Two Kerala Jail Officials Suspended Over Boby Case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two jail officials were suspended in Kerala on Tuesday for going out of the way to help businessman Boby Chemmanur, who was arrested and sent to Kakkanad jail recently in connection with the sexual harassment case filed by actress Honey Rose. Central zone jail DIG P Ajayakumar and Ernakulam jail superintendent Raju Abraham were suspended. The action was taken after considering the recommendations of the Jail DGP Balram Kumar Upadhyay report. According to the jail chief, the DIG of Central Zone went to the jail with Bobby Chemmanur's friends while he was in remand and allowed him to meet them in the superintendent's room. Strict disciplinary action was initiated for violating prison rules. According to the probe report, 20 jail staff members had provided testimonies regarding the incident. They said attempts were also made to influence them. The investigation revealed three VIPs from Thrissur visited Boby Chemmanur in jail. The visitors who spent around an hour with Boby, did not record their names in the visitor registrar. The report was compiled after screening the CCTV footage and examining other evidence. Earlier, the report submitted by the Jail Headquarters DIG recommended action against the Jail DIG and the jail superintendent. According to the report, 20 jail staff members provided testimonies regarding the incident, stating that attempts were made to influence them.

Parliamentary Panel Weighs NRI Representation in Parliament

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (PTI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (PTI) NEW DELHI: The parliamentary committee on external affairs is contemplating over representation of NRIs in the Parliament in view of their growing number and unique issues concerning the diaspora. On Tuesday, evidence of the diaspora organisations in connection with examination of the subject Indian diaspora overseas including NRIs, PIOs, OCIs and migrant workers: all aspects of their conditions and welfare, including the status of the emigration Bill, took place in which organisations like Norka Roots, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala); department of NRIs affairs, Government of Punjab; people of Indian origin chamber of commerce and industry (PIOCCI), Delhi and centre for diaspora studies central university of Gujarat, Gandhinagar presented their views. During the committees meeting, organisations made proposals in this regard and said having a quota for NRIs in the Parliament will help handle their issues in a better way. They also talked about the need to streamline immigration of skilled workers, curb undesirable activities, including desperate attempts by people to reach foreign destinations. According to sources, Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda cited examples of countries like Italy, which has reservation in legislature for its citizens residing abroad, to pitch for having NRI representation in the Parliament. The ministry of external affairs had informed the committee in an earlier meeting that a Bill focusing on emigration issues is under the governments consideration. The standing committee headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that one of the requests from state governments is that they should also be consulted. In 2016, BJP MP Poonam Mahajan had through a private member Bill sought to reserve eight seats in Lok Sabha.

Service provider for managing kitchen bins selected through transparent process, says Mayor Arya Rajendran

A special council meeting of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation was convened following a notice signed by councillors of the Opposition BJP to discuss waste management issues in the capital

Logo of SGOU athletic meet released

The meet will be held at the Thiruvananthapuram University Stadium on January 31 and February 1

30-Year-Old Woman Found Dead in Thiruvananthapuram; Police Investigate

A 30-year-old woman was found dead inside her house in broad daylight in this district on Tuesday, police said. The police rushed to the scene near Venjaramoodu after receiving information and found Athira, 30, the wife of a priest working at a nearby temple, lifeless. Police believe the incident occurred sometime after her husband left for the temple at 5 am. They suspect a young man from Ernakulam, who had befriended Athira through a social media platform, could be involved. The man reportedly visited her house after her husband left for work. There are no CCTV cameras near her house in Kadinamkulam, and police are investigating to locate the suspect, who reportedly fled on the woman's scooter. Athira was a homemaker and is survived by her eight-year-old son.

