Tragic road accident claims lives of two young students in Bhatkal
Bhatkal: Two youths lost their lives in a tragic road accident late on Saturday night on the Venkatapur stretch of the National Highway in Bhatkal, triggering grief and shock across the town.
According to sources, the victims were travelling in a car from Shirali towards Bhatkal at around midnight when the vehicle reportedly lost control and rammed into an electric pole on the roadside. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.
It was noted that three to four CCTV cameras are installed in the vicinity of the accident spot. Police officials are expected to examine the footage to determine the sequence of events leading to the collision.
In the impact, a 15-year-old boy, identified as Bilal, son of Mohammed Ashraf Ruknuddin Shipai of Azad Nagar in Bhatkal, died on the spot. Bilal was a Class 10 student. The car was driven by Ayan, son of Abdul Salam Akrami, aged 20, who sustained critical injuries in the crash. He was being shifted to Mangaluru for advanced medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries on the way. Ayan was pursuing a degree at a college in Mangaluru.
Police have registered a case and are continuing further investigation into the incident.
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Udupi: Woman, bank employee arrested in property tax fraud case
Udupi: Udupi City Police have arrested two persons, including a woman, in connection with the alleged misappropriation of property tax funds belonging to the Udupi Municipal Council.
The accused have been identified as Shalini, who was working as a tax consultant outside the municipal office, and Ganesh, a bank employee.
According to police, Anand Suvarna had paid Rs 34,730 towards 12 years of property tax for his building in Kalmadi to Shalini on October 16, 2025. She reportedly issued him a receipt acknowledging the payment.
However, when Suvarna recently checked the status of the payment on the property tax portal, he found that the amount had not been credited and was still shown as pending. He then brought the matter to the notice of the Municipal Commissioner, who verified that the payment had not been recorded.
During questioning, Shalini allegedly admitted to the lapse. On February 16, 2026, she generated a new challan in Suvarna’s name and paid Rs 35,213 towards the dues.
Police said a case has been registered at the Udupi City Police Station against the accused for allegedly misappropriating tax money and defrauding the government by affixing the seal of Union Bank on the challan without remitting the amount initially received from the taxpayer.
Further investigation is under way.
