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Keralite becomes first Indian mayor of Stafford

Texas representatives, Ron Reynolds and Suleman Lulani, and former Missouri City Mayor Owen Allen also graced the occasion…reports Asian Lite News

Kerala native Ken Mathew has become the first Indian-American and the first person of colour to be sworn in as the Mayor of Stafford in US state of Texas.

Mathew, a former Stafford City Council member, won the race defeating incumbent Mayor Cecil Willis by 16 votes in a run-off race this month, crediting his victory to his faith in god, the Fort Bend Star reported.

He was administered the oath of office by Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt, also an Indian-American, at a special event attended by his family members and top officials.

Indian-American Fort Bend County Judge, K.P. George, who was present on the occasion, tweeted: “Congratulations to Stafford Mayor-elect Ken Mathew! It was an absolute pleasure to attend his swearing-in ceremony this evening. Wishing him all the best as he embarks on this important role.”

Texas representatives, Ron Reynolds and Suleman Lulani, and former Missouri City Mayor Owen Allen also graced the occasion.

Back home, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, also congratulated Mathew in a tweet.

“Congratulations to Ken Mathew from Kerala for becoming the elected Mayor of Stafford, US. He is the first Indian to be elected to the post, in 67 years’ history of Stafford,” Chandrasekhar wrote.

Mathew served on Stafford Council since first being elected in 2006, and served on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for several years before then.

He immigrated to the US in the 1970s after earning a degree from the University of Bombay, the Star reported.

An MBA, Mathew worked as an accountant and financial executive for several corporations, including Toshiba in the Houston area. He has lived in Stafford since 1982.

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Keralite freed after 6 years thanks to Yusuf Ali

Krishna was in jail for the past six years in Abu Dhabi after his vehicle which he was driving, hit a Sudanese boy, who died soon after the accident happened….reports Asian Lite News

Finally, it was a much awaited and perhaps a walk to freedom by Beks Krishna, when he landed at the Cochin Airport from UAE and this was made possible by none other than billionaire businessman M.A. Yusuf Ali.

“I never expected that this day would ever dawn,” was his first statement after seeing his wife Veena and son Adwaith, who were present at the airport to receive him, when he arrived in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Krishna was in jail for the past six years in Abu Dhabi after his vehicle which he was driving, hit a Sudanese boy, who died soon after the accident happened.

Krishna was taken into custody and was sentenced to death.

“While being in jail there, I heard about six or seven instances, when similar people accused in cases like mine, where the sentence was executed. Hence I was very tensed,” said Krishna.

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“But when I heard that Ali Sir had taken up my case, I regained the hope that I lost and it has now become a reality. Will always be grateful to him,” added Krishna.

Hailing from Thrissur, his relative despite several attempts to make truce with the bereaved Sudanese family, failed to make any headway.

But things started to change after they got in touch with Ali, who also hails from Thrissur and then things started to shine brightly and in January this year Ali deposited a sum of Rs one crore in the court, there.

Then it was left to the court which gave the green signal of his release and two days back he got the out pass to leave the country and on Tuesday night Krishna boarded the flight for India.

Ali has already made his intent clear after first depositing the money in the court, which will go to the Sudanese family and said Krishna can now go and be with his family for some months.

“I have offered him a job and he can return when he wants to take up the job. His life also has to move on and hence I offered him the job,” said Ali, who is the founder of the Lulu Supermarket chain.

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