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Indian Express
13-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Know Your City: How a freedom fighter played a crucial role in developing Mekhri Circle in Bengaluru
Written by Bhoomika Roy Bannerjee, Mehak Singh If you have driven past the Mekhri Circle in North Bengaluru, you have passed a name engraved not just into the roadways of the city but also into the history of Bangalore. The name Enayathullah Mehkri appears on signage, Google Maps, and even now in the Metro station currently under planning. But very few know the human behind the name—a freedom fighter, philanthropist, and quiet reformer. In 1937, the area was nothing more than a steep incline, where bullocks pulling stone-laden carts struggled to ascend. It wasn't the municipality or the monarchy that stepped in—it was Enayathulla Mehkri, a military contractor and freedom fighter recently released from jail. He personally funded and oversaw the levelling of that road, not for reward or recognition, but out of empathy for the animals and labourers. His maternal grandson Abid Mehkri said, 'He did it out of compassion for the bullocks—the 'beasts of burden'—as he used to call them. To help the needy was his cause.' This act of generosity, which he performed so quietly without any expectations, got noticed by none other than the then Maharaja of Mysore, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who was informed through his dewan Sir Humayun Mirza. The Maharaja offered him a sum of Rs 10,000 – a large amount for that period — as reimbursement on the grounds of persuading him to accept the money as a reward and that it was the duty of the government to level the road. However, Mehkri refused, saying, 'Let this be between me and God.' This act of kindness is what led to the naming of the then Enayathulla Mehkri Square, now popularly known as the Mehkri Circle, inaugurated by Lord John Hope, the 1st Baron Glendevon, in 1939. His family traces its roots back to Mehkar in Syria. The family came to India as advisors to the courts of Mughal and later Mysore rulers, serving under Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and eventually the Wodeyars. He was born in Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu, and was arrested during the freedom struggle and imprisoned in Vellore for nine months. He was later brought to Bengaluru, where he settled in the military quarters near the very area he would later help develop. This is where his work began—not just as a contractor but as a man devoted to the cause of the community. Despite having little formal education (he didn't complete his Class 10), he became known as a man of the people. 'He could have bought half of Bangalore,' Abid recalls his grandfather saying. 'But what use is that? My work was for the poor, he said.' During his time in jail, he had made significant contacts with freedom fighters like C Rajagopalachari and E V Ramasamy Naicker. Post-independence, he remained deeply engaged in civic issues. He was elected as a councillor in the Bangalore City Corporation for 16 years, also serving as the All India Congress Committee freedom fighter cells' only member from Karnataka, as well as the president of the Karnataka Freedom Fighters Association. Besides, he also served as the municipal commissioner of the cantonment area, influencing critical urban planning and civic works. One of Mehkri's most enduring roles was his service as an honorary general secretary of the Muslim Orphanage in Bengaluru for 17 years. Family stories highlight how he once left his own lunch untouched to attend to a call from the orphanage reporting that the children hadn't eaten. He ensured they were fed before he returned home to his cold meal. 'The left hand shouldn't know what the right hand is doing' was a principle that he lived by. He was also involved in helping the underprivileged buy land, supporting families in financial crisis, and paying school fees or electricity bills for those in need. His philanthropic actions were never documented publicly, but they remain vivid in the oral history passed down by the living of his family. Even though the name survives in road signs and articles, Abid Mehkri admits that the legacy is slowly fading away. 'My father said the name will remain, but the family may vanish. And it seems to be already happening,' he says. What was once the expansive estate of the Mehkri family in Miller Road, Benson Town—described as 'palace-like'—now stands as a relic of the past. The circle has undergone multiple renovations, underpasses and soon metro additions. Still, the plaque with Mehkri's name remains, less prominent than it once was. The family members themselves have recently attempted to repaint and re-establish the original name. In 2035, Mehkri Circle will mark 100 years since its naming. As the city grows ever larger, its people ought to pause to remember the ones who laid its foundation. (Bhoomika Roy Bannerjee and Mehak Singh are interns with the Indian Express)
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Indian Express
