Renovated Jos Alukkas showroom inaugurated in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The renovated Jos Alukkas showroom on Light House Hill Road in Hampankatta was inaugurated on Saturday by Third Additional District and Sessions Judge of Mangaluru Sandhya S.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the judge said, “Jos Alukkas is a household name among the people of Mangaluru, having gained the trust of clients as a leading jeweler with high quality products. I congratulate Jos Alukkas on the achievement and wish the team the very best in continuing on the set path.”
Film actors Roopesh Shetty, who was the chief guest, actor Rachana Rai and advocate B Guruprasad Shetty, also spoke on the occasion, congratulating the jewelry house. Jos Alukkas Managing Directors Varghese Alukka, Paul J Alukka and John Alukka, HRD head Tony Ignatius, Sales head Joseph, SCM Santhosh, Area Manager Biju TL, Managers Augustin and others were also present during the inauguration. Journalist Chethan Pilikula was the compere for the event.
The festive edition 'Shubha Mangalyam Bridal Collections 2023' would be the special attraction of the renovated showroom. The jewelry collection at the showroom are crafted by skilled designers as well as traditional artisans from various states. The jewelry collection under 'Shubha Mangalyam' are, therefore, reflections of the cultural heritage and the sculptural ingenuity of India, Jos Alukkas has stated in its press release.
“The showroom is a haven for international lab-certified world-class diamonds and magnificent platinum collections. Customers can avail of a noteworthy 25 per cent discount on diamonds and a generous 7 per cent on platinum jewelry. An exclusive inaugural offer entails customers receiving a complimentary gold coin upon making a minimum purchase of Rs 50,000 worth of gold jewelry,” the house added.
Jos Alukkas further said in the press release, “Customers are invited to exchange their old gold for new BIS HUID hallmarked gold jewelry and take advantage of the associated benefits. The Gold Purchase Advance Scheme allows customers to invest in monthly gold schemes and get ornaments on maturity with special discounts.”
The jewelry house also said, “Jos Alukkas' 5,500 crores expansion venture stands as the single largest investment and expansion plan ever undertaken by a jewelry retail brand in the country. Being a pioneering Indian jewelry brand to introduce the HUID Campaign, Jos Alukkas has garnered nationwide recognition solidifying its leading position in HUID awareness and promotion. With a trusted legacy of 58 years in the jewelry industry, Jos Alukkas is renowned for its commitment to trust and offering nothing less than real certified purity. Through its expansion endeavors, Jos Alukkas aspires to extend its legacy of trusted and high-quality jewelry to customers across the country.”
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Uncontrolled digging could erase Dharmasthala mass burial evidence: Soil scientist warns SIT
Bengaluru: A soil scientist, who has studied tropical lateritic soils, has released a note in anonymity, warning the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala (1994–2014) that improper excavation could permanently destroy critical forensic evidence.
The scientist cautioned that in the coastal, high-rainfall environment of Dharmasthala, bones from older graves are often not visually present due to the region’s acidic laterite soil, which accelerates decomposition. “In these conditions, the visual absence of bones does not mean there was no burial,” the expert stressed. “Chemical and microscopic soil analysis may be the only way to detect older graves.”
According to the soil scientist, Dharmasthala’s lateritic soil has a pH of 4.5–6, is porous and rich in iron and aluminium oxides, and is subject to over 3,500 mm of annual rainfall. These factors together cause rapid bone mineral dissolution and collagen breakdown. “In as little as 15–20 years, complete skeletons can be reduced to just teeth, enamel shards, or micro-residues,” the scientist said.
Drawing on comparisons with Rwanda, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Srebrenica, the scientist estimated that:
- Graves less than 15 years old have a reasonable chance of yielding skeletons.
- Graves 15–20 years old may yield only partial skeletons and teeth.
- Burials older than 20 years often retain only chemical signatures and microscopic fragments.
“In Dharmasthala’s soil, the probability of finding a full skeleton after two decades is near zero,” the expert said.
‘JCBs will destroy what’s left’
The soil scientist was particularly critical of the use of heavy machinery in the investigation. “Uncontrolled digging with JCBs can obliterate brittle bone fragments, erase burial stratigraphy, and mix burial soil with surrounding soil, diluting chemical signals,” he warned. “It’s equivalent to destroying the crime scene.”
The scientist emphasised that disturbed lateritic soil can quickly resemble undisturbed ground, making it almost impossible to detect graves later.
GPR as a map, not a microscope
The expert also noted that Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) could play a limited role in the investigation. “GPR can help locate soil disturbances, but in wet, iron-rich lateritic soils, it cannot ‘see bones.’ For burials decades old, chemical analysis of soil is far more reliable,” he said.
Call for controlled forensic exhumation
The soil scientist urged the SIT to stop all mechanical digging and adopt a forensic protocol:
- Use GPR or other non-invasive methods to locate anomalies.
- Excavate in small, measured layers under forensic supervision.
- Collect soil samples for chemical and microscopic analysis.
- Sieve soil to recover micro bone fragments and teeth.
“Only a controlled, scientific approach will preserve what little evidence may remain in this environment,” the scientist said. “If these traces are destroyed, the truth about the alleged burials may never be proven.”
The SIT is investigating allegations of mass burials linked to the disappearance of individuals between 1994 and 2014 in Dharmasthala. No official response to the scientist’s concerns has been issued.
