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Al-Shabab militants attack University: kill 147 students in Kenya

Kenya: Al-Shabab gunmen rampaged through a university in northeastern Kenya at dawn Thursday, killing 147 people in the group's deadliest attack in the East African country. Four militants were slain by security forces to end the siege just after dusk.

The masked attackers - strapped with explosives and armed with AK-47s - singled out non-Muslim students at Garissa University College and then gunned them down without mercy, survivors said. Others ran for their lives with bullets whistling through the air. Amid the massacre, the men took dozens of hostages in a dormitory as they battled troops and police before the operation ended after about 13 hours, witnesses said.

When gunfire from the Kenyan security forces struck the attackers, the militants exploded "like bombs," Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said, adding that the shrapnel wounded some of the officers.

Al-Shabab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said fighters from the Somalia-based extremist group were responsible. The al-Qaida-linked group has been blamed for a series of attacks in Kenya, including the siege at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013 that killed 67 people, as well as other violence in the north. The group has vowed to retaliate against Kenya for sending troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the militants staging cross-border attacks.

 
Most of the 147 dead were students, but two security guards, one policeman and one soldier also were killed in the attack, Nkaissery said.

At least 79 people were wounded at the campus 145 kilometers (90 miles) from the Somali border, he said. Some of the more seriously wounded were flown to Nairobi for treatment. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was ordered in Garissa and three nearby counties.

One suspected extremist was arrested as he tried to flee, Nkaissery told a news conference in Nairobi. Police identified a possible mastermind of the attack as Mohammed Mohamud, who is alleged to lead al-Shabab's cross-border raids into Kenya, and they posted a $220,000 bounty for him. Also known by the names Dulyadin and Gamadhere, he was a teacher at an Islamic religious school, or madrassa, and claimed responsibility for a bus attack in Makka, Kenya, in November that killed 28 people.

One of the survivors of Thursday's attack, Collins Wetangula, told The Associated Press he was preparing to take a shower when he heard gunshots coming from Tana dorm, which hosts both men and women, 150 meters (yards) away. The campus has six dorms and at least 887 students, he said.

When he heard the gunshots, he locked himself and three roommates in their room, said Wetangula, who is vice chairman of the university's student union. "All I could hear were footsteps and gunshots. Nobody was screaming because they thought this would lead the gunmen to know where they are," he said.

He added: "The gunmen were saying, 'Sisi ni al-Shabab,'" — Swahili for "We are al-Shabab." He heard the attackers arrive at his dormitory, open the doors and ask if the people who had hidden inside were Muslims or Christians.

"If you were a Christian, you were shot on the spot," he said. "With each blast of the gun, I thought I was going to die." The gunmen then started shooting rapidly, as if exchanging fire, Wetangula said.

"The next thing, we saw people in military uniform through the window of the back of our rooms who identified themselves as the Kenyan military," he said. The soldiers took him and around 20 others to safety. The attack began about 5:30 a.m., as morning prayers were underway at the university mosque, where worshippers were not attacked, said Augustine Alanga, a 21-year-old student.

At least five heavily armed, masked gunmen opened fire outside his dormitory, turning intense almost immediately and setting off panic, he told the AP by telephone. The shooting kept some students indoors but scores of others fled through barbed-wire fencing around the campus, with the gunmen firing at them, he said.

"I am just now recovering from the pain as I injured myself while trying to escape, Alanga said. I was running barefoot," Alanga said. As terrified students streamed out of buildings, arriving police officers took cover. Kenya's National Police Service said a "fierce shootout" ensued as police guarded the dorms.

Three dorms were evacuated as the gunmen holed up in a fourth, and Kenyan Defense Forces surrounded the campus. "I am saddened to inform the nation that early today, terrorists attacked Garissa University College, killed and wounded several people, and have taken others hostage," President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a speech to the nation while the siege was underway.

After the militants took hostages, fears arose over the fate of some of the students, but the National Disaster Operations Center said all were eventually accounted for. The US condemned the attack, with White House spokesman Josh Earnest saying Washington was standing with the people of Kenya, "who will not be intimidated by such cowardly attacks." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned it, reiterating his solidarity with the Kenyans "to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism," his office said.

