Eminent artist, art educator Syed Asif Ali dies at 54 while on duty in Alake
Mangaluru: Renowned artist and senior art educator Syed Asif Ali passed away following a cardiac arrest in Mangaluru on Monday, January 5, 2026. Ali collapsed while on duty at Mahalasa College of Visual Art, Alake, where he had been serving for nearly three decades. He was 54.
Born on February 8, 1972, in Molakalmuru of Chitradurga district, Ali completed his General Diploma in Fine Art from Ravindra Kalaniketana, Tumakuru, in 1995 and later earned a Master of Visual Art degree from Kannada University, Hampi, in 2008.Ali joined Mahalasa College of Visual Art in 1996 and was heading the Department of Applied Art at the time of his death. Ali was admired as an accomplished artist, he was best known for his vivid, on-location watercolour landscape paintings. As a teacher, he was deeply respected for his close mentorship and personal engagement with students.
During a career spanning over 30 years, Ali participated in several national and regional exhibitions. He featured in the Mysuru Dasara exhibition on ten occasions and took part in Karnataka Lalithakala Academy exhibitions five times, he also conducted and participated in numerous art camps, training young artists across the state.
His contributions to the field were recognised with several prestigious honours, including the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy State Award, the Camlin National Award, and nine Mysuru Dasara Awards.
Ali’s mortal remains were kept for public homage at Mahalasa College of Visual Art and later at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture on Tuesday evening, before being taken to his native Molakalmuru for burial as per tradition.
The Mangaluru chapter of INTACH and the Art Kanara Trust expressed deep condolences over the demise of the veteran artist.
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Child rape-murder: Hundreds protest on Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Pune; traffic hit
Pune (PTI): Hundreds of people blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway in Pune to protest the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl, leading to traffic disruption on the busy route for about four hours.
The girl's family members and other demonstrators placed the body on the road in the Navale Bridge area on Saturday evening and demanded stringent punishment for the 65-year-old man arrested in the case.
Several videos surfaced showing a huge traffic jam on the highway.
Later, the victim's last rites were performed at the Vaikunt crematorium here shortly after midnight amid tight police security.
The accused man, who works as a labourer and has a criminal record, allegedly lured the girl with the promise of food on Friday in the Bhor tehsil of Pune district. He then took her to a cattle enclosure where he allegedly sexually assaulted her and later killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to the police.
He was arrested based on CCTV footage from a private residence, which captured him with the child.
A case was registered against him under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and he has been remanded in police custody till May 7.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Saturday met the family of the victim, assuring them of strict action against the accused and a fast-track trial.
Describing the incident as "shocking" and a "blot on humanity", Pawar said the government stands firmly with the victim's family and will ensure justice.
She also spoke to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought a fast-track court trial so that the accused receives the harshest punishment.
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde directed Pune rural police to gather concrete evidence to build a watertight case and conduct the trial in a fast-track court.
Efforts should be made to ensure the accused gets the death penalty, a statement quoted Shinde as saying.
