Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 20: A seven-year-old schoolgirl died when a part of a compound wall fell on her while she was playing on Monday, police said.

Shazia was the daughter of Siddique and Jameela of the new Padpu village of Harekala in Mangaluru Taluk , police said.

The school administration said that Shajia was playing with the gate when the wall collapsed. There had been a lot of rain overnight, and the foundation of both pillars supporting the gate had weakened. The police have registered a case and are investigating.

ALSO READ: Found unconscious with mother’s corpse three days after death, mentally ill woman dies in hospital

The school was built by Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba with the money he had saved by selling oranges in Mangaluru city.

He had spent his entire lifetime savings to build this school in the interior areas of Mangaluru Taluk. For this extraordinary feat, the government had honoured him with Padma Shri in 2022.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Mangaluru.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.

The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.

However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.

Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.

They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.