30-year-old woman found stabbed to death in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala

Police suspect that a young man from Ernakulam, who had befriended the woman through a social media platform, could be the attacker

Sharon Raj murder case: Was confident in prosecutions pursuit of death penalty, says DySP Johnson

KASARAGOD: Kasaragod District Crime Records Bureau DySP Johnson K J, who previously served as investigating officer in the Sharon Raj murder case, said he was confident in the prosecutions pursuit of capital punishment given the heinous nature of the crime, which had been deemed rarest of the rare. He emphasised the meticulous efforts of police in not only gathering compelling scientific evidence but also linking it to the crime. The officer highlighted the thorough probe into the juice challenge videos, which led to the identification and subsequent testimony of the individual who had sold the bottled juice. The compelling testimony of this witness significantly strengthened the prosecutions case, Johnson said. He further asserted that Greeshma exhibited a calculated and deceptive nature throughout the ordeal. Furthermore, she not only attempted to mislead the investigation but also actively sought to manipulate its direction, the DySP said. Sharon was not ready to name Greeshma in the initial stage of the investigation, but he later realised that it was her act of lacing the juice that led to his death. The investigation began with the video, which revealed there was a difference in the colour of the juice, which led to the realisation that she had used slow poison, Johnson added. BLACK WARRANT A look at the history and current status of death row convicts incarcerated in Keralas jails 35 on death row in state No. of death penalties executed in Kerala - 26 No. of inmates currently awaiting capital punishment - 35 Of these 23 are lodged in Poojappura central prison 4 each in Viyyur and Kannur central prisons 2 housed in Viyyur high-security prison 2 women death row convicts, Rafeeqa Beevi and Greeshma, are inmates of Thiruvananthapuram womens prison Notable case Binitha is the first woman sentenced to death in the state. She was convicted for the murder of her husband, Vidhukumaran Thampi, and awarded the death penalty in 2006. Her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Last executions in state Ripper Chandran (1991): Executed in Kannur central jail. Convicted of murdering 14 people by smashing their heads with a hammer Azhakesan (1979): Executed in Poojappura central jail. Convicted of murdering toddlers for witchcraft Gallows 2 in Kannur central prison 1 in Poojappura central prison

Congress high command will decide on Kerala CM candidate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ending all debates over the CM post, the just concluded Congress Political Affairs Committee in a statement categorically declared that it is the party high command which decides the CM. It is the agenda of certain media to start a discussion on the CM post, the PAC observed. It was also decided that the PAC would meet every month and decide the partys position on different issues by holding discussions with leaders. As part of the decision to activate the actions of Mission 2025 ahead of local body elections, the KPCC would organise a one-day workshop. The political situation in the state is favourable for the UDF. The party would organise protest programmes on price rise, issues in ration distribution, the rise in charge of electricity and the issues related to government employees. Congress would move forward with its own rehabilitation programme in Wayanad. The party would also campaign against the CPMs anti- minority position, it said. The PAC also decided to take action against those who try to create division and factionalism through social media. Direction would be issued for using social media platforms.

At 24, Greeshma is the youngest to be sentenced to death in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Convicted for the murder of Sharon Raj, S S Greeshma on Monday became the youngest person in the state to receive the death sentence. The 24-year-old is the third woman to be awarded the death penalty and the second woman on death row in the state. Rafeeqa Beevi, convicted in the Mulloor Santhakumari murder case last year, is the other woman awaiting capital punishment. With the announcement of the quantum of sentence in the Sharon murder case, there are now 35 people on death row in the state. Judge A M Basheer, who also delivered the verdict in the Santhakumari case, sentenced Greeshma to death, citing the brutal nature of her crime. In 2006, after being found guilty of murdering her husband Vidhukumaran Thampi, Binitha became the first woman to be awarded the death penalty in the state. However, her sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the High Court. Rafeeqa was sentenced to death last May for murdering, Santhakumari, an elderly woman, with the intention of stealing her jewellery. Rafeeqas accomplices, including her son Shefeek and friend Al Ameen, also received death sentences, making it the only case in the state where all the accused were awarded capital punishment. Rafeeqa and Greeshma are both lodged in Thiruvananthapuram womens prison. Of the other 33 inmates awaiting capital punishment in the state, 23 are housed in Poojappura central prison, with four each in Viyyur and Kannur central prisons. There two death row convicts in Viyyur high-security prison.

