Belthangady: The body of a 15-year-old boy who had gone missing earlier in the day was found in a pond near his house at Sambolya Baramelu in Kuvettu village on Wednesday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Sumanth, son of Subrahmanya Nayak, a Class 9 student of Gerukatte Government High School.
According to preliminary information, Sumanth left his house early on Wednesday morning to visit the Nala Temple in Kaliya village to take part in a ritual. When he did not reach the temple, two of his friends who usually accompanied him grew concerned and contacted his family. It then emerged that Sumanth had left home early but had not been seen since.
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Family members and villagers launched a search, following which bloodstains were noticed on the ground near a pond located along the road between Sumanth’s house and the temple. The discovery prompted an extensive search operation involving the police, forest department personnel, fire brigade staff and local residents.
Sumanth’s body was recovered from the pond around noon. Police said the body had a head injury, raising suspicion over the circumstances leading to his death.
Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Dr Arun Kumar, Belthangady Police Inspector Subbapur Math, Sub-Inspector Anand M, Tahsildar Prithvi Sanikam, Revenue Inspector Pavadappa, Block Education Officer Tarakeshwari, along with school teachers and other officials, visited the spot and inspected the scene.
Belthangady police have registered a case and are continuing the investigation to ascertain the exact cause of death.
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Sheopur (MP) (PTI): Cheetah 'Gamini' has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of these big cats in India to 38, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.
Describing it as a "roaring" success of the government's ambitious Cheetah re-introduction programme, Yadav said it is a powerful symbol of the country’s determined and historic conservation effort.
Gamini was translocated to India from South Africa as part of the ambitious project launched in September 2022 to revive the population of the world's fastest land animal in India, which had gone extinct decades ago.
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Yadav, in a post on X, said, “Kuno welcomes three new cubs - A roaring new chapter at Kuno on the occasion of completion of 3 years of arrival of cheetahs from South Africa. Celebrations echo through Kuno National Park as Gamini, the South African cheetah and second-time mother, has brought 3 new cubs into the world."
This joyful arrival marks the ninth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil and takes the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27, he said.
With these newest additions, India's total cheetah population has now reached 38 - a powerful symbol of the country's determined and historic conservation effort, Yadav highlighted.
Each birth strengthens the foundation of Project Cheetah and reflects the passion, perseverance, and round-the-clock dedication of the field staff and veterinary teams who have nurtured this dream into reality, he said.
"A moment of pride for Kuno, and for India—may Gamini and her three little sprinters grow strong and carry the nation’s cheetah revival story forward with speed and grace," the minister added.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav noted that Madhya Pradesh is a powerful centre for cheetah reintroduction.
This is a historic achievement for the entire country in the direction of wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and environmental balance, the CM said in a post on X.
It is a matter of immense joy that under Project Cheetah, the female cheetah ‘Gamini’ who arrived from South Africa has given birth to three cubs, he said.
"With the completion of three years of cheetahs’ arrival at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, this is the 9th successful birth (of a litter). The total number of cheetahs in India has now increased to 38," Yadav added.
Earlier this month, cheetah Aasha, translocated to India from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs in KNP.
