Belagavi: Local police stopped Shiva Sena activists from Maharashtra from crossing the border to Belagavi district recently in order to prevent the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations here.

More than 50 activists reportedly attempted to cross over from Maharashtra to Koganoli in Nippani taluk, Belagavi district, with a victory light (vijayajyoti).

The police, however, stopped them near the Koganoli check post on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway and sent the Shiva Sena activists back to Maharashtra, sources said.

Since activists of the MES and other anti-Kannada organizations reportedly have tried to rupture peace in border areas of the state, including Belagavi, the Police Department has tightened the security as a precautionary measure.

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Udupi: Popular businessman Muhammad Maula has been elected as the new president of the Udupi District Muslim Okkuta for the next two years. The decision was made during the 2025-26 general meeting held at the UBMC hall in Udupi.

M.A. Maula, known for his various social, educational and community activities, has previously served as the general secretary of the Okkuta twice and as the vice-president once.

Additionally, Yaseen Malpe, Idris Hoode, Iqbal Katapady, Rafiq Gangolli and Maulana Zamir Ahmed Rashadi Kandlur were elected as district committee members at the central level.

Taufiq Abdullah Navunda, Dr. Abdul Azeez Manipal, Abdurrahman Kannangar and Khalid Manipura were appointed as representatives of various organizations.

Abdul Aziz Udyawara, Yaseen Bengre, Syed Farid, Iqbal Manna, Shabbir Malpe, Irshad Nejar, V.S. Umar and Adil Hoode were elected as district committee members from Udupi taluk.

From Kundapura, Riyaz Kodi, Dastagir Kandloor, Shaban Hanglur, Mushtaq Hennabailu, and Hanif Gulwadi were elected.

Shabhi Ahmed Qazi, Nasir Ahmed Sharfuddin, Anwar Ali, Muhammad Azam Sheikh, and Muhammad Iqbal from Kaup taluk; Muhammad Ghouse, Ashfaq Ahmed, Nasir Sheikh, Muhammad Sharif Banglegudde, and Muhammad Sharif Renjala from Karkala taluk; Tajuddin Ibrahim, Ibrahim Kota, Asif Baikady, Aslam Haikadi, and Haroon Rashid Sastana from Brahmavar; and Shams Tabrez, Sheikh Fayyaz Ali, Amin Golihole, and Aftab Kiri Manjeshwara from Byndoor taluk, along with Tufail Shahabuddin, were elected.

In the subsequent district committee meeting, Ismail Hussain Katapady, Mustafa Saadi Mulur, T. M. Zafrullah Hoode, Khatib Rashid Malpe, Buaji Muhsin Byndoor, Sheikh Abdullatif Madani, Raihan Trasi, Abu Muhammad Mujawar Kundapur, Peer Saheb Adi Udupi, and B. Muhyuddin Katapady were co-opted as members of the district committee.

Maulana Abdur Raqib Nadvi, the General Secretary of Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, Bhatkal, oversaw the election process.

The general assembly commenced with the recitation of the Quran by Maulana Zamir Ahmed Rashadi, the vice-president of Udupi district Muslim Okkuta. General Secretary Muhammad Idris Hoode delivered the introductory remarks, followed by Secretary Ismail Hussain, who presented the biennial report. Treasurer Syed Farid then presented the biennial accounts to the assembly. The session concluded with the presidential address delivered by Muhammad Yasin Malpe.