Sharon was killed inch by inch, observes Kerala court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Only one with the mind for extreme brutality can carry out a similar crime against a boyfriend or husband while in love, the Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court observed, while awarding the capital punishment to S S Greeshma. The court said Sharon Raj was killed inch by inch, adding that Greeshma had previously attempted to murder Sharon by giving him juice spiked with paracetamol pills. Greeshma actively sought to prolong the victims suffering, to cause extreme pain before death... such a person cant be reformed, the verdict said. The court observed that her act had shaken the collective conscience of society. Brushing aside the defence counsels request for leniency, on account of Greeshmas age, Justice A M Basheer said the victim was also of the same age. Hence, the convict is not entitled to the benefit of age, the judge said. The court rebuffed the defence counsels argument that what Greeshma committed was a justified murder as she was left with no other choice but to poison Sharon because he was blackmailing her with intimate photographs. The court noted that there was no evidence to corroborate the claim and the conversation between the two revealed that Sharons love for Greeshma was sincere. The convict killed the concept of honest love, the verdict said. It said the convict had lured Sharon to her house on the offer of sex and that fell under the definition of kidnap for murder. Two hours prior to Sharons arrival at her house, she made preparations with the intention to murder him. Sharon Rajs mother Priya breaks down after the court announced death sentence to Greeshma Her web search history had revealed that Greeshma had read about the irreversible damage the toxin can cause to the lungs and other vital organs, and the slow death that can set in within 30 days of its use. She had also browsed pages on how paracetamol can be used as a poison before she attempted the juice challenge. The court took note of the devastating effect paraquat had on Sharons body and said every body part, from his lips to anus, was damaged. After Sharons death, she read about methods to retrieve WhatsApp chats and view backed-up messages, etc., fearing that police were breathing behind her neck. This was one of the main circumstantial evidences which proved decisive. The prosecution relied on nearly 50 pieces of circumstantial evidence to conclude Greeshmas guilt. The digital evidence proved crucial as the court recorded that the god in the cloud saved the data of crime. Greeshma carried the evidence with her in her phone and she stored everything in the cloud. The crowd gathered outside the Additional District and Sessions Court at Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the verdict

