KODAVA KERI MELA ENTHRALLS;

The day long celebration by Kodavas hailing from different regions of Madikeri yesterday enthralled the community people.

A colourful procession was taken out on the main streets with traditional dresses, dances and songs. Town residents watched with excitement while the presidents of about ten Keries shot in the air together to mark the start of the procession. Different competitions were held.

Matanda Suresh Chengappa, Kodava Academy president Dotty Poovaiah and other heads together inaugurated the function held at Cauvery hall.

Addressing the gathering, former minister M.C.Nanaiah told the community people not to probe the origin or history of Kodavas. He also told to stop the controvercy being raised about the finding of a script to Kodava language by a German. He suggested that intead of rising for and against opinions, its better we either accept it or reject it.

Meanwhile he adviced the Keri presidents not to compete with the Madikeri Kodava samaja and suggested that the activities be taken up under the stewardship of kodava samaja.

ROSE WOOD SEIZED;

Forest sleuths yesterday arrested five persons and seized rosewood worth rupees fifty thousand from a government farm near Kudige.

According to them Mani, Vasanth, Manjunath, Chandra and Narayan of Madalapur were arrested as they were preparing to transport 40 cubic feet rosewood. Three others are said to be absconding.

KERALA ACCUSED ARRESTED;

A prisoner who was absconding from Kerala prison since 2002 was arrested by police at Siddapur in Kodagu yesterday.

Mohan , undergoing life imprisonment for raping and murdering a girl at Kerala during 1984 absconded during 2002 , after coming out on parole for a short period.

He was however arrested by Kodagu police yesterday, and sent to Kerala.