Udupi: The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Monti Fest, was celebrated with devotion in Udupi district on Saturday.

Christians gathered in their respective churches and children offered flowers to Mother Mary. The church parish priests blessed the new paddy and took it in a procession inside the church.

Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, participated in the feast ceremony at St. Joyner Church of Shankarpur here and blessed the new paddy and concelebrated the holy Eucharistic mass.

Fr. Valerian Mendonca, parish priest of the church, blessed the new paddy at Mother of Sorrows Church in Udupi.

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Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 14 (PTI): The Mangaluru City Crime Branch has arrested three men in connection with the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Azaruddin alias Azar alias Ajju (29), Abdul Khader alias Noufal (24) and Vamanjoor Noushad alias Chotte Noushad (39), were arrested during the last two days, they said.

With the fresh arrests, a total of 11 people have been arrested in connection with the murder so far, police said.

According to a police statement, Azaruddin had previously been booked in three theft cases registered at Panambur, Suratkal, and Mulki police stations. He allegedly provided information about Shetty's movements to the other accused, aiding in the murder.

Khader is said to have assisted the accused during their escape in a car after the murder was committed.

Noushad is accused of having conspired with the others and directly participated in the crime. He has six previous criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery conspiracy, registered at various police stations in Dakshina Kannada, police said.

Azaruddin has been remanded in judicial custody, while Khader and Noushad have been taken into police custody for seven days for further investigation.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to trace other accused involved in the case.

Shetty, a known rowdy sheeter and Hindutva activist, was murdered by a group on May 1 within the Bajpe police station limits in Mangaluru City.

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