Malayali at Mahakumbh

KOCHI: Grandeur of a different kind and a solitude that looms over the crowd. The slow run of the Ganga embracing the Yamuna and the invisible Saraswathi at the confluence that is deemed holy. The grand fair held once every 12 years in such a setting invites hordes of different kinds of people. Among them are those from Gods Own land. Arun A S, a mechanical engineer from Thiruvananthapuram, is put up in one of the 18 sectors in the Tent City at Prayagraj and plans to stay there for all the days till the last Shahi snan on February 26, the day Kumbh mela would end. He claims the event is an opportunity to showcase how spirituality runs deep into the psyche of everything material around us. There are different kinds of activities and I handle the Gyan Kumbh, showcasing our ancient scientific systems to display the connection of soul with matter. Several people from Kerals are coming for it, including vice-chancellors of universities too. ISRO former chairman S Somnath would also be there, he says. Arun is enjoying the spiritual fervour clubbing work with sojourns to the Triveni Sangam, where he often treks to take dips during the chilly mornings with the backdrop at times occupied by the sadhus. Renunciates, different kinds of them unseen otherwise to the world, are an attraction for Ajish A S, who works in the construction sector. I will be visiting the Kumbhmela soon. About six people from across Kerala are coming with me. Its a spiritual journey for us, to experience peace in a place where prayer and festivities join to form an ethereal atmosphere, he says. Ajishs friends also include teams from Russia and other countries, who are planning travels to Prayagraj to meet him. Ashwin K, an architect based in Bangalore, is planning the Kumbh for other reasons. I have heard about the Kumbh and the spiritual circuit of Varanasi and Ayodhya. I wanted to visit for a while and felt this would be a nice opportunity, he claims. However, some came to know of the Kumbh through reels and social media and wanted to feel it for the liberating experience. Its about exploration, also a culture unwinding. I want to know about this place. The whole world is talking about it, says Krithika Radhakrishnan, who plans to visit in February. For those already at the site, the environment is charged. That is why minor flaws like lack of water in our tent or the 10 km walk till the Sangam for the holy dip in biting cold and jostling crowd seem like nothing. Its fun. More than the destination, the path gets prominence here. Kumbh is a feeling. And I am so lucky to have felt it, says Pallavi Viswanath, who feels the youngsters in Kerala are slowly grooving towards such festivities which may seem outwardly religious but are at its core, purely civilisational. There is also a lot of mysticism in the air and enigma about naga sadhus, aghoris and such cults. Kumbh is indeed the time for several such people to be here and discuss spirituality, philosophy and the relation between all these. Its a different world. A world unique enough to be called surreal, she says. Travel firms from Kerala are also planning packages for Kumbh. But the number of those arranging it on their own with help from the spiritual groups such as the akharas in the north is increasing. Kumbh fervour is spreading among Kerala youth particularly, observes Vijay Menon, who is visiting Prayagraj with a team of eight on January 29.

Thriving or Surviving?

BENGALURU: In a short time, Bengaluru has gone from being a sleepy city to the IT capital of India with people across the nation coming here to build successful careers. But how does the city fare in supporting working women? A recently released survey conducted by the Avtar Group put Bengaluru right at the top overtaking Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad to become the best city for working women in India, based on criteria like city liveability, safety, womens representation in employment, inclusivity of women in organisations across industries, transport, quality of life, and more. We asked professionals is Bengaluru really the best place for working women? KM Chaitanya, film director The Kannada film industry has to go a long way in terms of inclusion. While we have a lot of women actors; technicians and women directors are few. The scenario is changing now with more and more women stepping in and becoming cinematographers, editors, associate directors and quite a few successful directors. In terms of creating a safe working environment, theres much that needs to be done. We need a committee of women who will oversee complaints about any kind of harassment at the workplace in the film industry. Lahari, advertising professional Within the creative industry in Bengaluru, theres an expectation to put in extra hours regardless of your gender. But when you end up staying in the office until midnight, there are no provisions to get home safely. This is especially uncomfortable for women who travel great distances to get to work. Corporations tend to have better facilities for women employees but the contrast is very stark. Anumitra Ghosh Dastidar, chef I have worked all over India in Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Goa, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Bengaluru. In the F&B industry, the ratio of women working as chefs is very low its a very male-dominated field. But Bengaluru has more possibilities. When I worked in Goa, no bus was available after 6pm so we would give earlier shifts to women. But here, there are women in my team who take the bus home at 10pm and feel safe doing so and we have not had any issues. Athul Madhav, programme manager, IISc Bangalore When it comes to work opportunities for women, Bengaluru is far better than Thrissur, Kerala, where I grew up. The representation and opportunities women receive are actually positive, and theyre doing a really great job. However, when it comes to safety, Im sceptical. Numerous horrific incidents involving working women have been reported in the media over the last two years. Personally, I know colleagues and friends who have experienced similar incidents. How can such a city be considered safe for women? Preethi Srinivasan, tennis coach As a tennis coach, I was definitely better recognised in Bengaluru compared to Chennai. I was not as guarded and didnt have to worry too much about how others perceived me because people were minding their own business. The remuneration was also better in Bengaluru because of the higher standard of living. The traffic is really bad but you can plan around that and still have a good work-life balance. Sneha Nair, student in Chennai I moved to Chennai from Bengaluru and can say that Bengaluru is definitely more inclusive. I live in a hostel for masters students and working women. Even though theyre taking rent from the working women, they demand that parents be present for admission and call parents if they break curfew. Its also common for flat owners to ask about their parents if renting to working women. They seem to think of women as dependents and not as individuals. Subhashree M, student One can see women from different cultural backgrounds in Bengaluru which is very comforting for women who are trying to live away from their homes. People in Bengaluru are also usually less judgemental than people in Chennai. A woman can go out partying, wear what she wants or even go for a jog in the morning without feeling judged.

