Karnataka CM condoles Ullal Qazi Koorath Thangal's demise, says irreparable loss for entire state
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed condolences to Ullal Qazi, Koorath Thangal son of late Shaikhuna Tajul Ulama Assayed Abdurrahman Al Bukhari, who passed away on Monday morning, July 8.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister wrote, "I am saddened by the news of the passing away of the spiritual leader of the Muslim community, Syed Koorath Thangal. The passing away of a senior spirit who always sought the welfare of society and worked for communal harmony is an irreparable loss not only to the Muslim community but to the entire state. I pray that the departed soul rests in peace. My condolences to Koorath Thangal's family and followers."
ALSO READ: UT Khader expresses shock over Koorath Thangal’s demise
Koorath Thangal passed away due to cardiac arrest around 10 a.m. at his home in Ettikulam in the Kannur district of Kerala. He was preparing to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony for a new hostel building for Syed Madani Shariat College students at Ullala Syed Madani Dargah Vathara this afternoon when he suffered the cardiac arrest.
ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಿಕ ನಾಯಕರು, ಹಿರಿಯರು ಆದ ಸೈಯ್ಯದ್ ಕೂರತ್ ತಂಙಳ್ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ನೋವುಂಟುಮಾಡಿದೆ.
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) July 8, 2024
ಸದಾಕಾಲ ಸಮಾಜದ ಹಿತವನ್ನು ಬಯಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ, ಕೋಮುಸಾಮರಸ್ಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ದುಡಿದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಚೇತನದ ಅಗಲಿಕೆ ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಸಮುದಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಇಡೀ ನಾಡಿಗೆ ತುಂಬಲಾರದ ನಷ್ಟ.
ಮೃತರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿ ಎಂದು… pic.twitter.com/bm2kDg4EQs
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Gold smuggling racket busted at Bengaluru airport, 5 arrested
Bengaluru (PTI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru following a coordinated operation, according to an official statement.
Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the case and efforts are underway to identify the key masterminds and dismantle the entire network, officials said.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officers of the DRI’s Bengaluru Zonal Unit mounted surveillance at Terminal 2 of the airport, leading to the interception of a network involving foreign nationals and local facilitators.
The operation, conducted over April 6 and 7, culminated in the seizure of 3.356 kg of high-purity gold worth about Rs 5 crore in paste form.
“The officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Bengaluru Zonal Unit, have successfully busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL), Bengaluru,” the agency said in a press release.
Officials said the contraband was ingeniously concealed in paste form inside capsule-shaped packets, highlighting the sophisticated methods adopted by the syndicate.
Investigations revealed that carriers arriving from abroad deliberately chose Bengaluru as a transit point, exploiting longer layovers to facilitate covert transfers within the airport premises.
“The gold was concealed on the body and transferred using a pre-arranged passcode system inside sensitive areas such as washrooms and smoking zones, thereby bypassing Customs scrutiny,” the statement said.
The use of coded exchanges within restricted zones enabled the syndicate to evade routine checks, it said, adding that the probe also uncovered insider involvement within the airport ecosystem.
“The syndicate had further infiltrated the airport ecosystem, with the involvement of an insider who misused authorised access to restricted zones to receive and smuggle out the contraband,” the DRI said.
The operation also revealed the use of encrypted communication platforms featuring coded messages and disappearing chats.
Authorities said preliminary investigations indicate the involvement of a wider international network.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the network is part of a larger cross-border smuggling syndicate involving foreign operatives, suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, working in tandem with domestic handlers and facilitators,” the DRI said.
Officials said the case reflects the increasing sophistication of smuggling operations and reiterated that the agency remains committed to curbing such organised economic offences.