Wetangula, who was rescued by troops, said one soldier instructed a group of students to run and to dive for cover at their command as they ran to safety. "We started running and bullets were whizzing past our heads, and the soldiers told us to dive," Wetangula said. The soldier told students later that al-Shabab snipers were perched on a three-story dormitory called the Elgon, he said.

Kenyatta has been under pressure to deal with insecurity caused by a string of attacks by al-Shabab. In his speech to the country, he said he had directed the police chief to speed up the training of 10,000 police recruits because Kenya has "suffered unnecessarily due to shortage of security personnel."

Kenya's northern and eastern regions near the Somali border have seen many attacks blamed on al-Shabab. Last month, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for attacks in Mandera county on the Somali border in which 12 people died.

Police said 312 people have been killed in al-Shabab attacks in Kenya from 2012 to 2014. Last week, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for a siege at a Mogadishu hotel that left 24 people dead, including six attackers.





  • Published in World

Special informational program for students

Sullia: A special informational program was organized at Mahatma Gandhi Malnad higher school in Kodialbail for the students of 7th and 8th standard.

Dinesh Madappady, President of administrative committee of the school presided over the program. Speaking after inaugurating the program K.V Hemanath, director of the school committee said, children have the power of absorbing all the information. By collecting all the information related to the studies one should prepare themselves for the competition.

National award winning teacher K.R Gangadhar, education coordination officer Chandrashekar Peral, zonal trainers B.S Sharif, A.K Mohan trained student on many subjects. Higher school head master K. Chidananda, teacher Chitralekha Madappady, physical trainer P.S Devaraj assisted the trainers.
  • Published in D.K.

Two students drowned in Netravathi River

Ullala: Two students studying in Canara P U College who had been to see the bridge gone missing here in Kallapu Jurisdiction.

Morgans Gate Mahankali Padpu resident Vinod Nayaks son Aditya Nayak(17) and Marnamikatte resident Yogendra’s son Chirag Bangera were the students gone missing. They were studying at Canara College in Commerce department.

Description of the incident: the students were preapring for computer science exam on Monday. Aditya, Chirag, Satvik, Prateek had come to Mangaluru. Satwik wanted the Xerox of the note so the friends had come to meet the Satwik from Mudipu. From there all the friends had gone to Aditya’s house for group study. But they decided to go to the bridge at Kallapu, and had come to the Shore of Netravathi River.

Aditya and Chirag knew swimming so they got down into the river near the bridge. But as it was afternoon and high tide, they struggled to swim and the current of the river drowned them. Satwik who was on the shore watching this shouted aloud for help. But as there was no one rescuing these two was impossible.

Ullala police and fire engine have reached the place.

Their dress were found on the bridge.
 
Earlier news

Two students drown in Nethravathy river

Ullala: Two students who went for a swim in Nethravathy river were drowned in the water on Saturday March 21.

The deceased are Aditya and Chirag. Four students of Canara PU college had gathered at Aditya’s house for group study. In the afternoon the students went for a swim in the river. Aditya and Chirag got into the water for swim while Prateek and Sathwik remained at the bay.

Aditya and Chirag drowned in the water. Locals jumped to the river to rescue the students but their efforts went in vain. Search is on for the students in the river.

Two students drown in Nethravathy river 
  • Published in Ullal
Two students drown in Nethravathy river

Two students drown in Nethravathy river

Ullala: Two students who went for a swim in Nethravathy river were drowned in the water on Saturday March 21.

The deceased are Aditya and Chirag. Four students of Canara PU college had gathered at Aditya’s house for group study. In the afternoon the students went for a swim in the river. Aditya and Chirag got into the water for swim while Prateek and Sathwik remained at the bay.

Aditya and Chirag drowned in the water. Locals jumped to the river to rescue the students but their efforts went in vain. Search is on for the students in the river.
  • Published in Ullal

Students should use their full capacity to succeed in life: Amrit Shenoy

Karkala: The goal is as important as hard work to succeed in education. Students should use all their capacity to overcome all the obstacles and problems in reaching that goal said Amrit Shenoy P. member of educational committee of Mangaluru University nominated by Karnataka government.

