Mangaluru: Renowned NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Ronald Colaco was felicitated with a ‘Civic Honour’ here on Friday, on being conferred the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ by the World Book of Records, London.
Archbishop of Bengaluru Diocese Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, who presided over the felicitation program at the Father Muller Convention Center in the city, expressed awe at not only the vast number and variety of fields to which Dr Colaco had contributed, but also the number of people who had gathered at the felicitation ceremony. “There are fans of Dr. Colaco from all sections of society attending the event today, which reflects the affection and respect that Dr. Colaco has gained,” he said, narrating an example of a village man asking a shopowner in the city for a ‘male fan’ and a ‘female fan’.
Dr. Machado pointed out that Dr. Colaco was a family man who had, in fact, expanded his family to the entire world. “No wonder he is considered a ‘Vishwamanava’, a man belonging to the whole world.”
Speaking further, Dr. Machado said, “He has no separate organization to carry out his work, yet, he has walked the extra mile in life, he has ‘extended his tent’.”
He also said that Dr. Colaco has presented before us the ‘Art of Giving’, as he has shown greater diligence in giving than receiving.
“You have made your community proud,” Dr. Machado told Dr. Colaco.
Archbishop of Mangaluru Diocese Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, who made the congratulatory speech, said that abundance, not scarcity, was a standout quality of Dr. Colaco. “His quality of saying ‘I have and I will help’ reflects his humanitarian quality. His contribution is an inspiration to all of us, as his work is carried out with a smile and a helping nature,” he added.
The Archbishop also said that Dr. Colaco had lived a life ‘beyond borders’, “Like doctors help as much as possible, without considering the background of the people. Dr. Colaco has lived the life of a Good Samaritan that was narrated by Jesus Christ.”
Dr. Saldanha said, “Dr. Colaco had a self-diffusing quality very similar to perfumes. You will never return sad, after you meet him.”
He also cited the words of Christ to ‘give and it will be given unto you, saying Dr. Colaco’s work shows he believes this and follows this.
Closing his speech, Dr. Saldanha said, “I have always said that he is a very good man.”
Dr. Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, Chancellor, Yenepoya Deemed University; Swami Jitakamanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math, Mangaluru; and Dr Machado also addressed the gathering.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly U T Khader sent his congratulatory message to be read in his absence.
Former Chief Whip of the Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza gave the vote of thanks. Actor Aparna was the master of ceremony.
The Blue Angels choir offered prayer and also songs in Konkani, English and Kannada in appreciation of Dr. Colaco.
Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop Udupi Diocese; Rt Rev. Hemachandra Kumar, Bishop, CSI Karnataka Southern Diocese; Most Rev. Dr. Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Bishop Belthangady Diocese; Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao, Bishop Shivamogga Diocese; Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza, Bishop Bellary Diocese; Dr. Shantaram Shetty, Chairman, Tejaswini Hospital; Rajayogini B K Vishweshwari, In-Charge Brahma Kumari Centre, Mangaluru; Maladi Ajith Kumar Rai, President Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathr Sangha; Rajshekar Kotian, President Rastriya Billawara Maha Mandala; U T Ifthikar Ali and Walter Nandalike were the guests of honour during the event.
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Ranchi (PTI): A 25-year-old man, who works as a butcher, allegedly strangled to death his live-in partner and chopped her body into 40 to 50 pieces in a forested area in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Naresh Bhengra, was arrested.
The matter came to light after around a fortnight after the killing when a stray dog was found with human body parts near Jordag village in Jariagarh police station on November 24.
Bhengra was in a live-in relationship with the deceased, a 24-year-old woman also from Khunti district, in Tamil Nadu for the past couple of years. Sometime back, he returned to Jharkhand, got married to another woman without telling his partner anything and went back to the southern state without his wife to join her.
"The brutal incident occurred on November 8 when they reached Khunti as the accused who had married another woman did not wish to take her home. Instead, he took her to a forest near his house at Jordag village in Jariagarh police station and chopped the body into pieces. The man has been arrested," Khunti Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar told PTI.
Inspector Ashok Singh who investigated the case said the man worked in a butcher shop in Tamil Nadu and was expert in slicing chicken.
“He admitted chopping the body parts of the woman into 40 to 50 pieces before leaving those in the forest for wild animals to feast on. The police recovered several parts on November 24 after a dog in the area was seen with a hand," Singh told PTI.
Singh said that the woman, who was unaware of his marriage, pressured him to return to Khunti. After reaching Ranchi, they boarded a train on November 24 and headed to the man's village.
"Under a plan, the man took her to Khunti in an autorickshaw near his home and asked her to wait. He returned with sharp weapons and strangulated her with her dupatta after raping her. He then cut the body into 40 to 50 pieces and left for his home to live with his wife," Singh said.
The woman, however, had informed her mother that she had boarded a train and would be living with her partner, the police officer said.
Following the recovery of body parts, a bag was also found in the forest with the murdered woman's belongings including her Aadhaar card. The mother of the woman was called at the spot and she identified her daughter's belongings.
"The mother suspected the man behind the crime who after being nabbed by the police admitted to chopping the woman into pieces," the official added.
The incident has sent shockwaves among people in the region, with the Shraddha Walker murder case of 2022 still fresh in their memory.
Walker was killed by her live-in partner who chopped her body into pieces before dumping them in the jungle in South Delhi’s Mehrauli.