DUBAI:A six-year-old Indian boy died after he was forgotten in a bus for several hours in Dubai on Saturday. The child, identified as Mohamed Farhan Faisal from the south Indian state of Kerala, was a pupil at an Islamic centre in Al Quoz. According to family sources, he had dozed off after boarding the bus from Karama. He was left behind after all the other students disembarked outside the centre at 8am.

The Dubai Police told Khaleej Times they were notified about the tragedy at 3pm. A top official from the centre said he was found as the driver took the bus out to drop the students back home.

The police said the body was shifted to the forensic department at 6pm for an autopsy.

The official cause of death hadn't been declared at the time of going to press. The mortal remains will be handed over to the family after all legal and administrative procedures have been completed.

The boy was the youngest of three children. He had joined the centre earlier this year. Hailing from the coastal town of Muzhappilangad in Kannur district, his parents are long-time residents of Dubai and the family resides in Karama. His father Faisal runs multiple businesses in Dubai and Kerala.

"I had met the family during a get-together just last week. He was such a bright boy. His parents are in a state of shock," said a close family member, who requested not to be named.

The police were still on the campus when Khaleej Times visited the centre in the evening. Parents who were picking their children up from the centre expressed shock over the tragedy. "I don't know many details, but it's very sad to hear. I am praying for his parents and family," one womanmother said.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, which oversees all Quran centres in Dubai, offered its condolences to the boy's family. "We are working with the Dubai Police to investigate the tragic incident," it said.

courtesy: khaleejtimes.com

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Cooch Behar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".

Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Banerjee said the PM was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.

"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.

The flashpoint was PM's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.

TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the use of the suffix 'da' and urged the PM to say 'Bankim babu' instead.

Modi immediately accepted the sentiment, saying, "I will say Bankim 'babu'. Thank you, I respect your sentiments," and asked in a lighter vein whether he could still address Roy as 'dada'.

Targeting the BJP, Banerjee claimed that it will destroy Bengal's culture, language and heritage if it comes to power in the state.

She also claimed that the assembly elections in the state will be declared soon after publication of the final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise, so that no one can challenge it in court.