Emotional homecoming for Mangalorean youth after 9 years in Saudi prison

April 8, 2014

Mangalore, Apr 8: The Mangalore international airport witnessed scenes of an emotional reunion on Monday afternoon when Mangalorean Ayyoob Kannur returned home after spending more than nine years behind bars in Jeddah on the charges of Saudi Telecom Co. fraud.

For Mr Ayyoob the homecoming was dreamlike. “Alhamdulillah (Thank God). I never expected that I would be able to make it,” he said when he was received at the airport amidst an emotional reunion with his family.Airport

Tears welled up in his eyes as he hugged his mother, relatives with shivering hands.

Mohammed Ayyoob, a resident of Kannur in Mangalore was in jail for more than 10 years after Saudi Telecom Company (STC) charged him and seven others with very heavy fines, when a person who ran illegal international phone call business in the building where they stayed,  escaped from Saudi Arabia following the arrest of all inmates of the building.

He said “I am coming back to Mangalore after 13 years. I had been to Saudi Arabia to earn my livelihood. I was working in a Indian mess in Riyadh. Later, I moved to Jeddah and was into a petty job. The salary was not enough to meet my requirements. I had even decided to return. However, the destiny had something else in store. I was arrested by the Jeddah police on June 1, 2003. The court had sentenced us to eight years of imprisonment and slapped a huge penalty. As I was not able to pay the fine, I could not come out after serving eight years in jail,” he said.

Hussain Ahammed, Riyaz Ahammed from Kudroli, Nasir Mohammed from Ullal, Mohammed Ashraf from Surathkal, Fayaz from Bajpe, Mohamed Sharif from B C Road and Fairoz who were arrested along with Ayub are still languishing in the jail.

“With the help of India Fraternity Forum, I was released. It took more than four months to complete the formalties. Understanding the miserable plight of these young men and their poor families, India Fraternity Forum took interest in the matter and sought the help and support of Consulate General of India. The Forum had set up an adhoc committee, consisting the Welfare coordinator of IFF Karnataka chapter Ashraf Bajpe, IFF Jeddah President Ashraf Murayoor, Mudassar Akkarangadi, Haris Goodinabali and Hussain Jokatte to mobilise the support to ensure the regular follow up of the case,” Ayyoob said.

The families had submitted several petitions to the External Affairs minister and to the all MPs from Karnataka requesting the support of government for their release, said a family member. “My aged mother is on cloud nine. I am happy to return back to India. I only wish God for the welfare of all those who helped me to get released from the jail,” said a beaming Ayyoob.

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News Network
June 24,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 24: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah criticised the current state government rates for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals and said that the patients must be treated free of charge in all hospitals.

"The state government has fixed rates for treating COVID-19. The current rates are shocking to the people," Siddaramaiah said.
Questioning the state government, he said, "Where can people pay these rates fixed by the government per day? Looking at these rates can be heartbreaking for the people. This raises the question of whether the government is sensitive to people's issues."

"The government must promptly announce free treatment and set up a standard treatment protocol. The government should appoint a panel of experts to continuously monitor whether treatment is being properly administered and create an environment where the public is free from anxiety," Siddaramaiah added.

Karnataka on Tuesday reported 322 fresh COVID-19 positive cases and eight deaths.
According to the state health department, the total number of positive cases has mounted to 9,721 and 150 deaths. So far, 6,004 people have been discharged. 

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News Network
March 14,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 14: Following the footsteps of the neighbouring state Kerala, the state government has decided to deliver groceries to the mid-day meal scheme beneficiaries at the anganwadis.

The state govt has also declared one-week holiday for anganwadis, as a precautionary measure to control the spread of COVID-19 among children.

The respective district administrations have been directed to take necessary steps to ensure that the groceries are delivered to the students’ homes as well.

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February 16,2020

Uppinangady, Feb 16: Eleven people were injured, when a private bus in which they were travelling, toppled near Kodikal on Sunday, police said.

According to Police, more than 20 people were travelling in the bus towards Puttur from Sakleshpur when the mishap took place.

All the inmates were on their way to attend a wedding.

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