Saudi urges Muslims to defer hajj plans over virus
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's hajj minister has asked Muslims to temporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round "umrah" pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to Islam's holiest cities, an unprecedented move that raised uncertainty over the annual hajj.
"Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and umrah seekers," hajj minister Mohammad Benten told the state-run Al-Ekhbariya television on Tuesday.
"But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic... the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before doing (hajj) contracts until the situation is clear."
Saudi authorities are yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year's hajj, scheduled for the end of July.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended prayers inside all its mosques except the two holiest sites in Islam as it increased efforts to contain the new coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia is scrambling to limit the spread of the disease at home. The kingdom's health ministry has reported 1,563 coronavirus infections and 10 deaths from the illness so far.
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Man beaten to death by unidentified people for stealing cattle in Jharkhand's Godda
Godda (PTI): A man was beaten to death allegedly for stealing cattle in Jharkhand's Godda district, a police officer said on Thursday.
The 45-year-old man identified as Pappu Ansari was a resident of Ranipur village under Pathargama police station limit of the district, the police officer said.
The incident occurred in Matihani village under Poraiyahat police station limit on Wednesday night. Ansari was beaten to death by unidentified persons over stealing cattle.
Confirming the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police J P N Chaudhary said the victim had a criminal record and had been to jail in several occasions in the past.
An investigation was underway to ascertain how the incident took place, the persons involved in the crime, the DySP said.
More details would be provided only after the investigation, Chaudary added.
