After fight with husband, woman files case: NIA steps in to probe ‘forced conversion’

Bengaluru, Apr 26: Two businessmen brothers, Tajammul Pasha and Muzammil Pasha, in Karnataka's Kolar district have set out to help people in need amid the lockdown over the COVID-19 pandemic by selling their land for Rs 25 lakh.

On seeing daily wage labourers and their families in Kolar suffer during the lockdown, the brothers said they decided to sell their land and use the money to buy essentials and food grain for a large number of poor people.

The brothers also bought oil and cereals with the money. Then they set up a tent next to their house and started a community kitchen to make food for labourers and homeless people.

"Our parents died early. When we shifted to our maternal grandmother's place at  Kolar, people from communities, Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims helped us survive without any religious bias," said Tajammul Pasha, visibly emotional.

The Pasha brothers are into banana cultivation and real estate. Tajammul was five and his sibling Muzammil was three when they lost their parents. They had to move from Chickbalapor to Kollar, where their grandmother lived.

"We were brought up in poverty. We survived because of the support of people of all communities and religions. We have signed the society agreement bond and handed it over to our friend who purchased our site and gave the money," the brothers said.

Once the lockdown ends and the land registrar's office opens, the remaining steps to transfer the land will be completed, they said.

So far the two brothers have supplied food grain, oil, sugar and other essentials to over 3,000 families. They have also given hand sanitizers and masks to the poor.

The Kolar administration has issued passes to their volunteers so that they can help in this difficult time.

The number of coronavirus cases in India has increased to 24,506, including 775 deaths, the Home Ministry said today, adding that 1,429 cases and 57 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

Amid a countrywide lockdown to check the spread of the highly contagious illness, which began on March 25, the government last night issued an order to allow neighbourhood shops to remain open with conditions; malls across India continue to remain shut.

Kalaburagi, Mar 7: Congress and JDS MLAs are eagerly waiting to join BJP, said former minister and chairman of Nijasharana Ambigara Choudaiah Abhivradhi Nigama, Baburao Chinchansur, here on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference here, Baburao said if the BJP top brass gives a green signal to include MLAs of other parties, both Congress and JDS would be almost empty. Many leaders, including D K Shivakumar and G Parameshwara, won’t support Siddaramaiah and the former CM will have to find his own way in the coming days, he predicted. He said Congress will not be coming to power in Karnataka for the next 20 years, he said.

Chinchansur thanked Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for providing Rs 50 crore for Nijasharana Ambigara Choudaiah Abhivrudhi Nigama in the budget. He also said that a delegation will be taken to New Delhi under the leadership of the CM, after the budget session, to pressure the Union government to include Koli community in ST category.

Chikkamagaluru, Jun 13: Deputy Commissioner Dr Bagadi Gautham said that movement of heavy vehicles has been banned from Tanikodi to S K Border on NH 169 (Mangaluru to Solapur) from June 15 to August 15.

In an official statement issued here on Friday evening, he said that due to heavy rain lashing in the District the minor bridges on the stretch at Umbalagere, Goravanahalli and Gulaganji are in a dilapidated condition. As a precautionary measure, the movement of heavy vehicles has been banned.

As an alternative, all the vehicles (below 15 tonnes) from Chikmagalur can travel via Baliho Nur-Magundi-Kalasa-Kudremukh-SK Border. The vehicles from NR Pura (below 15 tonnes) should travel via Koppa-Hariharapura-Bidaragodu-Agumbe.