Karkala, September 12, 2025: The Ajekar Police in Udupi district arrested Sunil Ramesh Lamani (29) from Goravanakolla, Savadatti taluk, Belagavi, in connection with a chain snatching incident that occurred on September 9, 2025, in Yellare village, Karkala taluk. The accused allegedly stole a 25-gram gold rope chain worth approximately ₹1,75,000 from Kumuda Shetty (80), a resident of Hosamane, Mulladu, Yellare.
According to the complaint, on September 9 at around 4:30 PM, Kumuda Shetty was sitting in her courtyard when an unidentified man, aged approximately 35-40 years, approached her. Introducing himself as a supervisor from Karkala, he inquired about nearby houses for rent and whether her home had CCTV cameras. After lingering until around 6:00 PM, he suddenly attacked her, forcibly snatching the gold chain from her neck and pushing her to the ground before fleeing. Kumuda sustained injuries to her forehead, head, right hand, and leg due to the fall. A passerby, Satish Poojary, rushed her to TMA Pai Hospital in Karkala for treatment.
The Ajekar Police registered a case under Crime No. 27/2025, invoking Sections 329(3) and 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 for robbery and causing hurt. Under the leadership of CPI Karkala D. Manjappa, a team led by Ajekar PSI Mahesh and supporting staff apprehended the accused and recovered the stolen gold chain. Sunil Ramesh Lamani was produced before the court for judicial proceedings.
Brahmavara, September 12, 2025: A horrific double tragedy unfolded in Kokkarne, Brahmavara taluk, Udupi district, on Thursday morning, September 11, 2025, when a young man allegedly stabbed his neighbor to death after she refused his marriage proposal, only to later end his own life by jumping into a nearby well. The victim, Rakshita Poojari (24) from Puttanakatte near Kokkarne, succumbed to her injuries in the evening despite medical efforts.
According to reports, the accused, Karthik Poojary from Chegaribettu, Kokkarne, had been in a relationship with Rakshita, his neighbor. Enraged by her family’s refusal of their marriage, he intercepted her on her way to work in Manipal and stabbed her in the shoulder and chest with a knife before fleeing. Rakshita, who sustained severe injuries, was rushed to a hospital but passed away in the evening.
Later, Karthik’s body was discovered in a well near the crime scene, leading police to suspect he jumped in to commit suicide shortly after the murder. The incident has shocked the local community, highlighting the devastating consequences of rejected proposals.
Brahmavar Police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.
The Byndoor Town Panchayat has released the final ward-wise reservation list for its elections, as mandated under Section 11 of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964, based on the 2011 Census. The notification was published in the Karnataka Special Gazette, detailing the reservation categories for each ward, as announced by the District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner’s Office.
Ward-Wise Reservation Details:
Tarapati: Backward Class-A (Women)
Virupakshi: General
Someshwara: Backward Class-B (Women)
Dombe: General
Panchalingeshwari: Backward Class-A
Alandooru-Toothalli: General (Women)
Kadke-Maddodi: Backward Class-B
Yojana Nagar: Scheduled Caste
Bankeshwara: Backward Class-A (Women)
Byndoor Pete: General
Venkatrama: General
Panthigaradi: Backward Class-A
Yadthare: General (Women)
Mayyadi Kalavadi: Backward Class-A (Women)
Bada: General
Biyar: General
Surkunda: Backward Class-A
Ganganaadu: Scheduled Tribe
Chandana-Vasre: General (Women)
Taggarse Pete & Nelyadi Kadodi: General (Women)
The public has been invited to submit suggestions or objections regarding the reservation list in writing within seven days from the date of the notification. Submissions can be made to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, which also serves as the District Election Office, as per the official release.
Brahmavara, September 12, 2025: A shocking incident unfolded in Kokkarne, Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, on Thursday morning, September 11, 2025, when a young woman was brutally stabbed by her neighbor and alleged lover, who was enraged by her refusal to marry him. The victim, Rakshita (aged 20-24), a resident of Poojaribettu, Kokkarne, sustained severe injuries and is currently in critical condition at KMC Hospital, Manipal.
