Mangalorean Michael Saldana Commands Air India's Vande Bharat Mission flight
Mangaluru: In what has come as a proud moment for Karavalians one of Captain-Flight Commander, Michael Saldana, of the Vande Bharat Mission's Air India flight is a Mangalorean, which, on the first day, brought back the Non-Residential Indians who were stranded abroad due to the corona-lockdown.
He was the commander of an Air India flight that carried 177 passengers from Dubai at 5:30 pm on May 7 and landed at Kallikote airport at 10:30 pm.
Meanwhile, pilot Sarfaraz of the flight that brought medical equipments from Singapore, is also a Mangalorian. Both of them are being widely praised on social networking sites.
Michael Saldana, a resident of Valencia in the city, is an alumni of Milagres and St .Aloysius College. He had also secured the first rank in RV Engineering College, Bengaluru. After completing engineering, he had joined Air India and is currently employed with the it.
Known for his wide range of aircraft flying skills, Michael has the ability to handle aircrats on tabletop airports like Mangalore, which is very complex.
Currently, he is working as a base manager in Mangaluru and is training 30 pilots under him. His grandfather, Colonel JW Soares had fought in World War II. Colonel JW Soares had also participated in the 1962 China War.
Speaking to 'Varthabharati', Michael Saldana reflected on why he decided to fly the aircraft as a part of the mission and asserted how he was feeling lucky and proud after successfully completing the task assigned to him of bringing the stranded Indians safely to India.
"It is a matter of pride to bring Indians back home, who are stranded abroad due to Corona. This is why I voluntarily agreed to airlift them. I have the satisfaction of bringing them safely. I am always ready to bring back people of the country," he said.
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Belagavi youth’s murder case projected as road accident, cracked in Uttara Kannada; Three arrested
Karwar: Uttara Kannada police have cracked a murder case in which a Belagavi youth was killed and his body burnt inside a car to make it appear like a road accident.
Addressing a press meet in the city, Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N. said three accused from Old Hubballi have been arrested in connection with the case. The crime was a pre-planned act driven by personal enmity, he said.
The case came to light on April 8 morning when a car (KA-04/MJ-8996) was found completely burnt in a roadside ditch near Talekumbri bus stand in Yellapur. Only charred human remains were found inside the vehicle. Initially, it was suspected to be an accident caused by overspeeding, and a case was registered at Yellapur police station based on a complaint filed by the deceased’s father, Jagannath Dhapale.
However, the father later expressed suspicion that his son’s death was not accidental, prompting a detailed investigation.
Taking the matter seriously, two special teams were formed under the leadership of Yellapur Inspector Ramesh Hanapur. On analysing technical evidence and CCTV footage, police found that it was a planned murder.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Raheem Basheer Ahmed Mujawar (32), Maulasab Bavahan Wada (36) and Dadapeer alias Aftab Mehboob Saab Balasangi (22), all chicken traders from Old Hubballi.
Police have seized the car used in the crime along with two scooters. The accused have been remanded to judicial custody.
Investigations revealed that the accused killed Nitesh Dhapale due to personal enmity and later set the car on fire along with the body to project it as an accident.
SP Deepan M.N. appreciated the efforts of Inspector Ramesh Hanapur, PSIs Rajashekhar Vandali and Siddappa Gudi, and the entire team for solving the complex case.
