K E R A L A M O N I T O R N E W S JUNE 2005 JULY 2005

$2 Billion tender for New Doha Airport by US giant Bechtel

Dubai, UAE, 30 March, 2005: Tenders worth up to US$2 billion for work on Qatar’s New Doha International airport will be up for grabs when leading suppliers assemble at the Middle East’s foremost airport industry event in May. US giant Bechtel Aviation, which is managing construction of the region’s only greenfield airport, one that is built from scratch, will use the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition in Dubai to expose the $2.6 billion mega project to the maximum amount of bidders. “So far, we have awarded contracts worth about US$600 million for site mobilization, land reclamation and rubbish landfield removal work,” said Rudy Vercelli, Bechtel’s Director, Global Strategic Development. More News

Nissan holds safety drive at Dubai Men's College for Grand Opening more-- News -India-UK Film Cooperation

‘VAT’ – A Systematic Tax rationalisation scheme?

Girish Chandra Dash* The design of State-level Value Added Tax (VAT) has been worked out by the Empowered Committee through several rounds of discussion and striking a federal balance between the common points of convergence regarding VAT and flexibility for the local characteristics of the States. The State-Level VAT as elaborated in the White Paper on State-level Value Added Tax by the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers, has certain distinct advantages over the existing sales tax structure. More

U.S. to create list of 'unstable' nations for Intervention -Israeli Sex Trade a Billion Dollar Business - UK banks bow to the Muslim pound -Over 1000 feared dead in Indonesian Quake -President exasperated by new quake -Earthquake Stories from Indonesia

Russian Lady Stabs Lover to Death, Indian Women found Dead in Al Rigga flat

DUBAI - A few days after an Indian beautician was found dead in her apartment near Al Rigga following her reported separation from a temporary Pakistani partner, a Russian lady has repeated stabbed her temporary lover, another European, instantly killing him. According to Police sources, the Russian lady who has been living with the Swiss-German origin lover has been arrested by the police, after she informed police about the murder. The sensational murder by the Russian lady in the Jumeirah area added one more case to the growing list of crimes involving "living partners" The city has many single man and woman who develop temporary affinity and romance that end up in illicit relationship and living together system. Full Report and More News

Quake strikes off Indonesia coast

Malayali Father of "Nation less" Children Seeks Passport

By V.M.Sathish Umm al Quaim: Two expatriate children who live in a small rented apartment in Salma near here with their Indian father are facing an unpleasant situation due to the uncertainty surrounding their nationality. Born to Indian father and Sri Lankan mother, the two children have no nationality to claim as their parents did not follow relevant rules. Without a passport, they cannot attend school or travel outside the UAE for education. Five years old Dhanush and three years old Shyni are definitely born to an Indian father and Srilankan mother but due to the peculiar situation that united and separated the Indo-Sri Lankan family, the issue has become quite complex, which social workers say needs to be tackled with a humanitarian approach.Thankappan Babu, an Indian citizen from the South Indian State of Kerala has been parenting the two children, born to his Sri Lankan wife Anusha Kumari who hails from Colombo. Speaking to KM, Babu who was already married with two children back home said: "It was a love affair that ended up in our marriage. The marriage was held in Colombo Sri Lanka. I met her in Sharjah and when I was sick she was very helpful. Our first son who is five years old now was born in a Sharjah hospital and the birth was reported to the health department. However, we did not report the birth of second child, three years old Shyni because my wife had some problem with her visa."Full Report

Manishankar Aiyer Visits Saudi Arabia: Three Day Visit to boost Indo-Saudi Oil Trade

Saudi biggest source of Crude oil to India -The Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar has left on a three day state visit to the Kingdom to the Saudi Arabia on the invitation of Mr. Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Resources of Saudi Arabia. Shri Aiyar is leading a high level delegation which include senior officials of the Ministries of Petroleum & Natural Gas and the External Affairs, CMD HPCL, MD OVL and senior officials of the IOC, GAIL& EIL. Full Report/More News

Dubai Techno Park and Omni Oil sign agreement to establish first Oil R& D Centre

Dubai Techno Park, one of first technology parks of its kind in the Middle East servicing the high technology sector in the region has recently entered into an agreement with Omni Oil Technologies to establish a dedicated facility for the design, engineering and manufacturing of drilling and well-completion tools for the oil and gas industry.. Full Report