According to police reports, Rakshita was heading to her workplace in Manipal from her home when Karthik Poojary, her neighbor, intercepted her on a bike and attacked her with a knife. The assault, which occurred near her residence, left Rakshita with stab wounds to her neck and both sides of her rib area near the chest. Initial reports suggested she was killed on the spot, but police clarified that she is fighting for her life after being rushed to the hospital.
The incident stems from a love affair that turned sour. Rakshita’s family had objected to the relationship, prompting her to block Karthik’s phone number about two weeks ago. The attack reportedly took place on her birthday, escalating the personal dispute into a violent crime. Karthik fled the scene after the stabbing, and police are actively searching for him.
A complaint has been registered at Brahmavar Police Station, and Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar confirmed the details, stating that a thorough investigation is underway.
Udupi, September 11, 2025: The Pushpananda Foundation, under the patronage of Udupi MLA Yashpal A. Suvarna, has announced the Pratibha Puraskara 2025 to honor talented students from the Udupi Assembly Constituency who scored 85% or above in their SSLC and II PUC examinations for the academic year 2024-25. Applications are invited from eligible students residing within the jurisdiction of Udupi City Municipality and surrounding Gram Panchayats.
Application forms are available at the Swarastra Seva, Udupi MLA’s office, and the Brahmavar Taluk MLA’s office. The deadline for submitting applications is October 5, 2025. For further details, students can contact 9743495256, 9901190402, 9611817725, or 9019566366, as stated in the official release.
The initiative aims to recognize and encourage academic excellence, providing a platform for meritorious students to shine. The foundation urges eligible candidates to apply promptly to benefit from this prestigious award.
Udupi, September 11, 2025: The Karnataka government has launched a skill development initiative for unemployed youth registered under the Yuvanidhi scheme, one of the state’s five guarantee programs. Beneficiaries receiving unemployment allowances through direct cash transfers for six consecutive months are now eligible to enroll in skill training and entrepreneurship programs via the Industry Linkage Cell. Interested youth can register at https://www.kaushalkar.com/.
Under the Yuvanidhi Plus program, the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood will provide training through government institutes such as Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Government Tool Room and Training Centres (GTTC), Karnataka German Technical Training Institute (KGTTI), and SIDAC. The initiative aims to equip young men and women with employable skills and foster entrepreneurial opportunities.
For further details, beneficiaries can contact the District Skill Development Office located at B Block, First Floor, Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, Rajatadri, Manipal, Udupi, or call 0820-2574204, as per an official release from the office.
In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the Udupi CEN (Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics) Crime Police Station seized 65 kg of ganja from a lorry on National Highway 66 near Kinnimulky on Thursday, September 11, 2025. The operation was based on credible intelligence about illegal transportation of narcotics.
The lorry, traveling from Mangaluru towards Udupi, was intercepted during a routine check. Upon thorough inspection, officers discovered the ganja concealed within the vehicle. The seized contraband, valued at several lakhs, marks a significant haul in the region’s ongoing fight against drug smuggling.
Kundapur, September 11, 2025: A suspected suicide was reported on the railway tracks under the Kalavara Railway Bridge in Kalavara village, Kundapur taluk, Udupi district, on September 11, 2025. The body of an unidentified man, aged approximately 35-40 years, was discovered on the tracks at Kilometer 662/14-16 and 662/4-5. The incident was reported to the complainant, Raghavendra (49) from Kalavar village, by his senior section engineer Vireesh, who informed him of a collision between train No. 12790 (Down Express) from Murudeshwar to Kanchikode at around 5:10 PM.
Raghavendra rushed to the scene and found the man’s body lying between the railway lines. With the help of locals, the body was removed from the tracks and placed on the side. The deceased had a severed head, and his arms and legs were crushed. He was wearing blue jeans and a coffee-colored full-sleeve shirt, and had a beard. The position of the body suggests he lay across the tracks intentionally, pointing to a possible suicide.
The Kundapur Rural Police Station has registered a case under UDR No. 31/2025 and Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Efforts to identify the deceased are ongoing.
Udupi, September 10, 2025: The District Sunni Coordination Committee, an umbrella body of 10 Sunni organizations in Udupi, has announced a grand Milad Jatha to commemorate the 1500th birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH) on Saturday, September 13, 2025. The event, organized under the theme of unity and devotion, will feature a Maulid Majlis and a procession through key streets of Udupi city.
