Mangaluru: The Deputy Chairperson of Karnataka NRI Forum, Dr. Arati Krishna, was met by a delegation from the Mangaluru Gulf Retirees Association (GRA) during her visit to the city. The delegation, led by the Association's President Hamza Mittur, submitted a request regarding financial assistance for retired Gulf workers facing health and educational challenges.

The petition highlights the plight of many individuals who, after working in small jobs in Gulf countries and contributing to the state's foreign exchange earnings, now struggle with health issues and lack financial resources for their children's education. The delegation pointed out that the state of Kerala annually provides grants of Rs. 350 crore to non-resident Indians for various projects, including pension schemes, health insurance, accident insurance, and scholarships for children.

The Gulf Retirees Association also requested her to take up this matter with the Hon'ble Chief Minister and request him to consider similar measures for Karnataka's non-residents and retirees in the upcoming state budget.

The delegation included Vice President Salih Koya Thangal, Satish Kumar Bajal KSA, Mohammad Hussain, Vice President Adam Beary, Secretary Jamaluddin, Treasurer Bawa Abdul Khader, Secretary Yusuf Aladka, and Advisors Sahul Hameed Thangal and Mohammad Beary Bollai.

 

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Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday lodged an FIR against the organisers of the religious congregation in Hathras where 121 people died in a stampede, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people gathering for the event in which only 80,000 were permitted.

However, the congregation or 'satsang' conductor Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari has not been named in the FIR though his name is in the complaint.

The FIR alleged that the organisers hid the actual number of devotees coming to the 'satsang' while seeking permission, did not cooperate in traffic management and hid evidence after the stampede, which broke out after people gathered there stopped to collect mud from the way the baba's vehicle was passing.

The FIR apparently gave a clean chit to the police and administration, saying they did whatever possible from the available resources.

'Mukhya sevadar' Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named in the first information report (FIR) filed at the Sikandara Rao police station late Tuesday, a senior officer told PTI.

The FIR has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), the officer said.

In his FIR, complainant Brijesh Pandey said the 'satsang' programe of the baba was organised between Fulrai and Mugalgarhi on GT road in Sikandarrau area by Devprakash Madhukar and others on Tuesday.

The organisers sought permission for about 80,000 people for which police and administration made arrangements.

However, over 2.5 lakh people gathered in the event. By not following the conditions of the permission, GT road witnessed traffic jam and police and administration officials were working to clear it, the FIR said.

Meanwhile, the baba, who was the main speaker of the satsang came out at about 2 pm in his vehicle and devotees starting collecting mud from there.

Due to the heavy rush of devotees, those who were lying down (for taking the mud) started getting trampled.

Those running out from the spot were stopped by stick-wielding helpers of the baba standing on the other side of a three-feet deep field filled with water and slush due to which women, children and men got crushed, it said.

Despite the pressure of the crowd, the police and administration officials did everything possible and sent the injured from the available resources to hospitals, the FIR said and added that the organisers and 'sevadars' did not cooperate.

The organisers tried to hide the actual number of people coming to the event by hiding evidence and throwing slippers and other belongings of the devotees in crops in nearby fields, the FIR said.