Post Tsunami Kiosk With a Difference

by Sudha S Namboothiry

Post Tsunami witnessed people giving like never before to the needy. The Central Institute for Fisheries Technology, Cochin chipped in its share but in a different way. The people of the Azhikkal hamlet, Vypeen in Kerala got a fish kiosk as a New Year gift from Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT). The Institute had been working in this village with eighty fishermen families for the past two years. In this venture eight women chosen by Kumarananda Yogam Mahila Samajam were associated. . Full Report and More News

Manmohan hosts lunch for Musharaff Family . More News

US Secret War Plans for Iraq Oil -- What is next in Iran? - Second anniversary of US Invasion of Iraq

Dubai offers public free eCitizen computer courses.More News

KM could not be updated for a couple of weeks due to technical reasons - Editor

Fake Sensational Email shocks UAE Netizens

SHARJAH - An anonymous email is spreading fear among the residents of Dubai and Sharjah as unconfirmed graphic images, claimed to be taken from an expatriate lady in Sharjah, showing human bodies being refrigerated is the topic of heated discussion among netizens. Even though it is difficult to believe such stories which appear to be fake, the email with attached photographs has been circulating among net users in the UAE. There are reports about murders in Sharjah, but this could not be officially verified...The email which appears to be a cooked up story goes on to "reveal" that the lady served human meat in several parties organised for her friends and relatives. A lady from China has killed many people and kept their meat on her Refrigerator .She was enjoying eating human meat. "She said that she had made so many parties for her relatives & guests and gave them this human meat to eat with out their knowledge .Her guests said that they found very good taste of this lady's cooking with out they know which type of meat she has cooked for them . Some of them didn't know that they would be her next victim. She has killed her husband too," says a copy of the email received by KM. "Later on, she was caught by the Police," it said without disclosing location of the crime or the police station..Well this is not the first or last spicy story being circulated through email. However, it is always better to remain alerted about what is said and discussed around...

Thousands March Through London in Iraq War Protest -- A Memphis woman sues the U.S. Army for rape.-- Journalists tell of US Falluja killings

India , MERCOSUR Agreeement on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)

India and MERCOSUR – a trading bloc in Latin America consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Bolivia and Chile as its associate members – have signed an Agreement to operationalise the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two sides here this evening. The aim of the Agreement, which operationalises the PTA which was signed in New Delhi in January last year, is to expand and strengthen the existing relations between MERCOSUR and India and to promote the expansion of trade by granting reciprocal fixed tariff preferences with the ultimate objective of creating a free trade area between the parties More

Dandi March & The Spirit of Peace and Non Violence

V. Mohan Rao -March 12, 2005 is yet another red-letter day in the history of India, when the nation witnessed the re-enactment of historic Dandi March by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 75 years ago to protest the British rule for taxing natural salt. It was on this day in 1930, Gandhiji had started the historic march from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 volunteers for Dandi, a village on the sea cost in Gujarat. The 25-day march through dusty and muddy tracks culminated on April 6, 1930. As the march continued, people saw the changing history of the world. It was the whole of India rising up with rekindled enthusiasm and faith.More

Qatar Airways Increases Frequency to Bahrain Extra Capacity Services Local Customers on Airline’s Global Network

20th February 2005 -Manama, BAHRAIN - Award-winning Qatar Airways has announced that it will be increasing the number of daily flights between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Doha to five starting 22 February 2005.The new flight, which leaves Doha at 23.45pm and returns at 8.00am, was introduced to accommodate the increased traffic generated by the Airline’s recent destination launches to London Gatwick, Beijing, Seychelles, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Yangon. “Bahrain is a key market for Qatar Airways and we want the public to be able to take full advantage of the high levels of service we provide,” said Mohammed Ali, Bahrain Area Manager, Qatar Airways.Full Report and More News

Three Murders in Dubai ? Watch this space.

International Car Theft Gang behind Malayali Drivers Murder?

