Bahrain: Former India Cricketer and former Member of Parliament Mohammed Azharuddin attended the grand iftar of the SAARA Group held at the Four Seasons Hotel here on April 17.

More than 150 people attended the iftar including the Ambassadors of various Diplomatic missions, Members of parliament, Bahrain Chamber of commerce and industry, the Board of Directors of the SAARA Group and media houses.

Along with Azharuddin, H.E. Piyush Srivastava (Indian Ambassador) was also present at the event.

Mohammad Mansoor the founding Chairman and Managing Director said Ramadan is the moment bridging the gap between cultures and experience the true spirit of breaking fast together.

The other honorable dignitaries present at the event included Malaysian Ambassador, H.E. Shazryll Zahiran, Korean Ambassador, H.E. Hae Kwan Chung, Mohamed AJM Al Koheji, Vice-Chairman, Aaref Hejres, Treasurer Waleed Kanoo, Vice-Treasurer & Board members of the Bahrain Chambers, Yosuf Lori, Director Capital Governate , P.S.Bala, Vice Chairman & Board Members of Bahrain India Society,  Hatim Dadabai President , Manaf Al Mannai, Vice President, Anoop Kewalram, Secretary General & board members of  Bahrain Cricket Federation , Shipra Passi, President ILA, Eric Li Haiyun , Managing Director Huawei Bahrain,  Quraish, Abbas Dadabhai, Nabeel Ajoor, Kishore Kewalram, Bob Takar, Fareed Bader of  Business Community , Presidents of Social Clubs and members of media.

Azharuddin, the cricketing star of the event thanked Mansoor for coordinating his visit to Bahrain as the chairman to the advisory Board of Bahrain Cricket Federation and also complimented the recent successes achieved by Bahraini men’s and women’s teams, where the men’s team just narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup and the newly-formed women’s team set a plethora of world records in a T20I against Saudi Arabia, including the highest team total and the highest individual score in an innings.

“Kudos to them, really commendable for both the men and women, for the way they have shown a splendid cricketing display within limited time frame and resources. 

The Bahraini teams of the future could really improve with proper infrastructure in place", said Azharuddin offering his services to the BCF to help cricket in Bahrain flourish.

 

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Imphal, Nov 22: The ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has claimed 258 lives since May last year, the state government's Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh said on Friday.

He said that the state would get around 90 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), over and above the 198 companies that are already in Manipur.

"The total number of deaths is 258 including militants," Singh while addressing a press conference after holding a security review meeting here.

The security advisor said that 32 people were arrested in connection with vandalism and torching of properties of ministers and MLAs while around 3,000 looted weapons have been recovered.

"We are getting approximately 90 companies of CAPF, over and above the 198 companies which were earlier sent to the state. A sizeable number of them have already reached Imphal. We are distributing forces to protect the lives and properties of the citizens and vulnerable points," Singh said.

The authorities would set up coordination cells and joint control rooms in each district, he said after the meeting which was attended by representatives of the Army, BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, SSB, ITBP and the Manipur Police.

"A number of SOPs (standard operating procedure) have been prepared for deployment of forces for coordination, for functioning, for fringe area security, for national highways security, and for any other important points which have to be taken care of," Singh said.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh would be briefed about the outcome of the meeting as is done in all similar cases, he said.

He said that nine bodies, including those of the victims including those of the six abducted and killed in Jiribam, were buried peacefully under tight security.

The bodies include three women and three children, who were allegedly abducted from a relief camp on November 11 by Kuki-Zo militants from Jiribam's Borobekra area when a group of Kuki youths were engaged in an encounter with CRPF in which 10 of them were killed.

"The CRPF post was attacked during which 10 militants were neutralised. Soon after that, it came to light that three women and three children were abducted," Singh said.

It will be found out whether the abduction happened in presence of the security forces, he said.

No information is available if the militants involved in the abduction belonged to Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups but it will be checked, Singh said adding that NIA is looking into the cases.

The SoO pact was signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits – Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF). The pact was signed in 2008 and extended periodically thereafter.

The violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups, besides inflicting heavy casualties, rendered thousands of people homeless since May last year.

It started after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.