In a press conference held at Udupi Press Club on September 10, K.A. Abdurrahman Razvi Kalkatte, President of the Committee, detailed the program. The day will begin with a Maulid Majlis (recitation session) at Anjuman Masjid at 2:30 PM, followed by the Milad Jatha starting at 3:30 PM from the masjid. The procession will proceed via Service Bus Stand, K.M. Marg, and Court Road, concluding at Hutatma Bhavan near Ajjarkad Chowk. The route is designed to pass through prominent areas, symbolizing the Prophet’s message of peace and harmony.
Spiritual leaders Assayyid Jafar Assakhaaf Thaal, B.A. Ismail Madani Mavinkatte (President, Udupi District Ulema Okkuta), Assistant Qazi Abdurrahman Madani Moodlooru, and Maulana Shaukat Razvi Udupi (President, Hafize Millat Academy) will lead the Majlis recitations. The procession’s flag will be handed over to district Sunni organization presidents by Assayyid Ibrahim Junaid Arrifai Thaal Ranginakeri, President of the Milad Welcome Committee.
The concluding program at Hutatma Chowk will feature speeches by Maulana Mufti Badruddin Misbahi Karkala and Ahmed Sharif Saadi Al Kamil Killelooru. The committee expects around 5,000 participants, including high-ranking ulema, sadats, and scouts, with attractive dhol performances adding to the festive atmosphere.
Razvi emphasized the event’s significance in promoting the Prophet’s teachings of compassion and unity, inviting all community members to join. The Milad Welcome Committee’s convener Abdul Wahid Anjuman and Umar Farooq R.K. were also present at the press conference.
Kundapura, September 10, 2025: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader has instructed the Udupi district administration to utilize the Sigandur barge, previously used for public transport across the Sharavati River, for connectivity between Kodi and Gangolli via the Panchagangavali River. The directive, issued on August 30, 2025, aims to provide immediate relief to locals until the long-proposed bridge between the two coastal towns is constructed, potentially revolutionizing transport and tourism in the region.
The decision follows persistent demands from residents and follows the inauguration of the Sigandur Bridge over the Sharavati River, which has rendered the barge redundant at its original location. The barge, operational for over six decades, facilitated crossings at the Kodlu-Kalasavalli ferry point. With the bridge now in place, relocating it to the 1-km stretch between Kodi and Gangolli—where boat travel currently takes 20 minutes—could significantly ease daily commutes for thousands of residents.
The initiative was highlighted in a Gangolli Newsreport on July 20, 2025, emphasizing how the barge could boost Kundapur’s overall development. During a visit to Kundapur, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Tourism Minister H.K. Patil assured support for the barge service following local requests. Council Chairman Manjunath Bhandari also submitted a formal appeal to the government, prompting Khader’s intervention.
Benefits of the Barge Service
The relocation is expected to offer multiple advantages:
Emergency Medical Transport: In critical situations, patients from Gangolli can reach Kundapur Hospital in minutes.
Fresh Seafood Delivery: Gangolli’s fish catch can reach Kundapur markets swiftly, benefiting local traders.
Tourism Boost: The service will enhance tourism infrastructure, attracting visitors to the coastal route.
Integration with Ring Road: With Kundapur’s ring road now operational, connectivity from Gangolli to Kundapur will be seamless.
Business and Cargo: Entrepreneurs can transport goods more efficiently.
Student Access: Post-PU students can easily commute to Kundapur colleges.
Time Savings: The barge could reduce travel time to 10-15 minutes, compared to the current 45-minute bus ride via a 16-km detour or over an hour via Hemmadi-Tallur.
The proposed Gangolli-Kundapur bridge, discussed three decades ago, remains stalled. The barge offers a practical interim solution, aligning with government priorities for coastal connectivity.
The directive, referenced as UDC-15024/617/2025-UDC-DC-Magisterial-Udupi DC, was issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner Abid Ismail Gudal on September 8, 2025, to the Executive Engineer, Ports and Fisheries Department, Udupi. It encloses Khader’s note and mandates compliance with regulations, followed by a report to the administration.
Residents and local leaders have welcomed the move, viewing it as a step toward bridging the connectivity gap and fostering economic growth in the coastal belt.