DUBAI - It is suspected that the motive behind the death of Malayali driver near the National Paints is car theft by a gang which indulges in such crime. The gang has earlier targeted some drivers with the intention of stealing the car and sell it in the export market as spare parts. "A driver was tied and his car was stolen. The Irani gangs take drivers to isolated places and try to take the car," said a source. According to him, there is a booming market for used spare parts and engines. Even though the stolen car cannot be sold in one piece, the gang seperates various spare parts and engine and can easily sell it in the market. "These spare parts are sold outside the UAE so that the source of the parts is not revealed. There was a gang from Oman, which used to steal car from the UAE and smuggle them to Oman. Similarly gangs from Iran too indulge in the same type of crime, added sources. The UAE police and the Interpol have been investigating the crime involving stolen cars. It is beleived that many cars stolen from Japan and re exported to Russia through the UAE. Similarly some of the cars stolen from the UAE are re exported to Russia, Iran and Afghanistan. Some of the stolen vehicles find their way to UAE innocent motorists who grasp the opportunity of a cheap vehicle. Sometimes back Dubai Police have arrested a high tech gang of car thieves who stole 13 Lexus 4x4s. While many stolen cars disappeared without any trace, similar vehicles were imported from abroad and send to a scrap dealer. Luxury 4x4 Lexus cars were broken into in a span of three to five minutes. The cars were taken away, and their personalised vehicle computers were replaced with the ones from the vehicles purchased from abroad. The chassis numbers were changed and the car-model plate replaced. That gave the stolen cars a different identity - they now appeared to be legitimate vehicles purchased from abroad. It also allowed the thieves to use the keys from the purchased vehicles in the stolen cars. In an investigation that spanned the globe, car expert Quentin Willson went undercover to expose the biggest car fraud in the world and the international criminals behind it. According to a BBC report, tens of thousands of stolen Japanese cars have been secretly imported into Britain and sold as legitimate vehicles.The cars involved include Toyota Landcruisers, Honda NSX's and Lexus 400's. Car thief targeting a Japanese car. Tens of thousands of Japanese cars are stolen every year British police were poised to seize many of these motors and restore them to their rightful owners. The Yakuza, or Japanese mafia, have been stealing high value used cars, often worth up to £30,000 on the UK market, shipping them out of Japan in containers and sending them to Dubai. Dubai, which has a free trade zone, plays an important role within this conspiracy where under the desert sun, cars are being given false papers and new identities. Some of the older cars are even changed to appear as newer models. It was estimated that up to half a million Japanese cars have come through this route from Japan. Dubai has a whole industry solely dedicated to changing the identities of thousands of stolen cars. However, car re exporters from Dubai are facing a crisis after Iraq stopped accepting Japanese models, w hich are allegedly part of the car theft syndicate. While the mystery surrounding the Malayali car drivers death continues, it is worth taking precautionary steps. According to Police, there are many steps that you need to take against car theft. Do not leave your car in a dark or deserted place. "Close all windows and lock all doors and the boot. Do not leave valuables in your car (mobile telephone, handbag, sunglasses, camera, wallet, etc.). Items which you have to leave in the car should be left where they cannot be seen from outside, preferably in the boot. They should be put there discreetly. Do not leave the registration documents in the car. Never leave your spare key in the car. To prevent car jacking, Car-jacking "Lock your car doors if you feel threatened.Be very careful in the event of a minor accident which may be simulated. If you suspect anything is wrong, do not get out, and open the window only slightly to speak to the other person.Remain alert and check that you are not being followed and that there are no suspicious vehicles and/or people following you, or loitering around your home.Do not resist if you are attacked. Whatever the value of your car, it is not worth your life. --Watch this space.

DM integrates its IT systems with DNRD to facilitate swift transfer of test results

Dubai Municipality has announced the launch of a state-of-the-art e-service to speed and simplify the medical test procedures required for obtaining residence visas and work permits. By use of this paperless service, applicants visiting the Dubai Municipality medical clinic will have their test results directly transferred to the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) on the same day, through an integrated online system. This project is being developed jointly with the IT team at DNRD.The Clinic e-service will result in huge-time savings for the applicants as well as both government departments, leading to more efficiency in processing of visa applications. The e-service will also reduce costs by eliminating the need for printing of physical reports and x-rays films."The Clinic e-service will accelerate medical test procedures substantially, and is one of the greatest achievements in Dubai Municipality's e-services bouquet," said Abdulla Al Shaibani, Assistant Director General for Technical Services, Dubai Municipality Full Report

