Bantwal: In an incident that reportedly occurred on Tuesday night, an individual jumped into the Netravati River from the Panemangaluru Bridge in an apparent suicide. 

The deceased has been identified as Jaleel (55), a resident of Karaje. The locals have revealed that around 11 pm on Tuesday, Jaleel had jumped to his death from the bridge at Panemangaluru. 

The deceased’s footwear, mobile phone, and bike were found on the bridge around 11 pm on Tuesday. In the background of finding these items, suspecting suicide, the local swimmers jumped into the river in search of the deceased, it is learned. 

Upon making inquiries using the recovered mobile phone, it was found that the device belonged to a Karaje resident named Jaleel. Although a search was conducted throughout the night, his body was not found.  However, on Wednesday morning, when local swimmers Sattar and Muhammed went out on another search operation, they reportedly found the body. 

The dead body was taken to the mortuary at the Bantwal government hospital, and a suicide case was registered at the Bantwal city police station, it is learned. The reason behind the suicide is yet to be ascertained.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.

The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.

He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.

Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.

The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.

Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.

Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.

Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.

He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.

These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.

On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.

Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.

In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.

Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.

For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.

Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.