Bagalkot: Renowned Kannada speaker and recipient of Padma Shri fondly known as 'Kabir of Kannada', Ibrahim Suthar passed away on Saturday morning at a hospital after suffering from a heart attack here at Mahalingapura.

According to the family sources Ibrahim had been complaining of chest pain from last few days and was being treated for the same.

On Saturday morning he is said to have suffered heart attack after which he was rushed to the hospital where he breathed his last, Ibrahim's family informed.

Ibrahim was conferred with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilan award of the country in 2018 and had received Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1995 for his work.

Ibrahim was known for spreading social and communal harmony through his songs, his speeches and Bhajans for the last 40 years in Karnataka and neighboring states.

In the year 1970, he set up Harmony Folk Music Mela (team of artists) and started performing devotional singing, spiritual discourses across Karnataka and neighboring states.

He is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters.

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.



Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".

His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.

Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.

Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."

"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.