India and Kazakhstan agree to form Joint Working Group on Oil Sector and More New

Kazakhstan informed India about possible export import and transit routes between Kazakhstan and India with possible use of Altynsarin-Khromtau railroad area. Possible routes for the transit transportation cargo from/ to India via Kazakhstan, offered:1. via port Aktau – Iranian ports;2. via railroad station Sary-Agash-Sarakhs station (Islamic Republic of Iran)The Indian side informed Kazakhstan of the empty container problem in transportation from Kazakhstan back to India. Resolving this problem depends on trade volume between India and Kazakhstan. Thereupon the Indian side offered a joint task force to work on increasing freight flows from/ to India through Aktau port in the framework of the International North South Transport Corridor transport Agreement.

Malayali Taxi Driver Found Murdered in his Cab near Sharjah

Iranians-Afghanistanis believed to have killed National Taxi Driver : suspected

Sharjah - A young Malayali taxi driver has been found dead with multiple stab injuries. Kuttiyil Sheikh Shersha, a Keralite from Nooranadu in Aleppey district was found bleeding in his taxi at about 4.30 am and was rushed to the Kuwait Hospital where was declared dead. The victim was stabbed twelve times apparently by two people who have vanished from the scene after committing the crime. Taxi drivers have been regular victims of crime as criminals target them in the night, posing as customers. As the old taxi system in Sharjah is being replaced with new metered taxis, there is growing resentment and frustration among the old taxi drivers. According to media reports, the criminals are believed to be Iranians or Afghanist who took the driver to National Paint Round about in Sharjah. They wanted to rob him and when he resisted, one of them stabbed him and ran away with the money. His mobile phone was found near the taxi which was filled with blood. Taxi drivers in Dubai face the risk of being robbed and attacked...Taxi drivers of Dubai are an exploited lot as they struggle to meet monthly targets..Without getting any basic salary, their income is directly proportional to the total collection. Son of a former megistrate, Shershas wife and nine year old daughter live in Kerala. His brother Shajahan works in a bank and sister Sheela is a doctor..Police is also investigating the possibility of the murder link to Kerala underworld which must have been antagonised by any adverse judgement by the victims father, who was a megistrate. The fact that the criminals inflicted 12 stab injuries indicate that the attempt was murder and not just robbing. Watch this space.

Middle East: 12 Australians wanted over Hariri’s murder -Palestinian gives birth at checkpoint - The Franklin Coverup Scandal The Child sex ring that reached Bush/Reagan Whitehouse -Iraqi Died While Hung From Wrists

Malayali Taxi Drivers Monthly Salary : Dhs.100/month, Traffic Fine Dhs.2,500!-Watch this space

Growing Pick Pockets in Abra, Mosques Police Crack Down on Illegal immigrants.

by V.M.Sathish

DUBAI - There is a growing number of pick pocket cases in crowded places in Dubai Beware of smart pickpockets and petty thieves who may steal your purse or suitcase without your knowledge and abscond with the booty even before you realize it. Their presence is felt more in crowded shopping malls, mosques, public transport, especially the Abras and even isolated lanes.According to Abra drivers the number of pick pockets involving visitors and tourists is mounting. According to them there was a time when there was a pick pocket almost every day. The latest victims include a visitor from Saudi Arabia and Dubai Shopping Festival visitor from Abu Dhabi. Abra users have been vulnerable to pick pocketing as the huge crowd and mad rush to get into the water taxis on weekends give ample opportunity for the smart thieves to rob in daylight. According to an Abra operator, a GCC national who was on a visit to the Dubai Shopping Festival was pick pocketed recently. On a single holiday, more than 60,000 passengers cross Dubai Creek using the Abra. Yesterday Dubai Police nabbed a gang from the Dubai Airport who were engaged in pick pocketing. From a Mosque in the Nasir Square area, many pick pockets have been reported. "When people assemble to take fruit freely distributed from the church after the evening prayers, people are easily robbed of their purse. As many cases were reported and Dubai police was looking into the matter, three men were nabbed. It is normally the Africans, Arabs and some expatriates who indulge in pick pocketing. Full Report and More News

NBO - Bank Muscat Merger at cross Roads as KPMG-Chadbourne and Parke Dispute Bad Loans Size

Missing Millions from Egypt Cause Headache for former board members.. Who gained from Egypt Operation of NBO? Who are the real bad loan customers? ROP and CBO are investigating?

