The Hindu

• Wakf Board ratifies the action 

Mangalore, Mar 3: One of the oldest Jamaats in the country at Kudroli here, which split 30 years ago, has once again become one unit to form the largest Jamaat in Dakshina Kannada.

The general bodies of the two units, which met recently, resolved to give effect to the merger and elected the former Chairman of the Karnataka State Minority Commission K S Mohammad Masood as president of the Jamaat.

According to Masood, the "Jodu Palli" (twin mosques) at Kudroli has a history of over 200 years. There were records with the Wakf Board that the Jamaat existed as one and had a common namaz area in Kudroli. But it split and started functioning as two Jamaats 30 years ago, he told The Hindu .

Wakf Board representatives had ratified the merger, he said, adding that the Muslim community in Mangalore had been pleased with the decision. Mr. Masood said that during his term as managing trustee of one of the Jamaats, he had pursued the matter with both the Jamaats. But it had materialised in the last six months, he said.

Eighteen senior members from both the Jamaats had been elected to a management committee, which had been approved by the Wakf Board, he said.

Renovation

The committee had decided to renovate the mosque, and the board had cleared the proposal, Mr. Masood said. The renovation would cost about Rs. 2 crore, and the mosque would be named "Jamia Masjid," he said.

Expressing satisfaction over the merger, the former Higher Education Minister B A Mohideen said that this would help the Muslim community in the district.