He was speaking in the felicitation ceremony organized by Hosa Sanje team at Karkala Shri Venkatramana women’s College. Students need to obtain capacity to manage any field along with academic education in ever changing global conditions.

Today we easily get jobs but due to incapacity there is a danger of losing the job is also very high. One should develop discipline, time sense and responsibility as a student he said.

Principal Mithra Hegde, businessman Kamalaksha Nayak Jarkala graced the program.  Secretary of the educational institution K.P Shenoy presided over the program.

Devaraya Prabhu welcomed the gathering. Hindi lecturer Dr. Ashok Clifferd hosted the program.

During felicitation ceremony organizers dropped the traditional style and gave scholarship to three poor students. Amrit Shenoy appreciated the step taken by the Hosa Sanje team and said this model should be implemented in other felicitation programs too.  

  • Published in Karkala

Students go for tour: Activists stone the bus, tour cancelled

Mangaluru: Activists of Hindu outfit waylaid a bus in which about 38 students of Mudipu government first Grade College were heading to their touring destination. The incident happened on Saturday night March 14 a Mudipu.

The students were on their educational tour to Bengaluru and Mysuru. The activists complained that the boys and girls in the bus were belonged to different communities. 24 boys, 14 girls, and four lecturers were part of the tour. After the programme faced strong resistance, the tour programme was cancelled, it is gathered.

The girl students were sent home with their parents, while the boy students were accommodated at the college premises for the night. The activists pelted stones at the bus. When it looked as if the situation was about to go out of control, police resorted to caning to disperse the angry mob.
  • Published in Ullal
Boarders of Konaje College sabotaged hostel furniture

Boarders of Konaje College sabotaged hostel furniture

Konaje: Students of P.A. College who stay in hostel sabotaged the hostel furniture as they found lizards in their meals on Thursday. Furious students had thrown stones, soda bottles and vandalized the window glasses of the four storied building. Also has damaged the furniture and TV of the hostel completely.

This incident created tension in the surroundings. Even after paying thousands of rupees as fees the hostel facility is not up to the mark. Management has turned deaf and dumb to the complaints of the students. Students are not taken into consideration accused the students. That caused students to take this drastic step.

Konaje police has visited the place of incident. No case has been registered in the station regarding this issue. Students who were involved in the incidents are sent to home on one week leave. And,are given warning letter.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Published in Ullal

College students charged with theft

Mangaluru: Five persons, including three 17-year-old Pre University course students, have been booked for alleged theft of laptops, mobile phones and mobile recharge coupons.

According to Mangaluru East police, some of the accused had a heated exchange with a car owner who questioned the students for creating nuisance in Kadri Kambala road on Friday. The accused followed the car and damaged it after the owner entered his house.

Based on a complaint, the police took the accused into custody and questioned them.

During the questioning the police came to know that these accused were seen in the CCTV camera images regarding theft of mobile phones in Bikarnakatte on Thursday. They were also accused of stealing a laptop from Maroli in February.

The police arrested Prem D’Souza (18) and Savin (18). The three PU students will face proceedings before the Juvenile Justice Board. The police have recovered stolen mobile phones, the laptop and a few mobile recharge coupons.

Two arrested

The Belthangady police have arrested Sachin (25) and Mathew (24) for the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl.

The police said the accused dragged the girl into a car and took her to a forest area where she was sexually assaulted on March 8. The girl told her family members about the assault, and a complaint was lodged on March 9.

Student traced

The 17-year-old PU student, who had been reported to have been kidnapped from a hostel in Kodialbail on March 8, has been traced with her 20-year old friend in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The police said the girl’s father, who hails from Belagavi, filed a complaint after receiving a call from the boy that his daughter was with him. Based on the complaint, the police traced the couple in Bengaluru. The boy has been arrested for kidnapping the girl, the police said.
  • Published in Crime
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