Eminent artist, art educator Syed Asif Ali dies at 54 while on duty in Alake
Mangaluru: Renowned artist and senior art educator Syed Asif Ali passed away following a cardiac arrest in Mangaluru on Monday, January 5, 2026. Ali collapsed while on duty at Mahalasa College of Visual Art, Alake, where he had been serving for nearly three decades. He was 54.
Born on February 8, 1972, in Molakalmuru of Chitradurga district, Ali completed his General Diploma in Fine Art from Ravindra Kalaniketana, Tumakuru, in 1995 and later earned a Master of Visual Art degree from Kannada University, Hampi, in 2008.Ali joined Mahalasa College of Visual Art in 1996 and was heading the Department of Applied Art at the time of his death. Ali was admired as an accomplished artist, he was best known for his vivid, on-location watercolour landscape paintings. As a teacher, he was deeply respected for his close mentorship and personal engagement with students.
During a career spanning over 30 years, Ali participated in several national and regional exhibitions. He featured in the Mysuru Dasara exhibition on ten occasions and took part in Karnataka Lalithakala Academy exhibitions five times, he also conducted and participated in numerous art camps, training young artists across the state.
His contributions to the field were recognised with several prestigious honours, including the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy State Award, the Camlin National Award, and nine Mysuru Dasara Awards.
Ali’s mortal remains were kept for public homage at Mahalasa College of Visual Art and later at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture on Tuesday evening, before being taken to his native Molakalmuru for burial as per tradition.
The Mangaluru chapter of INTACH and the Art Kanara Trust expressed deep condolences over the demise of the veteran artist.
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HC dismisses Abu Salem’s plea seeking immediate release after completing '25 years' in jail
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday dismissed gangster Abu Salem’s plea for immediate release, claiming he had served 25 years in jail in India mandated under the terms of his extradition from Portugal.
In his plea, Salem had contended that if remission for good behaviour is included, then his 25-year jail term is complete and hence he ought to be freed.
A bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata said it cannot hold that the 25-year jail term is complete, as it would be premature to say anything at this stage on the point of remission.
The court relied on a Supreme Court judgment wherein it was held that remission of a prisoner would need to be calculated a month before the applicant’s release.
“Therefore, the present petition (filed by Salem) is dismissed,” the court said.
A copy of the detailed order is yet to be made available.
Salem’s plea, filed through advocate Farhana Shah, had said that when he was extradited from Portugal in 2005, India had assured that he would not be handed over the death penalty in any case and that he would not be imprisoned for more than 25 years.
The government had opposed his plea, noting that Salem has spent only 19 years in jail and that a decision on his premature release was pending.
Salem was convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case and sentenced to life imprisonment.
