Terror Activities increase

9:55 PM Posted by ukmad

Source: Deccan Herald
A team of Corps of Detectives (CoD) brought Asadulla Abubakar, an ayurveda college student of Hubli suspected to have been involved in terror activities, to Belgaum and took him to several places in the city and Nipani as part of the investigation.

According to sources,  police recovered some explosive materials near Nipani and also visited a madrasa there. Asadulla is believed to have visited this madrasa on many occasions in the past  and also stayed in a hotel located adjacent to it. Asadulla is said to have denied having seen the owner of lodge or his son anytime before.

A treat for Belgaum art lovers

6:40 PM Posted by ukmad

Source: The Hindu
Exquisite: Exhibits that will be displayed during the three-day exhibition of paintings to be held at the Millennium Art Gallery in Belgaum from Friday.

Belgaum: A three-day art exhibition will be held at the Millennium Gallery in Tilakwadi here from Friday.

The exhibition, being organised by the city-based Movable Art Circle (MAC) and sponsored by Chairman of KLE Society and Chancellor of KLE University Prabhakar Kore, will be inaugurated by Mr. Kore's wife Asha P. Kore. Sixty exhibits will be on display. The entry is free. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Eight artists from Belgaum, Kolhapur and Kolkata will participate in the exhibition. While Sadalge, Sunil Mathad and Meenakshi Sadalge are from Belgaum, Sanjivv Sankpal and Atul Dake are from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, and Debashish Gosh, Ranjan Paul, Dipnarayan Paul from Kolkata.
Artist Balu Sadalge told The Hindu on Thursday that a similar event was held in Kolkata last month. The next show would be at Chitrakala Parishat on Kumara Krupa Road in Bangalore from February 21 to 27.
MAC will organise an art camp in which 12 artists, including Somanand Gadakari, P.B. Gavani, Dilipkumar Kale, Chandrakant Kusnoor, D.S. Chougale, V.Guggeri, Anil Prakash, Prakash Sidnal and Udaykumar, will participate.

Petrol Costs: Rs.52.73

1:27 PM Posted by ukmad




In Belgaum Petrol Costs: Rs.52.73 now
earlier its was costing Rs.50.44

Stamp duty on Buildings now 900 per Sq/ft

8:10 AM Posted by ukmad

From now on if u buy a Flat or land you will have to shell Rs.900 per Sq/feet as Stamp duty to the government. This come s to 11% almost.
Earlier the rate was Rs.440 per Sq/feet. A 100% increase is done only with a view to increase the goverenmenrtts revenue. What a way to do it?????

Dark & Rainy Valentines Day

9:23 PM Posted by ukmad

Belgaumites are having a Dark and Rainy Valentines day. The weather was cloudy the whole day. There were some drops of rain in the afternoon in osme areas. But at 7.30pm it started to pour and the showers really turned heavy till 9pm. Now there is no electricity as usual in the whole city. The electricity went off at round 7.40pm.

Anyways to all my readers Wish you all a Happy Valentines Day

Forests or roads? Chorla Ghat

10:11 AM Posted by ukmad

Source: Deccan Herald

Wider roads will lead to increase in traffic, cutting of innumerable trees on the 65 km path, confrontation with wild animals and, above all, increased pollution.

As the world struggles with global warming, pollution, depleting forest and many such similar problems, it is strange how we think of our temporary gains at the cost of Mother Earth. Despite two existing and well maintained routes connecting Goa and Belgaum, there is an attempt to upgrade another one between Panaji and Belgaum via Chorla. This route runs through pristine forests of the Western Ghats and has been in existence for long. Last year the Government came up with a plan to double the width of this road. The present road is quite competent, if repaired well, to carry the present load of traffic.


These are the last tracts of forest remaining with a good amount of trees and wildlife. The elephants use this stretch of land as a corridor to go from one part of the jungle to another in search of water. Because of encroachment in their habitat, there have been several confrontations between elephants and the villagers and as water becomes scarce in summer, these animals are forced to come to areas with thin forest cover in search of water.

At a time when depleting forests and human interference are driving to extinction our co-citizens (wild animals), where is the need for another road? What is the harm in travelling an hour extra, if needed at all, through some beautiful forests rather than speeding in the desert?

Wider roads will lead to increase in traffic, cutting of innumerable trees on the 65 km path, confrontation with wild animals and, above all, increased pollution (noise, air, water). Studies show that there is a direct correlation between the felling of trees and the rainfall pattern in that area.
Rather than bigger roads, why not smaller vehicles? We cannot replace a forest by plantation; we cannot recreate a waterfall or nature. Therefore, we have no right to destroy it. Global warming is high on every country's agenda. We should not cut down our forests in the name of development in emulation of the West at a time when the US and Europe are reeling under the effects of global warming for want of forest cover.
Let this one track maintain the same width. If required, heavy vehicles can be restricted on this road. Let us make the intelligent decision of protecting our forests for our own well being.

Nersa, A Wonderful place

10:13 AM Posted by ukmad

Love the outdoors and don't mind a holiday with an adventurous twist? Then head to the Hermitage Guest House.