MUSCAT - Is there a rethinking about the proposed merger between National Bank of Oman (NBO) and Bank Muscat to create Oman's biggest banking institution? According to banking industry sources, the manner in which KPMG, a leading auditing firm with dubious track record in detecting bank frauds and adloans in Oman , gave a clean chit about the financial health of NBO which was on the verge of collapse when its former high profile Chief Executive Officer fled the Sultanate.. A new finding by a leading valuator from US has put the financial value of NBO at much lower than the corresponding figure given by KPMG!!! It may be recalled that the role of KPMG as an independent and reputed auditing firm was questioned by some shareholders themselves, when Omani banks lost heavily in the Ali Redha bank fraud case. The banking system was about to collapse, when the fraud was detected. Many eyebrows are now raised about giving such a crucial evaluation assignment to an agency like KPMG with poor track record in Omans' auditing history. While KPMG has given a "good valuation" to NBO's financial health, it has been countered by another legal consultant which thoroughly evaluated the books. According to an exclusive report by C L Jose, the leading financial journalist from Gulf News, the US based firm has countered many claims made by KPMG. According to information given to Bank Muscat by NBO, its net worth by end-December 2004 was considered at RO 100 million. Suhail Bahwan Group, one of the leading business group which pumped in more than RO 50 million to bail out the ailing bank is reportedly unhappy about the merger plan as the earlier promise by the NBO board about the bad loan situation was highly misleading. According to Chadbourne and Parke, a US based legal firm which thoroughly studied the financial strength and financial reporting system over the years. Even though the Central Bank of Oman and various auditors were supposed to be strictly monitoring the banking system NBOs mounting bad debt problem is the root cause of all the current controversy. The manner in which the bank lost a whopping $100 million in Egyptian operations has raised many eyebrows and the point of suspicion is moving towards some of the former directors and managers. This includes some of the Indian sheikhs who were on the NBO board. The NBO management is alleged to have misrepresented the banks financial position by publishing false accounts, said the US firm. According to reports, NBO management underestimated its loan loss provision by approximately RO 59 million in the second quarter of 2003. The shortfall in NBO's bad loan provision surged to RO 74 million by the end of the third quarter of 2003. The Suhail Bahwan Group feel cheated as the loan loss was shown equivalent to the RO 53 million brought in by the group to bail out the bank from bankruptcy. Now Muscat is rife with speculative theories and rumours about the imminent arrest and crack down on some of the former bank directors...Oman is trying to improve corporate governance and many fraudsters are feeling the pinch now...Many old and new shareholders are acting from behind the screen to stop the merger..New explosive stories are expected in various newspapers...Pathetically enough, the three so called English dailies in Muscat have not a single story to tell the real bank story..Watch this space.

US May Use Proxy To Attack Iran, Says Dr Mahathir - Unknown plane fires missile at Iran’s nuclear reactor - Pentagon prepares to build £70bn robot army to avoid US Casualty - Iran Syria form United Front in the background of US Threatt

Unlucky Malayali Lady Duped by Her Malayali Employer?

DUBAI - Malayalis can be proud to have produced the maximum number of millionaires from various raffle draws in Dubai, especially the Dubai Shopping Festival. However, a lucky winner Shobhana from Kerala, a housemaid was cheated by her employer, a proud Malayali. According to Shobhana, a young housemaid from Kerala who was working with the Malayali family in Umm Al Quaim, she went to see the festival and bought a Lexus raffle ticket. Even though five tickets were taken in the name of five family members, the housemaid was the lucky one. However, the illiterate woman was cheated by the educated doctor by giving her just Dhs.5,000 instead of the Dhs.50,000 that she got in the raffle. "Sobhana, 39, told Indian media she won a car while working as a maid in the UAE in 2004. She says she opted for the cash, and asked her employer to pay the money into her account as she is illiterate. On reaching India she says she learned that she had been given just dhs50,000 instead of the dhs500,000 she was due," More

Former Lebanese PM Hariri dies in Beirut blast -- Who killed Rafiq al-Hariri? - Cuban President says US plotting to assassinate Venezuelen President - Former Lebanese PM Hariri killed by bomb

