Udupi, Feb 18: The Ambalapadi G Shankar Trust has donated Rs 25 lakh to the families of martyred soldiers who were killed in Pulwama terror strike.

In a condolence programme organised by the District Mogaveera Youth Organisation, Ambalapadi G Shankar Family Trust, various schools and colleges, at Ambalapadi Shamily auditorium here on Monday, trust president G Shankar handed over the cheque for Rs 25 lakh to Additional Deputy Commissioner Vidya Kumari. 

Speaking on the occasion, G Shankar said that the amount given by the trust need to be utilized properly. Instead of sending the donation to the Prime Minister’s or Chief Minister’s Relief Funds, it should reach the families of martyred soldiers directly and the district administration should take up that responsibility, he said.

“The condition of soldiers who have been ensuring peaceful nights to the people of the country was at stake. So, they should be instilled confidence and strength. Like politicians and VVIPs, soldiers should also be given zero traffic rules and the Defence Ministry should take responsibility”, he said.

ADC Vidya Kumari said that the district administration has the onus of making sure the donation reaches the families of martyred soldiers.

Mogaveera Youth organization district president Vinay Karkera, Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha president Jaya C Kotian, Udupi DySP Jaishankar, Ajjarakadu government women’s college principal Bhaskar Shetty, lecturer Prof Nithyananda N, student Sameena, Prakash Malpe of Samvedana Trust , soldiers Tharanath, Umesh Suvarna, Suresh Barakur, Balaraj Pithrodi spoke on the occasion.

Udupi Tahsildar Pradeep Kurdekar, Vijaya Bank deputy general manager Ravichandran, retired soldier Arun Kumar and others were present. Thousands of students, general public lit the candles and paid their respect to the departed souls.

“Compared to other districts, the number of people who joins army is low from the coastal districts due to lack of proper guidance, counseling and pressure on the youth. There is no background of people going to army. So, the district administration should make efforts in taking these numbers up”.

-          Suresh Babu,  Soldier

“I have been working in the army for the last 15 years. I have worked in both extreme cold and hot conditions. With the problems, this profession has a kind of thrill. Efforts should be made to encourage our youngsters to join army, and a child from every house should be in the army”.

-          Tharanath,  Soldier

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Washington/Tehran: US President Donald Trump has said that heavy bombing of Iran will continue “as long as necessary,” even as Iranian media insist that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains alive and in command.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to the alleged killing of Khamenei and called on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and police to join what he described as “Iranian patriots” in changing the government.

He said “that process should soon be starting” and claimed that Iran had been “very much destroyed and even, obliterated” in just one day.

“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” he added.

However, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim and Mehr news agencies have reported that Khamenei is “steadfast and firm in commanding the field,” rejecting claims about his death.