King Abdullah pays blood money for Bangalore convict

[email protected] (Irfan Mohammed, Arab News)

February 18, 2013

Jeddah, Feb 18: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has paid blood money on behalf of an Indian driver convicted of killing nine people in a road accident in 2006. The driver, Saleem Basha, 45, has already been released from prison and is waiting to return to Bangalore, Karnataka.

Basha, who arrived in Saudi Arabia to work as a lorry driver for a brick-manufacturing unit in Wadi Al-Hajbal, near Khamis Mushait in 2004, wasted no time after his release in traveling to Makkah to perform Umrah and pray for King Abdullah. He made that trip yesterday.

On Feb. 11, 2006, the tractor-trailer Basha was driving collided with an oncoming minivan, killing eight Saudi women teachers and their Egyptian driver. Basha was found guilty of causing the accident and was ordered to pay SR 63,500 as diya (blood money) to the families of the victims. With a salary of only SR 1,200 a month, Basha was unable to come up with the sum and was sent to jail where he has spent the past seven years.

Indian community worker, Abha Ashraf Kuttichel, confirmed yesterday that Basha was released following payment of the diya. “I met with Saleem in prison and came to learn about what happened to him,” Kuttichel said.

According to Basha, one afternoon, a prison official approached him and said that King Abdullah had paid the diya on his behalf.

“I had no hope that I would ever be released from prison, but generous King Abdullah made his humanitarian gesture, so I am able to walk free,” Basha said.

Basha said he had met the conditions for a pardon that authorities had laid out for drivers who caused accidents. Drivers can be eligible for a pardon as long as they meet three criteria: They do not flee the scene; they tell the truth; and there is no alcohol or other intoxicants involved. The conduct and character of drivers while in prison is also taken into account, according to Basha.

Basha also praised the Shariah judicial system and said judges do not examine jurisprudence only but also consider the circumstances. He said that the police, prosecution and judges were fair and even sympathetic to poor expatriates. He thanked the prison authorities and said they had helped him and other prisoners. Prison officials often brought him and other Asian inmates ingredients for their native dishes.

“I can't forget the kindness of the prison employees who were sympathetic and assisted me in all possible ways,” Basha said.

Basha is ready to return to India, but there are the usual bureaucratic hoops to jump through.

His Iqama expired six years ago and his passport expired three years ago. He managed to travel to Jeddah where he approached the Indian Consulate to renew his passport.

Consulate officials yesterday confirmed that Basha had been released from prison and had applied for a new passport. The officials agreed to renew his passport for one year.

After renewing his passport, Basha learned that his original sponsor is now classified in the red category in the Nitaqat system of Saudization. The company cannot renew its employees' Iqamas. Basha said he would turn to the governor of Abha for help.

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Elusive bamboo shrimp resurfaces in Mangaluru estuary after 70 years

News Network

December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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SMR Public School’s ‘EXCELLENTIA’ highlights academic excellence and holistic growth

News Network

December 16,2025

Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.

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