Mangaluru: Eight years after beginning construction work, Thokottu flyover finally inaugurated
Mangaluru: The four-lane Thokkottu flyover joining Mangaluru-Kasrogod was inaugurated this morning by Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. The project was long due and was being postponed, halted and delayed for several reasons over the years.
Speaking after inaugurating the flyover, Nalin Kumar Kateel added that the completion of the project is a long due dream come true for the people while also admitting that due to financial issues the work was delayed.
Speaking about the Pumpwell flyover he said “Now the traffic movement is open here (Thokottu flyover) the work and pumpwell flyover will also be completed soon and it will be opened for public”.
He further added that he will hold discussions with District In-Charge Minister U T Khader and other authorities regarding the construction of Thokottu By-pass and service road soon.
Mangaluru Assembly Constituency BJP President Santhosh Boliyar, Former MLA Jayaram Shetty, party leaders Chandrahas Ucchil, Chandrahas Ullal, Manoj Acharya, Hariyappa Saliyan, Sathish Kumpal and other were present during the inauguration of the flyover.
The work for Thokottu flyover joining road to Mangaluru-Konaje, Mangaluru Ullal and Mangaluru-Kasargod took eights years to be completed before being opened for public and traffic movement today.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
