Muslim League strongman, former minister Cherkalam Abdullah passes away

coastaldigest.com web desk
July 27, 2018

Kasaragod, Jul 27: Veteran leader of Indian Union Muslim League, former minister and four-time MLA of Manjeshwaram constituency in Kasaragod, Cherkalam Abdullah, is no more. He was 76.

He was suffering from old-age related ailments and was admitted in Kasturba Medical College in Mangaluru for the past two weeks. He was brought home in Cherkala late Thursday night.

The end came today at 8.20am in his house surrounded by his family and close friends, said IUML district general secretary A Abdu Rahman. 

Abdullah, who was said to be the final word in the party in Kasargod district, is credited with building the IUML in Kasargod district, and was always part of the core team of the party for the past 50 years. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly from Manjeshwaram in 1987, and went on to represent the border constituency for the next 19 years.

Chief minister AK Antony made him the minister for local self-government in 2001. The successful poverty alleviation and women empowerment mission Kudumbashree was launched when he was at the helm of the department. He is also credited with introducing performance auditing for officials of local bodies.

Abdullah, known to people as Cherakalam, his hometown, was born to Barikad Muhammed Haji and Asyamma on September 15, 1942, at Cherkalam. He took to politics during his student days, and grew in the party from the bottom rung.

"He used to go around in jeep announcing party functions through the microphone, and has served at all levels of the party, building it brick by brick to bringing it to the level where it is now," said MLA N A Nellikkunnu. He was a natural leader and his word was the final in the district, he said.

During the time he was at the helm of his party in Kasargod, the IUML pipped its partner Congress to become the largest party in the district. Of the 38 gram panchayats, the IUML controls 13 and the Congress just five now. There was a time when the Congress was controlling 18 panchayats.

Cherkalam was the first member of the Kasargod district council. He was the joint secretary of the IUML in the undivided Kannur district from 1972 to 1984. In 1984, when Kasargod district was formed, he was made the district general secretary of the party. In 2002, he was made the party's district president and went on to hold the post till this year. He recused himself because of health reasons, but the state leadership made him the party's state treasurer in February. He also served as the state president of Swatantra Thozhilali Union, the trade union of the IUML.

At the time of his death, he was the chairman of UDF, Kasargod District Liaison Committee. He is survived by wife Ayesha Cherkalam (former president of Cherkala gram panchayat), two daughters, Mehrunisa and Mumtas Sameera (district panchayat member), and two sons C T Muhammed Nasar (Salala), and C A Ahmed Kabeer (former district general secretary of MSF)."His death leaves a vacuum that would be hard to fill," said Nellikkunnu.

Comments

Farooq
 - 
Friday, 27 Jul 2018

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Karnataka lacks such a strong man for Muslims

Ibrahim
 - 
Friday, 27 Jul 2018

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

Rameez
 - 
Friday, 27 Jul 2018

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

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News Network
November 15,2024

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Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has killed or captured 69 terrorists linked to the Israeli spy agency Mossad during a major counterterrorism drill in the country's southeast, its spokesman says.  

General Ahmad Shafaei, the spokesman for the “Martyrs of Security” drill, said Friday that a total of 23 terrorists have been killed and another 46 arrested in various clean-up operations ever since the IRGC Ground Force launched it in the Sistan and Baluchestan province on November 1.

Seven terrorists have also turned themselves in during the period.

“The undeniable fact about terrorists is that they rely on arrogant powers, particularly the intelligence service of the wicked and vicious Zionist regime," Shafaei said.

“Unfortunately, weapons and munitions at terrorists’ disposal are among the most sophisticated ones in the world. This accounts for their heavy dependence.” 

The official stated that several members of the disbanded terror teams were non-Iranian nationals, who had been hired by foreign intelligence agencies to carry out acts of sabotage and terror inside Iran.

In a most recent operation, six terrorists were arrested and four others were eliminated, three of whom were non-Iranians, he added. 

On October 26, ten members of Iran's law enforcement forces were killed in a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan in the Sistan and Baluchestan province.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent months.

The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan.

Its tactics include the abduction of border guards as well as targeting civilians and police stations within the province to incite chaos and disorder.

In January, Iran launched a military operation during which the headquarters of the Pakistan-based terrorist group was targeted in missile strikes, destroying its infrastructure.

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News Network
November 28,2024

DCoffice.jpg

Mangaluru: The iconic Old DC office, a building steeped in 400 years of history, will be the centerpiece of the Heritage Week celebrations in the city. Once the administrative hub of the erstwhile Canara district during the British era, the building now serves as a symbol of Mangaluru’s rich heritage and cultural significance.

Historic Significance

Initially built during the rule of the Bangas under the Vijayanagara Empire, the structure was later converted into the collector’s office. Following an agreement between Tipu Sultan and the British in 1784, the building came under Tipu’s possession until his death. Subsequently, Major Sir Thomas Munro used it as the office for the first district collector.

The building has also seen historical milestones, including the participation of 88 individuals from the district in World War I (1914–1919), as recorded on a commemorative plaque on its exterior.

Heritage Festival: Echoes

To celebrate the city’s history and tourism potential, the Dakshina Kannada district administration is organizing "Echoes," a heritage festival on November 30 and December 1 at the Old DC office premises. The event will feature:

  • A heritage exhibition (open from 10 AM to 6 PM).
  • An art contest for school students.
  • Guided mini heritage walks open to all.
  • An urban sketching contest for college students.
  • A panel discussion on sustainability, followed by a prize distribution ceremony.
  • A musical evening featuring Sur Safar, a fusion band.

A Gateway to Tourism

The festival aims to draw attention to Mangaluru’s untapped tourism potential by blending art, history, and culture. It invites residents and visitors to rediscover the region’s legacy while fostering a sense of pride in its historical landmarks.

This initiative not only commemorates the past but also looks to inspire future efforts in heritage preservation and sustainable tourism.

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News Network
November 17,2024

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An Israeli airstrike on the office of Syria’s Baath party in Lebanon’s capital Beirut has killed the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah's Media Relations Officer, Mohammad Afif, reports say.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that the Israeli raid struck the Ba'ath party’s building in central Beirut district of Ras Al-Naba'a on Sunday, adding that the strike was an attempt to assassinate the leader of the resistance media front.

According to Baath Secretary-General Ali Hijazi, Afif was having a meeting in the Baath Party headquarters when Israel carried out the attack.

"Afif did not fight with weapons and did not lead a military unit in Hezbollah. Rather, he led a media unit," he said.

Reuters, Sky News, Al Jazeera and a number of Henrew-language media reported that Afif was killed in the Israeli strike.

However, Hezbollah has not yet confirmed Afif’s death or whether he was present at the site or not.

Earlier, the Lebanese Health Ministry said at least one person was killed and three others injured after an Israeli strike targeted a central district in Beirut.

Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network reported that five people were killed in the attack.

The latest development came after Afif said Hezbollah was behind the Caesarea operation and targeting Netanyahu’s home during a speech at the Ghobeiry area in the southern suburbs of Beirut on October 22.

This was the second assassination attempt on Afif in the last two months, after he survived an attack on the Hezbollah media relations office several weeks ago.

Israel launched a ground assault and massive air campaign against Lebanon in late September after a year of exchanging fire across the Lebanese border in parallel with the Gaza war.

At least 3,287 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon over the past year, with the vast majority in the past seven weeks. Another 14,222 have been wounded, mostly women and children.

In response to the ongoing aggression, the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has been staging hundreds of retaliatory strikes against the occupied Palestinian territories and the Israeli forces trying to advance on southern Lebanese areas.

The movement has vowed to sustain its strikes until the regime ends the escalation.

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