Central Hajj Committee Chairman informs why M'luru Airport was removed as embarkation point for Hajj
Here's what he said
Mangaluru: The Muslim Central Committee Dakshina Kannada, Udupi districts on Thursday submitted a memorandum to A. P. Abdullakutty, the Chairman of the Hajj Committee of India after the Mangaluru International Airport was removed from the embarkation point for the Hajj pilgrims for the year 2023.
The memorandum urged Abdullakutty to consider granting the embarkation point status again adding that removing it from the list has caused inconveniences to people from Dakshina Kannada and other neighboring districts who had chosen Mangaluru Airport as their embarkation point for their pilgrimage.
Speaking after accepting the memorandum, A. P. Abdullakutty noted that the Mangaluru International Airport was initially considered by the Central Hajj Committee as an embarkation point for Hajj this year but due to the lesser number of pilgrims choosing it as their embarkation point, it was removed from the list.
“There were less than 300 applications that selected the Mangaluru International Airport, so when the international tender was sent to air carriers Mangaluru was removed from the list. It is not controlled by the Centre or the Hajj Committee,” Abdullakutty told Vartha Bharati.
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When asked about the inconveniences being faced by the pilgrims who had selected Mangaluru Airport as their embarkation point, Abdullakutty said the Hajj Committee will discuss the issue and come out with a solution for the pilgrims. He also assured that the pilgrims will be facilitated their embarkation either from Kannur or from Bengaluru.
When asked if Mangaluru Airport will be further considered as an embarkation point in the future, Abdullakutty added that the Hajj Committee would consider it if more pilgrims opt for it as their favored embarkation point next year.
Earlier, Mangaluru International Airport was removed as an embarkation point, prompting social media debates and concerns adding that the people of Coastal Karnataka were being caused inconvenience due to the move.
In 2019, pilgrims from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Shivamogga, and other districts embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage from Mangaluru International Airport. In 2020, and 2021 owing to the Pandemic the pilgrimage was not facilitated while in 2022 the majority of the passengers from these districts embarked on the pilgrimage from Bengaluru Airport. After Mangaluru airport not being included in the embarkation point this year, the pilgrims have expressed confusion and dissent over urging the Hajj Committee to intervene and include Mangaluru as one of the embarkation points for Hajj 2023.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
