Thane (PTI): A 58-year-old participant in the long march of thousands of farmers and tribals from Nashik district in North Maharashtra to Mumbai has died, an official said on Saturday.

Pundalik Ambo Jadhav, a resident of a village near Dindori in Nashik, was taken to a hospital in Shahpur on Friday afternoon after he complained of uneasiness. After he felt better, Jadhav returned to the place where the protesters are camping, said the official.

The 200km foot march by thousands of farmers and tribals started from Dindori on Sunday last in support of their demands. It has reached Thane district's Vasind town, around 80km from Mumbai. Their demands include Rs 600 per quintal relief to onion farmers, 12-hour uninterrupted power supply to farmers and waiver of farm loans.

After having dinner around 8 pm on Friday, Jadhav vomited and again started feeling uneasy. He was rushed to the Shahapur hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, said the official.

The station house officer at Vasind police station that a case of accidental death has been registered and Jadhav's body has been sent for a postmortem.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told the state Assembly on Friday that he had held discussions with a farmers' delegation over 14 points, including forest rights, encroachment of forest land, transfer of land belonging to temple trusts and grazing grounds to cultivators for farming.

Appealing to the farmers to withdraw their long march, Shinde said the decisions taken will be implemented immediately.

Onion growers, facing losses due to low prices of the commodity and damage to crops by unseasonal rains, will be given Rs 350 per quintal as financial relief, he said.

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Bhatkal: The Graduation Day Ceremony for the academic year 2023-2024 was conducted on 22nd September 2024 at Anjuman Arts, Science, and Commerce College, Bhatkal. The event, organized by the Student Welfare Wing, honored the graduating students and recognized their academic achievements in a simple yet dignified ceremony.

The event began at 11:00 a.m., with students, their families, faculty members, and special guests in attendance. The program opened with a recitation of Quranic verses by Mr. Hisham Kazia, a final-year BCom student, followed by a welcome address by Prof. Aftab GM, the Chairman of the event. In his speech, Prof. Aftab applauded the hard work of the graduates and extended a warm welcome to all attendees.

Several notable guests were present, including the Chief Guest, Abdul Qadir Basha Ruknuuddin, former Senior Recruitment Officer in the Department of Health, Government of Dubai. The event was presided over by Sadique Pilloor, Vice President 1 of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen. Other dignitaries included Ismail Jukaku, Additional General Secretary of Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen, Prof. Mushtaque K Shaikh, Principal of Anjuman Degree College, and Prof. Hibban Shabandari, Vice Principal of the college.

In his address, Chief Guest Ruknuuddin spoke about the rapidly advancing technology and its impact on various fields, including healthcare. He urged the graduates to continuously upgrade their skills, noting that the degrees they earned could become irrelevant without continuous self-improvement. Ruknuuddin shared insights from his 50-year experience in Dubai and highlighted the city's transformation under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Ruknuuddin also emphasized the need for more professionals in medical technology in Bhatkal, particularly in fields like nursing, radiology, and dental hygiene. He suggested that students pursue short diploma courses to address the growing demand for skilled medical professionals in the region.

In his presidential address, Janab Sadique Pilloor stressed the importance of discipline and ethical behavior in both personal and professional life. He encouraged the graduates to stay connected with their alma mater and uphold the values they had learned during their time at the college.

The ceremony also recognized outstanding student achievements. Awards were given for academic excellence, sports, and co-curricular activities.

- Academic Excellence: Mohiddin Asbah, who secured the 9th rank in BCom at Karnatak University, Dharwad, received a cash prize of ₹10,000. Pooja Prakash Naik, who secured the 2nd rank in BA, was also awarded ₹10,000.

- Best Outgoing Students: Anzar Hussain (BCom) and Mavia Mohtisham (BA) were jointly awarded the Best Outgoing Male Student award, each receiving ₹5,000. Amruta S. Naik (BA) was named the Best Outgoing Female Student, receiving ₹5,000 as well.

- Perfect Scorers: Several students were recognized for achieving perfect scores in various subjects. Anzar Hussain received ₹5,000 for scoring full marks in five subjects, and other students, including Muizuddeen Dukandar, Mohammed Maan Ekkeri, and others, were awarded prizes ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 for their academic achievements.

Special Awards

- Amruta S. Naik was awarded ₹1,000 for being the Best NSS Volunteer.
- Mohtesham Maviya received a certificate as the Best Scout Rover.

General Championship in Sports

Sportsmanship was also celebrated with General Championships awarded in both male and female categories:

- Chaya Venkatraman Naik received the General Championship in Sports (Female Category).

- The Male Championship was jointly awarded to Jasir Jamee and Syed Mubeen.

At the postgraduate level, Mr. Shreyas and Mr. Jairam Jattappa Naik were also recognized for their achievements in sports.

The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Prof. Manjunath Prabhu, expressing gratitude to the Chief Guest, dignitaries, faculty members, and students. The Graduation Day Ceremony marked an important milestone for the graduating students, celebrating both their academic achievements and their personal growth during their time at Anjuman College.