Books, games, and safety lessons: How Bengaluru police are transforming station visits to teach kids
Written By Mehak Singh A well-lit room filled with books, magazines, posters, and gaming equipment is the last thing you would expect to see while walking into a police station. Yet, this is precisely what visitors will experience at three police stations in Bengaluru. In an attempt to encourage public-friendly police stations and create awareness about laws and crimes among children, child-friendly rooms have been opened at the Vijayanagar, Magadi Road, and Govindarajanagar police stations in the city, the police said on Tuesday. 'We have established these rooms with the help of donors and Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath students. If it is successful, we will implement this in other police stations where there is space availability,' Seemant Kumar Singh, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, said. According to the police, the goal is to give kids 'a safe and comforting environment' when they visit their parents. With the rooms offering a 'welcome space' instead of an intimidating one, the police hope they will help break down barriers between youngsters and law enforcement. The spaces are stocked with educational materials as well as play items. Walls are plastered with friendly cartoons and posters about safety, and book stands hold children's magazines. Age-appropriate lessons in the form of charts—one, for example, explains the difference between 'good touch' and 'bad touch'—help kids learn about personal safety in a nonthreatening way. The child-friendly rooms are paired with outreach programmes like 'open-house' days, where students from nearby schools will be invited to visit the space and talk with police officers. These sessions—one has already been held—will see police stations turn into hands-on classrooms where children learn about their rights and safety through fun activities and skits. For example, officers will explain in simple terms what the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act is, and answer questions about how it keeps children safe. Teachers and students will learn that child marriage is illegal and that every child has the right to go to school. Through games and engaging activities, children can practice talking to a 'trusted adult' if something feels wrong, and memorise emergency numbers they can call for help. 'We want to help create trust in the police and reduce crime against children by making them aware of what is right and wrong,' Abhishek S K, Police Inspector, Vijayanagar police station, said. By speaking in a friendly tone and giving children helpful information, he explained, the police force hopes to change kids' image of law enforcement. The Bengaluru police want children to feel safe approaching a police officer when in trouble. And at these three police stations in the city, every child who leaves with a smile will be celebrated as yet another win for community policing. Mehak Singh is an intern with The Indian Express.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘Banking service' for cyber criminals: Bengaluru police bust gang which operated mule accounts involved in laundering of Rs 150 crore
Written by Mehak Singh, The Bengaluru police Tuesday announced the arrests of four members of a gang allegedly involved in creating mule accounts to open shell companies for siphoning money obtained through cybercrimes. The police suspect that the gang laundered a whopping Rs 150 crore using such accounts. Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, in a press conference, said the gang members were part of a larger network. The accused have been identified as Lakshmish N, 33, from Nagadevanahalli in Bengaluru; Prakash H, 43, from Thathaguni village near Kanakapura Road; Sunil Kumar, 45, from JP Nagar 7th Stage in Bengaluru; and Puttaswamyya, 54, from the Ramanagara district. According to police records, Prakash and Sunil Kumar were previously taken into custody in a related fraud case filed at the North CEN police station. According to investigating officer Umesh Kumar, the accused lured innocent people into sharing their know your customer (KYC) documents by offering money or false promises of employment. Using these details, the scammers allegedly registered shell companies and opened hundreds of current accounts in the companies' names. These accounts were then rented out to cybercriminals to facilitate the routing and laundering of money earned through online fraud, said the police. Inspector Kumar explained that these were not ordinary bank accounts. Each one came as a complete package, including a SIM card, passbook, cheque book, and internet banking access— everything needed to conduct transactions smoothly and anonymously. He said the network was well-organised and operated almost like a 'banking service for criminals'. The accused received 20 to 30 per cent of the money as commission. The police confiscated one laptop, four cell phones, multiple cheque books from different banks, and documents related to these shell companies. Over 100 cybercrime cases