The third season of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) – Saudi Arabia concluded recently, bringing together 15 teams from across the region in a competitive display of cricketing skill and teamwork.

JK Strikers lifted the trophy after a series of closely contested matches, while CFC Suralpady finished as runners-up. Both teams were praised for their consistent performances and discipline throughout the tournament.

The KPL, launched in 2023, has grown into a key sporting event for the Karnataka community in Saudi Arabia. The tournament is managed by a 25-member organizing committee that has been credited for maintaining its professional standards and community focus.

Afwan, who has been a central figure in the organizing committee since its inception, played a major role in leading this season’s efforts. His coordination and leadership were appreciated by players and fellow organizers. Committee members Rehman, Asif, Afnan, and Nasir were also part of the core team that handled planning, logistics, and execution of the tournament.

Over the years, KPL has expanded its reach, with Season 3 introducing improved organization and live coverage through the M9Sports YouTube channel, enabling supporters worldwide to follow the matches.

The organizing committee extended its gratitude to sponsors, supporters, and well-wishers who contributed to the event’s success.

With the completion of Season 3, KPL continues to serve as a platform that promotes cricket and strengthens ties among members of the Karnataka community in Saudi Arabia.

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Malkangiri (PTI): Normalcy returned to Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Monday, nearly a week after around 200 villages were damaged in violent clashes in a village, with the district administration fully restoring internet services, a senior official said.

Additional District Magistrate Bedabar Pradhan said internet services, suspended across the district on December 8 to curb the spread of rumours and misinformation following the clashes, were restored after the situation improved.

The suspension had been extended in phases till 12 noon on Monday.

The administration also withdrew prohibitory orders imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita within a 10-km radius of MV-26 village, where arson incidents were reported on December 7 and December 8.

Though the violence was confined to two villages, tension had gripped the entire district, as the incident took the form of a clash between local tribals and Bengali settlers following the recovery of a headless body of a woman on December 4, officials said.

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The violence broke out after residents of Rakhelguda village allegedly set ablaze several houses belonging to Bengali residents, forcing hundreds to flee. The headless body of Lake Podiami (51), a woman from the Koya tribe, was recovered from the banks of the Poteru river on December 4, while her head was found six days later at a location about 15 km away.

Officials said the district administration held several rounds of discussions with representatives of the tribal and Bengali communities, following which both sides agreed to maintain peace.

Relief and rehabilitation work has since been launched at MV-26 village, with preliminary assessment pegging property damage at around Rs 3.8 crore.

A two-member ministerial team headed by Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo visited the affected village, interacted with officials and locals, and submitted a report to the chief minister.

So far, 18 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, the officials said, adding that despite the withdrawal of prohibitory orders and restoration of internet services, security forces, including BSF and CRPF personnel, continue to be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

On Sunday, Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi visited MV-26 and neighbouring Rakhelguda villages, and held discussions with members of both communities as part of efforts to rebuild confidence and restore peace.

More than two lakh Bengali-speaking Bangladeshis were rehabilitated by the Centre in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts in 1968, and they currently reside in 124 villages of Malkangiri.