Petroleum Minister Proposes Asia Gas Network

New Delhi - Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj proposed the setting up of an Asian Gas Grid for ensuring energy security for the country. In his inaugural address to the Third Asia Gas Buyers' Summit here today the Minister said that the vast resources of gas available in the region should be harnessed by the Asian countries for this purpose. It is estimated that this region has more than 55% of the gas reserves. More News

Entry Level Banking Curriculum designed to Train Emirati staff

BATELCO Invests BD21 Mn for Faster Cheaper Internet

MANAMA - Batelco is investing BD21 million in a three-to-five year 'Broadband Bahrain' programme with the aim of providing faster, more affordable Internet access for both individuals and businesses in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The company's Broadband Bahrain initiative will include a massive investment in Internet infrastructure which will ensure faster access and cheaper prices; the continued roll-out of WiFi coverage throughout the Kingdom; the continued placement of MPLS networks for businesses and organizations; and a raft of additional products, services and advances - all designed to ensure that Bahrain's telecommunications capabilities continue to be amongst the best in the world. MorE News

Dh20 million worth of prizes and many surprises given away at grand draws held on the closing night of DSF 2005

Saturday marked the end of DSF 2005. But for many lucky winners it was the beginning of a new life - one that they could never have imagined in their wildest dreams. Thousands of people gathered at the Global Village to witness the grand draws that took place at 10.30pm just before the curtains were finally drawn on the 10th DSF and millions watched the draws live on EDTV. For the beaming winners it was a night to remember, a night that changed their lives forever.

Mohammed, a taxi driver from Ajman, just could not believe his luck when coupon number 0975 bearing his mother Fatima's name was drawn in the Lexus Mega Raffle grand draw as the winner of a staggering 10 million dirhams. The 38-year-old has been in the UAE for the last 25 years and this is the first time he has won anything. "Earlier I had pooled my resources with 10 friends to buy the Lexus raffle tickets but won nothing. On Friday, I decided to go it alone and put my mother's name on the coupon," said Mohammed. He plans to start his own business with the money. But in fact he says he will continue to drive his taxi indicates that the stupendous news has still not sunk in. "This is a gift from God Almighty and so I also want to give part of the money to charity and share my good fortune with other needy people," he said. Dubai lived up to its name of 'City of Gold' with the amazing gold prizes given away in the Dubai City of Gold Raffles. Asif literally won a gold mine thanks to his purchase of a 10th anniversary commemorative gold coin for his daughter Shakibah in whose name he filled up the coupon. The accountant from India, who has been a Dubai resident for 20 years, won a mind boggling 100 kilos of gold. "The prize is unbelievable. I am going to consult my father on how best to use this wonderful gift," said the 32-year-old. More

Gold Winning Malayali Family

Nine Years Old Shakheeba is the lucky winner of 100 kgs of gold in the Dubai Shopping Festival Raffle. Valued at more than 5.5 crores, the lucky winning ticket was bought from a gold shop in Al Qisis. While filling the raffle coupon by her father Asif Noufal, a time keeper with Al Nabouda group, she insisted on putting her name. When she started crying a reluctant father put her name in the raffle coupon worth Dhs.250. Today she did not attend school and she moved around with her younger sister. Noufal, her father belongs to Malappuram.

Malayalis Sweep DSF Prizes

At a time when Kerala politics is revolving round the simmering controversy about lottery and illegal lottery, two Keralites have become millionaires overnight. Lady luck laughted at the 10 years old Malayali girl has won a whopping 100 kgs of gold. Everybody has been keenly watching the winner of Dubai hopping Festival (DSF) mega raffles and it turned out that many golden winners are from Kerala. The contribution of the Keralite community in making Dubai into a city of gold is recognized by even the UAE authorities. Despite the international media campaigns and publicity, the largest number of visitors to the Global Village and other DSF venues were none other than Malayalis. Naturally many of the prizes are also won by Keralites.

Mohammed from Pookkiparampu, Malaappuram bought a Lexus coupon in the name of his mother who lives alone in Kerala. He wanted to bring her to Dubai. His wife Fathima could not sleep due to visitors and well wishers who thronged thier house. Mohammed continues to go for work and live in Sharjah.