The Shepherds International Academy Celebrated the 3rd Annual Day

Vartha Bharati | 17-12-2019 | 19:39:00 IST

Mangaluru: The SHEPHERDS’ International Academy (Unit of Hikmah Educational Trust) celebrated its 3rd Annual Day with great fervour on 14th Dec. 2019 at Town Hall in Mangalore with a themes “Save Earth”, “Save Water Save Life” and “Save Trees”.

The stage was set up in line with the Save Earth concept.  Dr Shakir Hussain, Commissioner of Income Tax, Dr Rajesh S.M., Consultant Pediatrician and Mr A.K. Niyaz, Managing Director of A.K. Group of Companies graced the occasion as Chief Guests.  The Chief Guests and the parents were given a rousing welcome by Master Izaan Ul-Ridhwan from MONT-3.

The talented students rocked the stage with their mesmerizing cultural events such as action songs, drama, skits and nasheed.  Prizes were given away to the winners in Elocution, Drawing, Quiz, Flower arrangement, Qiraath and Nasheed competitions. 

Chief Guests Dr Shakir Hussain and Dr Rajesh S.M. appreciated The Shepherds’ International Academy for their quality educational efforts with a vision of nurturing young leaders in values driven environment practising excellence in thought, word and action. They reminded the parents to take special care in the growth of their children in a tactical way in this digital age with a systematic control over the mobile phones and i-pads. The aim of The SHEPHERDS’ Int’l Academy is to prepare the responsible citizens of our beloved nation.

Chairman Ar. Mohammed Nissar in his presidential address elaborated the details about The SHEPHERDS’ Upcoming Eco-Friendly New Campus in 3.6 acres of land at Arkula Mangalore (Mangalore-Bangalore Highway) with modern infrastructure and sports facilities. 

The Shepherds’ Int’l Academy Trustees, HR Directors, CAO, and the Vice-Principal were present.  Little angels Izaan Ul-Ridhwan from MONT-3, Hafsa Bint Ameer and Muhammed Izz Iddin from Grade-1 were the star Emcees.

Chairman thanked the Chief Guests, Trustees, CAO, Vice Principal, Students, Teachers & non-teaching staff, event co-ordinators and parents for their contributions in the successful accomplishment of the spectacular Shepherds’ Annual Day 2019.

The program concluded with National Anthem.

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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children

23-12-2025 ¦ 23-12-2025 IST

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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.