Siraj's pursuit for happiness ends, family left in lurch

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 19, 2013
Mangalore, Mar 19: Who does not dream of a better life for themselves and their family? It is this dream that takes people places. While some make it some don't. Unfortunately, for Mohommad Siraj, pursuit of this dream cost his life. Siraj, a simpleton from Kuppepadau in Mangalore was shot dead at Qatif in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

Siraj1
With a bundle of dream of knitting a perfect world for his parents, his wife and two sons and also his sister and her children, Siraj landed in Saudi Arabia with a job of a driver in hand, about six months ago. With Siraj's death, his family has not just lost its bread winner but has lost its ray of hope for Siraj's children are too young to even think of supplementing the income of the family.

While Siraj's parents have lost the support of their old age, Siraj's wife has lost her companion for life. While the entire family has not yet come to terms with the loss, his two children – two-and-a-half-year-old Muhammad Nusrath and 10-month-old Muhammad Nasif are unaware of the fact that they will never be able to hold on to the fingers of their father.

Background

Siraj is the son of Mohommad and Zubeda from Kuppepadau. He was working as a tipper driver in Mangalore. At a young age of 28, Siraj had seen the ugly face of poverty and with the hope of earning well, he left to Saudi Arabia on August 25, 2012. He had found a job as driver to a family in Qatif near Dammam.

Siraj by nature was a homely person. Without fail, he would call his mother and speak to her and update her about his life in Arab nation. He would also save on his money and send it home for his family.

Even on the unfortunate evening, Siraj had sent a parcel to his family in the hands of the acquaintances who were leaving to Mangalore. The family was overwhelmed to receive the parcel from Siraj knowing little that this would be the last parcel ever. By the time the family could open the parcels, the news of Siraj's death had struck them leaving them numb.

Ahmed Bava, one of Siraj's relatives recalls how the relatives had convinced Siraj to work abroad for the sake of his ailing father and his family.

“He was a homely boy. He was very attached to his family and hence was unwilling to leave them and stay away. However, it was for them that he went,” said Mr Bava with damp eyes.

He says that as per the information available with the family, Siraj had been to his master's neighbour's house, where he was shot at the leg first. When he tried to run, he was shot on the head, which laid him dead.

The family is yet to receive the post mortem report.

Related: Mangalorean expatriate worker shot dead in Saudi Arabia

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 3,2025

arrival.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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