have been filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) in connection with this racket, and 357 mule accounts have been found so far. Early estimates suggest that these accounts may have been used to launder more than Rs 150 crore. Authorities believe that the scam could not have operated without the assistance of an insider. The police suspect that bank staff may have been involved in opening and managing these fraudulent accounts. Investigations are underway to identify and arrest those higher up in the chain who orchestrated the entire operation. Mule accounts are a growing concern in India's cybercrime landscape. These are actual bank accounts, usually opened under fictitious or stolen identities, used by criminals to move and launder illegal funds. Account holders sometimes know what is happening with their accounts, and at other times, they have no idea that their identities are being used. In either event, they become part of a much larger criminal enterprise. Mehak Singh is an intern with The Indian Express.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
From failure to future: Bengaluru NGO helps hundreds of schoolchildren clear supplementary exams
Written by Mehak Singh When 17-year-old Ghousia failed her Class 10 exams, she thought it marked the end of her academic journey. A daughter of a welder from Tumkur, Ghousia had failed in three subjects—math, science, and Kannada. But four weeks later, she walked out of her supplementary exams with a passing certificate, renewed hope, and a plan for her future. Ghousia passed with 52 per cent marks and is now exploring careers in software or clerical work—paths that once felt out of her reach—all thanks to an initiative by the Active Bengaluru Foundation. The Class 10 pass percentage declined this year in Karnataka, reaching only 65 per cent; among the marginalised sections, only 52 per cent passed the exams. In response to this dip, the NGO launched Mission No Dropout, a city-wide coaching effort to prepare students, especially those from BPL (below poverty line) and OBC (Other Backward Classes) backgrounds, for their supplementary exams. Within a matter of days, the organisation mobilised over 22 coaching centres across Bengaluru, reaching nearly 150 schools and enrolling over 1,100 students. 'We saw students failing by just five to seven marks, most commonly in math and science. If they didn't clear the supplementary, many would drop out entirely and start working odd jobs,' says Syed Tousif Masood, volunteer & founding member of the Active Bengaluru Foundation. 'So we put together a targeted 'passing package' with daily coaching sessions and personalised mentoring.' For many students, this initiative was life-changing. But the initiative did not end at just clearing exams. To truly ensure these students do not fall through the cracks again, the Active Bengaluru Foundation organised the Baazigar Awards on June 22—a felicitation and career guidance event for the newly passed students. Over 200 students attended the ceremony, held to honour those who have battled the odds, not just topped the charts. Career counselling sessions were held for students to choose alternative and skill-based career paths. 'We know not every student can or will go the Class 12-and-degree route,' said Masood. 'So we're helping them explore options that are both affordable and immediately employable.' The initiative has already seen early signs of success—between 450 and 500 students cleared the first supplementary round. The organisation remains optimistic about raising the success rates in the years to come. For those who may still fall short, the NGO has launched a dedicated helpline (9364024365), guiding them to enrol in vocational and skill development courses. 'No student should feel abandoned because of one failed exam,' says Masood. (Mehak Singh is an intern with
CTV News
14-06-2025
- CTV News
Man's car destroyed in early-morning arson in Ahuntsic-Cartierville
Mehak Singh discovered his car had been set on fire early Saturday morning in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, prompting a police investigation. An Ahuntsic-Cartierville man woke up Saturday morning to police at his door and his car destroyed by fire. Around 8:30 a.m., Mehak Singh, 27, said he heard a knock at the door. When he opened it, Montreal police (SPVM) officers informed him his vehicle had been the target of arson. 'I looked, and it was totally burned,' Singh said, adding that he had been asleep when the fire occurred. Montreal police said they received a 911 call around 6:30 a.m. reporting a vehicle on fire on Michel-Sarrazin Street near Grenet Street. Officers and firefighters were dispatched to the scene, and the fire was quickly brought under control. The vehicle was a total loss. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Singh, who has lived in Canada for about two years, said he doesn't know why anyone would target his car. 'I have insurance, but I don't know if it's covered or not,' he said. 'That was my first car. I loved it.' The investigation is ongoing. With files from Stephane Giroux