Just getting to the farmhouse, located in the Western Ghats in Belgaum district of Karnataka, is an adventure by itself! The village is in the forest range of Londa at the border of Goa and Karnataka.

The Hermitage Guest House is located 45 km away from Belgaum.

The farmhouse is run by David and Morvarid Fernandez who are excellent hosts. While David takes you for exciting walks around the place, Morvarid serves the most delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Make sure you get loads of exercise on those walks and treks so you can do justice to the meals!
David knows the area like the back of his hand and will happily educate you on the plants, trees, birds and other inhabitants of the forest. Don't be surprised if he recounts an adventure about coming face to face with a bear!

For accommodation, do ask for the Machan if it is available. It can be a little shaky, but once you get used to it, you will find it hard to swap it for the comforts of a concrete structure!
It has a little sit-out where you can blissfully gaze into the forest and the mountains beyond.
There is a lot to see if you're adventurous and curious. Deep inside the Londa range there are 200 bats inside a laterite cave. If you want to skip the batty experience, ask David to take you trekking or on a jeep excursion.
There are several scenic spots where you can sit and relax.


The Machan: A home on stilts eleven feet above the ground with great views. Built with bamboo and wood. There is a private western style bathroom at ground level, open to the sky. Look up and delight in the green forest canopy, you will find it far more interesting than a book! Cold running water supplied on tap, hot water available from a 'Bhum', located near by. The Machan is not electrified.

The Kadaba: Built in the traditional style of the area, the Kadaba is a typical village home. Based on a raised foundation of rammed earth, the Kadaba is built of bamboo, wood and mud plaster. Modern western style bathroom, open to the sky, built with bamboo and thatch. Cold running water supplied on tap, hot water available from a 'Bhum' located close by in the recreation area. Not electrified (Two young children can also be accommodated in this cottage.)

The Gota: Is a rural cottage, with cool soothing interiors. The floors are locally made red clay tiles, and the roof is distinctive, because of the old recycled, hand made village tiles. There is a modern western style bathroom attached, with running hot and cold water. The Gota is electrified. (Two young children can also be accommodated in this cottage.)

http://www.thehermitageguesthouse.com/ visit this site for more details.
I havent visited this site but just thought its should be a nice place for a weekend.
With inputs from the website and Rediff.com

Belgaum to get Mayor on March 4

10:07 AM Posted by ukmad

The Belgaum city corporation will at last get a Mayor and a Dy.Mayor on March 4 2008. The Satte govt released a notification in this regard.

Belgaum - A ‘sleeping cell’ for terrorists

10:26 PM Posted by ukmad

Source : http://www.newindpress.com/

According to highly-placed police sources, Belgaum city is a 'sleeping cell' for Islamic terrorists in Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states.A top officer who spoke with The New Indian Express from New Delhi said that Islamic terrorists feel that Belgaum is the safest haven to chalk out their activities to destabilise the government machinery in several other states.

"These terrorists come to Belgaum to hide, and after a few days, they move on," he said.The Union Home Ministry is aware of these developments, and it cannot be ruled out that a few leaders are also 'helping' these fundamentalists, he said. Help may be in the form of money or organising their discourses in the district, he added.

The locals often do not know that they belong to banned organisations like SIMI or Deenadar."In the coming days, the city may become a safe hide-out for terrorists," the officer said.The Union Home Ministry also knows that some people in certain areas of city have 'connections' with the terrorists. Because of lack of evidence, the police are unable to book them, he said.The Home Ministry agrees that SIMI activists are more active in districts like Bijapur, Gulburga and Bangalore. Though their numbers are small in Belgaum, they are slowly inducting the youths, the report warns.
Meanwhile the Express contacted IGP (North), Raghavendra Auradkar, who said that the police are keeping a strict vigil on all foreign students in Belgaum on student visas.The police will visit colleges and check the attendance of foreign students, he said. Auradkar said that the police are also keeping a watch on the deep jungles located around Belgaum as there were possibilities of holding terrorist educative camps there.As Belgaum is surrounded by three states - Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, terrorists believe that it is the safest place to hide. terrorists.

How the news is given by national Media

7:02 AM Posted by ukmad

On this very blog i had posted this
http://belgaumblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/terror-links-one-arrested.html
The story was about Former Dy.Mayors Son Arrested for alleged terror links.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20080209021902&Title=Southern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&rLink=0
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080209/nation.htm
A similar story appears on the Indian Express & Tribune.

But have a loo at these stories:
http://www.indiannotion.com/index.php/newslinks/16074
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1232460

Here it is said that Former deputy mayor of Belgaum city and nine medical students were detained for alleged links with outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and suspected militant Mohammed Asif who is in police custody.

Wow, see what a difference words can do in english news. Son is missing here. All those who read that will have a different view and all others who read local papers or this blog will have a different view.
I am not here by any means trying to say they are weong, but the only fact that I want to get to you is "Arresting Dy.Mayors son & arresting a Dy.Mayor should be different."

I just thought of this post here only to get you know how the National media presents news items without much knowledge.

Road Humps for WHAT?

