Deralakatte: Abubakar Haji, popularly known as 'Koti Haji,' passed away at his residence in Deralakatte on Saturday night after a brief illness. He was 82 years old.

Koti Haji, originally from Pilivalachchil in Vitla Kadambu, was a businessman in Hospet, Vijayanagar, before settling in Deralakatte 22 years ago.

A well-known philanthropist, he founded the Ahal Taqwa Trust, supporting various mosques and madrasas. He was also responsible for building and maintaining a mosque in Deralakatte.

He is survived by his wife, six sons, and a daughter.

Several dignitaries, including Speaker UT Khader, Muslim Jamaat D.K. District Vice President Ali Kunhi Pare, former Belma Panchayat President Yusuf Bava, DCC Vice President TS Abdullah Samanige, and Abusali Haji Kinya, paid their respects.

General Secretary of Shamsul Ulama Darus Salam Academy Wadi Twaiba Kinya, Sirajuddin Alankar, Secretary of the Public Works Department Contractors Association Nisar Ahmed Samani, and District Coordination Committee Chairman Abdul Rahiman Darimi Tabuku, among others, have expressed their condolences.

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Washington (PTI): President Donald Trump is addressing reporters at the White House after he and other top leaders of the United States were evacuated from an annual dinner of White House correspondents on Saturday night after a shooting incident outside the ballroom.

Trump said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons before stopped by Secret Service. One officer was shot, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest.

“He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said.