Campaign by Masjid Jamaths in DK District against Drug addiction
100-day awareness movement launched
Mangaluru: Taking note of the growing incidents of drugs abuse and increase in number of youth falling prey to drug menace in Dakshina Kannada District, local socio-religious leaders of Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada on Saturday called a press meet and announced the launch of campaign by Masjid Jamaths across the district against the menace.
Speaking at the press conference , Syed Mohammed Beary, Chairman, Bearys Group added that Dakshina Kannada District and especially the District Head Quarters Mangaluru has seen drug menace rising rapidly and as per media reports and experience of educational institutions and NGOs working to curb the social evil, the situation in Dakshina Kannada is as serious as in Punjab.
He said, that at this pace, Dakshina Kannada will leave behind Punjab in next three years and situation will turn horrible if effective measures are not undertaken to contain the menace in the District.
“The most tragic part of the story is that the curse of drugs abuse has already found inroads into our rural areas wherein school going students are being exposed to the addiction. Students of sixth and seventh grades including girls are falling victims to addiction. The situation is turning worse with each passing day. As is well known, the business of addiction always results in swift increase of crime rate. This has a direct impact on the safety and security of the people in the region” Syed Mohammed Beary noted.
“Normally almost every parent believes that their kids are never likely to fall victims to addiction. Such an illusion prevents them from being vigilant” Syed Mohammed Beary added.
“Mosques in Dakshina Kannada have already decided to run a campaign across the District to fight against addiction. Their focus will be on the educating the parents, the students and the youth on the issue and create awareness in every family under their jurisdiction. The 100-days campaign will include a series of awareness programs involving all the Masjid Jamaths and Committees across the region. The drive will run under the guidance and supervision of Twaqa Ahmed Musliyar and Bekal Ibrahim Musliyar, the two prominent Qazis of the region. The District and City Police have offered their full cooperation to this campaign” he added.
“The District and Mangaluru City Police have initiated various campaigns and drives against drugs and have been on a constant state of alert. Several voluntary organisation have also been doing their bit to curb the menace. Despite all the efforts, the lack of awareness among the masses, the youth and their parents has resulted in the situation going out of control” it further stated.
Speaking at the press conference B M Mumtaz Ali, General Secretary Karnataka Muslim Jamath, Dakshina Kannada added that the Masjids alone cannot curb the drug menace in the District and called on religious leaders and places to play their part in order to make the District drug-free.
“There is an immediate need to educate people in the region about the power and networks of the drug Mafia, the cunning ways used by them to promote extremely dangerous addictive substances and the grave consequences of addiction. Temples, Mosques, Churches and all such places revered by the masses can play a great role in educating the masses and making the entire society vigilant against the devastating epidemic of addiction” Mumtaz Ali asserted.
Syed Mohammed Beary also called for support from all sections of the society and anticipated active participation of the leaders and representatives of all the communities, parties, educational institutions, NGOs, Social activists and various student and Youth organisations in this campaign. He also called for support from media and other organisation in the noble initiative.
Haji Mohammed Haneef, General Secretary, Zeenath Baksh Juma Masjid, Mangaluru, Haji Golthamajalu Mohammed Hanif, President, Hidaya Foundation, B A Mohammed Ali, Member, Karnataka State Food Commission and Riyaz Ahmed Kannur, President Talent Research Foundation, Mangalore.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
