West Asia conflict: Karnataka village on edge as 60 residents remain in Iran

BENGALURU: Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, anxiety has gripped Alipur, a small village about 75km from Bengaluru, as nearly 60 residents in the hamlet are currently in Iran for studies, business, and pilgrimage.

Community leaders said that, as of Saturday, all those from Alipur were safe. Students pursuing MBBS and other courses are staying inside their hostels, where communication lines remain functional. Several others, mostly engaged in business activities, are based in Tehran, while a few villagers are in Mashhad on an annual religious pilgrimage.


Ali Abbas, president of Anjuman-e-Jafria Alipur, said the organisation is in constant touch with those in Iran. "At present, everyone is safe. We are regularly verifying their locations and ensuring they are in secure places. They are in touch with their families back home. Most of them are staying at different locations across Iran," he explained.

He added that the community is coordinating with Karnataka govt. "We are primarily in touch with the state govt, and in case the situation escalates, arrangements are being worked out for their safe return," Abbas said.

Alipur, located in Gauribidanur taluk of Chikkaballapur district, is among the very few Muslim-majority villages in Karnataka, with Shias accounting for 99% of the population. The village shares long-standing spiritual, cultural and educational ties with Iran, with several local institutions established with support from Iranian agencies. One of the most notable moments in this relationship was the visit of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who visited Alipur in 1981-82 to inaugurate a hospital built with assistance from the Iranian govt.

Bengaluru families concerned

Tensions in West Asia also sparked worry among families in Bengaluru with relatives living in the Gulf region. A 25-year-old resident of Electronics City said he constantly checked on his uncle, who has been based near Abu Dhabi for over a decade. "I called him to check on the situation; fortunately, he is safe at present. He went there long ago for better work and pay. His entire family is there, but at the cost of what? I can only hope he remains safe."

A 24-year-old student from Hulimavu expressed concern for her pregnant sister living in Dubai. "We are concerned about her safety now. Even though no attacks have happened in Dubai so far, I'm still worried. They can't even come back because attacks are happening in very close areas," she said.

A 50-year-old man from Madivala, living in Haifa, Israel, for eight years said sirens had sounded multiple times and residents were instructed to remain inside safety rooms for two to three days. "We are panicking because of the shelling, but we are following govt instructions. I had planned to return to Bengaluru in April, but stepping out is impossible now. My family is worried," he said.

A woman from HAL II Stage said her husband, who works in Abu Dhabi, said he is safe. "He doesn't want us to move there because of recurring conflicts. Still, we are anxious, and my children are worried about their father," she said.