11:29 AM Posted by ukmad

In the last week various road humps were put up all over Belgaum roads. Somewhere it was a necessity and somewhere I think the way they have been put is wrong.

Take for instance the Khanapur Road, Globe theatre to Sanchyani circle. In this 600 mtrs stretch there are 6 road humps at your service.1st one is Globe Convent cross, 2nd one is after the cross infornt of the Cantonment office, 3rd before fish market cross, 4th after the fish market cross, 5th opp.petrol bunk near police Qtrs. And the 6th just after the petrol bunk cross.


So many humps in such vicinity are causing huge traffic problems. There are no police deployed except the Globe cross. Suppose you are driving in 3rd gear you need to get back to 2nd near the hump and even before you reach your hand to go back to 3rd gear the hump is here again so again in 2nd gear only. The traffic on that specific road is also very heavy with all buses and trucks going to Goa have to take the same route. If you are behind a truck mind you cannot overtake it till Fish market when the road widens a bit.

To add to all the mess there are no sign boards. The Globe cross has one but it was put up last time when there were complaints about no signboards. And the best part is just to reach early commuters try and tale the alternate route that is try and avoid the hump and overtake by the left side which is dangerous.
In all, the motive in which they were put was good but the manner in which it is executed is wrong, that's what I can say...


Terror links: one arrested

7:58 AM Posted by ukmad

Source: Tarun Bharat
Firoz Sanadi(32) son a former Dy.mayor was arrested and handed over to the COD of furter enquiry for his alleged links with SIMI. Firoz was arrested after Mohd.Asif of Hubli took his name in the interogation. Also it was said that some Hotelier was supporting the terrorists in Hubli and the ploice have identified that hotelier to be the Hotel Rleax Lodge near CBT. It is said that he used to supply the money and ammunation.

Brown Sugar of 90 lakhs: oldier Arrested

7:49 AM Posted by ukmad

Source: The hindu & Tarun Bharat
A soldier was arrested for allegedly smuggling brown sugar here on Thursday.
According to the police, Thombram Suvaschandra Singh (27) from Moirang Manipur, a sepoy in the Army, based in New Delhi, was arrested along with Elengabam Bishwanath Singh (28), also from Manipur, and Nandkishore Narayan Majgaonkar (26) from Jagalbet in Karwar at the Belgaum bus stand and brown sugar weighing 578 gm was seized from them.

A host of ATM cards, Id cards and mobile handsets were also recovered.

K. C Mahindra Award for Excellence:GIT

9:59 PM Posted by ukmad

Source: Business Standard
Mr. Venugopal Kulkarni (7th Sem.), Mr. Naveen Inamdar (7th Sem.), Mr. Narhari Nadgir (7th Sem.)and Mr. Palaksha Nadgir (5th Sem.)participated in KC Mahindra Award Design Competition 2007

If the success of home-grown designs at the recently concluded Auto Expo in New Delhi wasn’t a good enough indicator of India turning into a hub for auto designs, here is another.

A number of major automobile companies are now testing waters with engineering and design schools in the country through design contests, diploma projects and interactions in the hope of capitalising on innovative designs coming out of Indian campuses.

Italian design house Pininfarina, which designs cars like Ferrari, Jaguar and Alfa Romeo, took the first step towards Indian designs when it signed a statement of intent to pursue collaborative automobile design activities with Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design (NID).


Similarly, Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M)’s design competition for students called ‘K. C Mahindra Award for Excellence’ in automotive design, has identified three innovative student designs on the theme ‘Long Haul Truck Cabin for the year 2015’.

The pan-India contest was won by students from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, KL Society’s Gogate Institute of Technology, Belgaum and NID.

Another Boam Hoax: St.Marys This time

9:41 AM Posted by ukmad

Source: The Hindu


Students had assembled for prayers when the call came

Students of St. Mary’s School were made to sit in a safe place following an anonymous call that a bomb had been planted on the school premises in Belgaum on Monday.
Tension prevailed at St. Mary’s School here on Monday after it received an anonymous telephone call that a bomb had been planted on its premises.
However, the call turned out to be hoax. Fourth call
It was the fourth such call received in the city in the past five months.
Such calls were received by the KLE Hospital in the city on September 8 and the District Court on December 15 and the G.G. Chitnis High School on January 14.Prayers
The school received the call around 9.20 a.m. when 2,400 students and staff had assembled for prayers.
The call was received by attender Kallappa Nandagade, who informed the matter to the principal. Subsequently, the school authorities alerted the City Police Control Room and the Camp Police Station.Police action
Police Inspector S.M. Nagaraj rushed to the school with a bomb disposal squad and launched a search operation.
School staff and students were sent to the playground. Meanwhile, some parents, who rushed to the school, on learning the news, heaved a sigh of relief when they were told that the call was hoax.
Mr. Nagaraj said that the bomb disposal squad personnel found no explosive material on the premises of the school.
Mr. Nandagade said that the caller spoke in Hindi.
The Inspector General of Police (Northern Range), Raghavendra Auradkar, said that a thorough investigation was on by a team to trace the culprit.