen Kumar (47), a resident of Hejamadi village, Kapu taluk, the incident took place at 1:05 PM. Tushar, also from Hejamadi, had stopped his two-wheeler (KA-20-HB-0421) near the toll while crossing the highway. At the same time, a bus named Reshma (KA-20-AA-8533), driven recklessly from Mulki towards Padubidri, veered to the left side of the road and collided with Tushar’s parked vehicle. The impact threw Tushar onto the road, causing severe injuries to the back of his head, bleeding from his mouth and nose, and abrasions on both legs.
Tushar was rushed to Srinivas Hospital in Mukka via the toll’s ambulance for treatment. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries at 5:50 PM. The Padubidri police have registered a case under sections 281 and 106(1) of the BNS (Crime No. 92/2025) and are investigating the incident.
Puttur, August 9, 2025: An interstate accused wanted in both Kerala and Karnataka, identified as Ilyas P A, was arrested and produced before the Puttur court by the police on Friday.
Ilyas, a resident of Viyyur in Thrissur district, Kerala, has several cases registered against him at Puttur town, Uppinangady, and Dharmasthala police stations. According to police, he is also wanted in over 20 cases in Kerala’s Thrissur and Malappuram districts.
A special team formed under the guidance of Puttur sub-division DySP, and led by Uppinangady PSI Kaushik, successfully arrested the accused, the police statement said.
Bengaluru, August 8, 2025: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, known for his undefeated record in elections, alleged on Friday that his first-ever defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was due to widespread electoral fraud orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking at a massive Congress protest against alleged vote theft at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, Kharge claimed, “In my over 50 years of political life, I won more than 12 elections. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, I faced my first defeat due to electoral rigging.”
Kharge accused the BJP of engaging in “fake voting” across five Assembly segments within the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency, where he contested in 2019. He alleged that the BJP secured approximately 20,000 votes per segment through fraudulent means.
Targeting the Modi government, Kharge further claimed that the BJP has misused agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax Department to intimidate opponents and cling to power.
Citing Karnataka as an example, he said, “Despite lacking a clear majority, the BJP toppled the then-ruling coalition government by inducing defections of several MLAs. The same tactics were used in Goa, Maharashtra, and Manipur. They didn’t win elections but bought governments with money.”
Kharge also alleged that the BJP’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was not legitimate. “The secret behind BJP’s win has now been exposed. They secured victory through vote theft,” he stated, adding that the Congress would take this issue to the people across the country.
Bengaluru, August 8, 2025: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has backed Congress Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in alleging widespread electoral fraud in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Siddaramaiah claimed that Gandhi presented “hard evidence” on Thursday, revealing systematic vote theft across India, enabling Prime Minister Narendra Modi to retain power.
In a media statement, Siddaramaiah asserted, “Despite massive public discontent, Narendra Modi secured power through electoral fraud. The documents released by Rahul Gandhi provide undeniable proof.” He further demanded Modi’s resignation, stating, “Modi has no moral right to remain in office. He must resign and dissolve the government immediately.”
The Congress Party, under Gandhi’s leadership, conducted a six-month investigation into voter records in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment of Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency. The probe allegedly uncovered evidence of systematic vote theft, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused of illegally securing 1,00,250 votes in a constituency of approximately 3.25 lakh voters.
Siddaramaiah highlighted five methods of alleged electoral malpractice in Mahadevapura:
Fake Voters: Approximately 11,965 fake voters reportedly cast votes, with some individuals voting in multiple polling booths and even outside Karnataka, indicating deliberate misuse of the electoral process.
Voters with Fake Addresses: Around 40,009 voters were registered with non-existent addresses, including “House Number 0” or random, invalid entries for names and addresses.
Multiple Voters at Single Addresses: A total of 10,452 voters were registered under a few addresses, including 80 voter IDs linked to a single-bedroom house and 68 to a private club, with none of the listed voters residing at these locations.
Unidentifiable Voter Photographs: About 4,132 voter ID cards had missing or unclear photos, yet these voters were allowed to cast ballots, breaching electoral protocols.
Elderly “First-Time Voters”: An astonishing 33,692 voters aged 60 to 90 were registered as first-time voters via Form 6, including individuals as old as 89 and 98, raising suspicions of fraudulent registrations.
Siddaramaiah accused the Election Commission of complicity, alleging it altered rules to suppress information and withhold electronic data and CCTV footage requested by Gandhi. “Had the Election Commission acted impartially, this scam could have been exposed within days,” he said, adding that similar tactics were likely employed nationwide by the BJP to retain power.
The Congress Party vowed to escalate its campaign, promising to raise awareness of the alleged fraud across the country.
Udupi, August 07, 2025: The Backward Classes Welfare Department has invited applications from eligible and interested law graduates belonging to backward classes for a scholarship program aimed at providing professional training in legal practice for the current academic year.
