Mangaluru, July 21: Haj and Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said that it was decided to purchase a private land at Adyar in Farangipete on National Highway 75 to construct the Haj Bhavan.

Flagging off the Haj yatra of the first team to be left from the Mangaluru International Airport, at Bajpe Ansar School premises here on Saturday, the Minister said that it was decided to drop the land sanctioned near Bajpe for the construction of the Haj Bhavan. He would not do any politics in Haj and he would not give false promises. The land sanctioned near Bajpe was not suitable for the Haj Bhavan. So, he has inspected the land near Adyar. If the owners of the land gave it in concession, it would be purchased and Haj Bhavan would be constructed. Normally, Haj Bhavan would be used for just five-six days in a year and rest of the days, it would be useless. So, it should not be useless. If it was constructed on the roadside or residential place, it could be rented out for other programmes, he said.

Haj pilgrimage was not only for the rich, but the poor Muslim could also make it as it was a lifetime aspiration. Before entering the politics, he had sent Imam and Muazzin of a masjid to Haj in his own cost and he has continued it till today. In future also, he would do it, he said.

Let officers team serve

In order to serve the Hajj pilgrims, a team of officers including doctors were being sent to the Haj from the state. They should serve the pilgrims. But the officers who go to Mecca and Madina to serve the pilgrims should not indulge in other activities, said Housing and Urban Development Minister UT Khader.

Udupi district composite Khazi PM Ibrahim Musliyar Bekal, Mangaluru Haj Management Committee president Y Muhammad Kunhi, MLC BM Farooq, former MLA, BA Moideen Bava, Central Committee president Haji Muhammad Masood, Retired police officer GA Bava, Dakshina Kannada Wakf Committee president Kanachur Monu, Udupi district Wakf Advisory Committee president KP Ibrahim, MUDA former president Ibrahim Kodijal, Khateeb Abdul Razaq Madani of Bajpe masjid, Bajpe Ansari school president and businessman Zakaria Bajpe, Haj Management Committee general secretary SM Rashid Haji, Haj and Wakf department secretary Muhammad Mohsin, Mangaluru taluk panchayat president Muhammad Monu, Dakshina Kannada district Congress minority wing president NS Kareem, and others were present.

This year, 1,73,000 people take up Hajj pilgrimage from India. Among them, 6624 are from Karnataka. But total 18,427 persons have applied for Hajj pilgrimage and among them, only 6624 were selected including 686 reserved candidates. Out of 520 persons, 432 people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, Kodagu and Chikmagaluru districts would take up Hajj pilgrimage from Mangaluru airport on July 21, 22 and 23 said State Haj Committee convener KM Abubakar Siddiq Montugoli.

 



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Beirut: A new wave of Israeli airstrikes targeted Beirut and its southern suburbs, escalating the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. The attacks follow a deadly assault the previous day that left 29 dead and 66 injured in the Lebanese capital.

On Sunday, the Israeli military announced that it had carried out "intelligence-based strikes" against Hezbollah command centers in Beirut's southern neighborhoods, including Haret Hreik, Burj Barajneh, and Hadath, as reported by Xinhua news agency. Within just 30 minutes, local TV station al-Jadeed documented 12 airstrikes in the area.

Videos shared online captured plumes of dense black smoke rising from the targeted suburbs, indicating the intensity of the bombardment. Prior to the strikes, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee used social media to warn residents to evacuate several buildings in the southern part of the city.

The fresh wave of airstrikes follows a Saturday attack on an eight-storey residential building in Beirut’s Basta Fawka neighborhood. While Israeli reports suggested the target was a senior Hezbollah official, Lebanese lawmaker and Hezbollah member Amin Sherri denied any political or military figures were present in the building during the assault.

In retaliation, Hezbollah declared it had destroyed five Israeli Merkava tanks in southern Lebanon using guided missiles on Sunday. The group also claimed to have launched attacks on several locations in northern Israel, including Kerem ben Zimra and Kfar Blum.

The hostilities have intensified since September 23, with Israeli forces increasing airstrikes on Lebanon and launching a ground offensive across the northern border in early October.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry released figures on Sunday indicating that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in 3,754 deaths and 15,626 injuries since the conflict reignited on October 8, 2023.