Mangaluru: Retired Government Officer dies in hit-and-run accident
Mangaluru: In an accident that occurred on Sunday night, a retired government officer who was walking beside Circuit House in the city, was run over by a car causing his death on the spot. The deceased has been identified as A. Anand (62), a resident of Ladyhill.
After retiring from his position as an Officer in the BSNL, Anand was working in a private company in Udupi. On Sunday night, after finishing a company meeting, Anand had gotten off a bus and was walking beside the Circuit House road when a speeding car belonging to an AEE of a government department named Shanmugam ran over Anand and fled the scene, eye-witnesses said.
Anand, who was grievously injured in the hit-and-run died on the spot, it is learned. But, the accused driver Shanmugam, did not stop his vehicle and is said to have fled from the accident site. However, the locals caught up to the accused driver in other vehicles by following his car and waylaid him. Reportedly, he was handed over to the police.
As per the complaint made by the deceased victim’s wife, the Kadri Traffic Police have registered a case against the accused Shanmugam.
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Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