The deadline for submitting applications is August 30, 2025. For further details, interested candidates may contact the District Officer, Backward Classes Welfare Department, District Office Complex, B Block, Rajatadri, Room No. 304, Second Floor, Manipal, Udupi. Contact numbers: 0820-2574881 or 2573881, as per the official release from the Backward Classes Welfare Department.
Udupi, August 07, 2025: The Backward Classes Welfare Department has invited applications from eligible and interested law graduates belonging to backward classes for a scholarship program aimed at providing professional training in legal practice for the current academic year.
The deadline for submitting applications is August 30, 2025. For further details, interested candidates may contact the District Officer, Backward Classes Welfare Department, District Office Complex, B Block, Rajatadri, Room No. 304, Second Floor, Manipal, Udupi. Contact numbers: 0820-2574881 or 2573881, as per the official release from the Backward Classes Welfare Department.
Belthangady, August 7, 2025: A delegation from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) visited Benaka Hospital in Ujire, where four YouTubers, assaulted by miscreants in Dharmasthala, are receiving treatment. The visit was in response to the violent attack on the YouTubers, which occurred on August 6 near Pangala Cross while they were interviewing a person in connection with the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged mass burial case.
The SDPI delegation was led by State Secretary Riyaz Kadambu and included Mangaluru Rural District President Anwar Sadath Bajattur, Mangaluru Urban District President Abdul Jaleel K, Mangaluru Rural District Vice-President and Bantwal Municipal Vice-President Moonish Ali, District Committee members Haneef Poonjal Katte and Aboobakkar Madd, Belthangady Constituency President Akbar Belthangady, and other party leaders.
The delegation expressed solidarity with the victims and condemned the attack, which has sparked widespread concern and protests in the region. The YouTubers, identified as Ajay Anchan of Kudla Rampage, Abhishek of United Media, Vijay of Sanchari Studio, and a cameraman, sustained injuries, with one reported to be in critical condition. The incident has led to heightened tensions, prompting police to deploy additional security in Dharmasthala.
Bengaluru, August 06, 2025: Karnataka’s Minister for Housing, Waqf, and Minority Welfare, B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, announced that 70% of the funds from the Minority Department are being utilized for education. The statement was made during an event in the city on Wednesday, where talented students from residential schools and colleges under the Minority Welfare Department were honored with the Prathibha Puraskar awards and an educational workshop.
Speaking at the event, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan shared his personal journey, saying, “My parents enrolled me in a convent for a good education, but I had to stop after the 10th grade. Now, despite my desire to learn, I can’t. I’ve had the opportunity to become an MLA and a minister, but not everyone gets such chances without education. I urge you all not to abandon your studies midway.”
He highlighted the department’s progress, noting that 1,20,350 students were enrolled in residential facilities two years ago, a number that has risen to 2,08,065 this year. “Our goal is to reach 5 lakh students in the next three years,” he added. The minister also pointed out the increase in budgetary allocation, from ₹850 crore under the BJP government in 2022-23 to ₹2,101 crore after the Congress took over, with ₹4,537 crore allocated for 2025-26.
During the event, 125 students who excelled in SSLC and 17 who topped in PUC were awarded ₹10,000 and ₹15,000 in cash along with laptops, respectively. Outstanding district-level officers, taluk extension officers, principals, lecturers, teachers, and wardens were also felicitated. The event saw the presence of notable figures including B.K. Altaf Khan, Chairman of the Minority Development Corporation, S. Jafeth, Chairman of the Christian Development Corporation, and others.
Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan paid tribute to his political mentor, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, saying, “Everyone has a guru. For me, it’s H.D. Deve Gowda. I may be in the Congress now, but my guru remains unchanged. I must acknowledge those who shaped me in politics. He rose from poverty to become Prime Minister.”
Additionally, the minister personally awarded ₹1 lakh to K.M. Roofia, who secured six gold medals in M.Sc. Physics, and promised to cover the full educational expenses for A.R. Rida, who secured an MBBS seat, presenting her with a two-wheeler as a gift.
Byndoor, August 06, 2025: The Youth Congress Committee of the Byndoor Assembly Constituency has announced an online video speech contest to mark the 79th Independence Day. Students are invited to submit videos on the topic of the freedom struggle, which should be sent to the WhatsApp number 8618312593.
Categories and Details: The contest is divided into four categories based on student grades: 1st to 3rd, 4th to 7th, 8th to 10th, and 11th to 12th. The deadline for video submissions is August 12, 2025, with results announced on August 13, 2025, and prize distribution scheduled for August 15, 2025.
Rules and Information: Videos must not exceed three minutes. Participants must reside within the Byndoor Assembly Constituency and provide ID and Aadhaar cards. Participants are required to wear school uniforms. Prizes will be awarded for the 1st and 2nd places, and the decision of the judges and organizers will be final. Submissions should include the participant’s name, class, and school address.
