Mangaluru-Mumbai Matsyagandha express upgraded with modern LHB coaches
Mangaluru: Matsyagandha Express, a vital rail link between coastal Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, has been upgraded with modern Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, enhancing passenger safety and comfort. The newly fitted coaches were formally inaugurated on Monday, February 17 at Indrali Railway Station by Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary.
The 12619/12620 Matsyagandha Superfast Express, which runs daily between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Kurla, Mumbai) and Mangaluru Central, is called as the lifeline of Mangaluru.
Introduced on May 1, 1998, as the Mangalore-Kurla Express, the Matsyagandha Express traverses some of the most challenging terrains in India along the scenic Konkan Railway route. On August 30, 2021, a special service of the Matsyagandha Express (Train No. 02619) became the first train to utilize the newly commissioned Roha-Veer double line on this route.
With the latest upgrade, the train now features brand-new LHB coaches, replacing the conventional ICF coaches. The LHB rake commenced operations from Mangaluru Central on February 17, 2025, and from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Mumbai, on February 18, 2025.
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
