by Anisa Fathima
January 21, 2007
From the sensational police encounter with the notorious Mulki Rafiq which resulted in his death, and which many say may have been staged to boost the image of the police, to the victory of Sushma Janardhan by a hair’s breadth over rival Mamata Gatti for the post of ZP president, the week was packed with happenings.
The news of the derailment of goods train near Siribagilu raised several eyebrows as this was third time that such an accident had taken place. The saddest news, of course, was the untimely demise of Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao at the age of just 26 years. The incident indeed needs to be thoroughly investigated for this was not the first time that young lives have been taken away due to technical snags.
Mangalore: BJP's Sushma is Zilla Panchayat President
Mulki Rafiq: A Long, Blood-soaked Trail
Mangalore: Engine of Goods Train Rolls off Bridge at Siribagilu
Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao: Memories, Mere Memories...
Meanwhile, the administration continued its apathy towards road repair works. While the MCC was found neglecting five-month-old water leakage on the national highway which affected the NHAI work, while the MLA and the mayor are back to playing blame games for the delay in four lane work on the highway.
The incident clearly shows the neglect, apathy and also the ignorance of the administration towards the work that has been on the pipeline for sometime now. The MLA blames the MCC, and vice-versa. At the end, it is the common people who suffer. The roads on the national highway have become a nightmare for frequent travellers but the administration doesn’t seem to bother. Time to time we hear of so many lacs of funds being released for various works, so what goes wrong and where does the money go? What about the water that went wasted due to leakage? Despite knowing how dry our dam runs during the summer, the administration plays the miser by refusing to spend a few thousands for repairing the leak.
Mangalore: Official Apathy hits 4-lane Work
Mangalore: Mayor Blames MLAs for Delay in Four Lane Work
The world of crime continued to prosper with yet another theft taking place in the house of a railway employee. The result was that the thieves not only enjoyed their time thieving till the owner returned, but also took the liberty to cook and stay overnight!
There are two vital points to be noted here - one, how was it that the policemen on patrol failed to notice the thieves breaking into the house through the roof; and second, the carelessness of the victim. Thieves are known for waiting for an opportunity to loot houses, and such carelessness of leaving behind the gold ornaments unguarded gave them the perfect chance to make away with the booty. The police as well as the neighbours too seemed unaware, even though the thieves actually had the guts to stay overnight! If such thefts not only should the police become more efficient but also the people should be more responsible about their belongings. It will take a lot of energy and effort from the police to recover the gold, as the thieves made away with the loot days before the owner found out.
Mangalore: Thieves Camp in House, Decamp with 30 Sovereigns of Gold - Pics
The city seems to be slowly turning in to a hub of criminal activities as yet another revelation by the terrorist Imran arrested in Bangalore points towards the city being the possible headquarters from the where terror operations were carried from.
As said earlier in these columns, the city is fast becoming the target of terrorist and communal outfits, given its population and the influx of IT and other companies in to its fold. The fact that the region is communally sensitive adds to its vulnerability. Mangalore is also a hub of rich businessmen who become easy targets of such criminals. What do these groups get by spreading terror? Is it a long-sought revenge for some injustice, and if so, certainly the people of this region have not been the cause for their suffering. One cannot call it religiously motivated, for such acts are very much against the basic tenets of all religions. The security in the region needs to be beefed up, and the police should keep up the hunt for the men working for such groups.
Imran Admits Mangalore Part of LeT Operation Territory
The week also saw a change of name and strengthening of ties between Manipal University (formerly MAHE) and Kuwait. The two-day round table conference debated several important issues, while shedding light on the similarities and need for closer bond between the two countries.
Given the standard of our higher education colleges, universities and research centres, it is indeed a necessity that our the disseminators of education tie up with international universities to not only boost the knowledge-base, but also enhance exchange programmes and facilitate the students to gain more from their stints at the colleges. The name change from MAHE to Manipal University was also much on the cards. The name change is in sync with the requirement of the international community of students. The tag of ‘university’ will not only ensure that the institute not only has a wide range of courses to offer, but also stresses on the autonomy of the institution.
Udupi: MAHE Now Manipal University; Kuwait Looks for Stronger Ties
The week ended on a high note with the beginning of the three-day beach festival that not only put the citizens in a fit of frenzy but also gave them an opportunity to see the best kite-flyers in the world display their colourful kites, and witness the record-breaking 198-feet long sand sculpture by Orissa’s Pramod Patnaik.
Festivals like this are a treat to the citizens, and the administration has done well to organise it. Not only does it promote our culture, but also gives a chance to enjoy and display one’s talents. The beach is place for relaxation, and what better way to relax than go parasailing or just watch the kites. One good thing the festival has done is that the beach was cleaned for the occasion. Despite being a tourist destination, our beaches are pathetic when it comes to cleanliness. Hence, it would be advisable to have such festivals regularly, if not to enjoy, at least to realise what a beautiful sight a clean beach makes!
Mangalore: Sand Sculpture, Kites Mark Beach Festival
The week, then, was a mixture of joy and sorrow. Though it began sensationally, it ended mutely with the sad demise of the young lieutenant but gave something to cheer about with the beach festival. See you next week with some more interesting happenings.
Anisa Fathima
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