Applecart rocked? VD Satheesan draws flak at Congress PAC meet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Until recently, he was the toast of ordinary Congressmen and an influential section of party leaders. Buoyed by the Congress victory in a string of recent by-elections in the state, he was all set to lead the UDF in the 2026 assembly election, besides being tipped as the chief minister if the front forms the next government. But V D Satheesans apple cart was upset at the Congress Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting on Sunday with a slew of leaders, with the tacit backing of some veterans, unleashing a barrage of criticism at him, especially his arrogant style of functioning. According to leaders who were present, what emerged at the PAC meeting derailed the calculations of the leader of opposition and his supporters. The Satheesan camp was anticipating all-out criticism of KPCC president K Sudhakaran for his alleged laxity and senior leader Ramesh Chennithala for allegedly forcing a debate on the CM post. However, P J Kurien, who started the discussion, and AICC general secretaries Deepa Dasmunshi and K C Venugopal set the tone of the meeting, which was altogether different from what Satheesan and supporters had sought. The silence of Satheesan campers like Shafi Parambil was quite audible. It was clear that the critics enjoy the silent moral support of top leaders, a senior Congress leader told TNIE . And worse still for him, the high command representatives remained passive spectators when his critics went on the rampage, the leader said. No point in staying if Congress Kerala leadership lacks unity: Deepa Dasmunshi It was senior leader Sooran and Rajasekharan who fired the first salvo. Unlike during the tenure of K Karunakaran, Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, Cantonment House, the official residence of the leader of the opposition, has become inaccessible to ordinary Congress workers, he alleged. The tempo of the attack against Satheesan gradually attained momentum and peaked when A P Anilkumar, a confidant of Venugopal, spoke. He questioned Satheesans mandate to take decisions on important issues without holding consultations. Satheesan failed to get support of high command representatives When the leader of the opposition said apart from its 21 sitting seats, Congress needs to focus on 63 more seats, Anilkumar sought to know who gave him the authority to make decisions on such matters. Though Satheesan tried to counter in his own style, he failed to garner the support of the high command representatives. Both Deepa and Venugopal said it is for the high command to take a final decision on important matters. Several other leaders told Satheesan that the party has a system to elect its CM, and now it is time to concentrate on local body elections. Though the Satheesan camp was keen on discussions over replacing Sudhakaran, hardly any discussion was held on the matter except about the KPCC presidents long absence from the party headquarters. Interestingly, though Satheesan is known to be the favourite of the young crop of leaders in the party, those in his close circle like Shafi refrained from defending him. They read between the lines and knew that high command meant business. So they kept mum, a PAC member told TNIE .

Kerala assembly pays glowing tributes to Dr Manmohan Singh

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Monday paid heartfelt tributes to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on December 26. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and opposition leader V D Satheeshan acknowledged Dr. Singh's invaluable contributions to India's economic development and his commitment to strengthening the country's secular fabric. CM Vijayan praised Dr. Singh's brilliant financial mind and his unwavering support for India's secular values. He also highlighted Dr. Singh's crucial roles as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India and Finance Minister in the Narasimha Rao government, showcasing his visionary approach to economic reforms. Vijayan noted that while there were differences with some of Dr. Singh's policies, his commitment to constitutional values and the democratic system was truly commendable. Dr. Singh's legacy includes notable initiatives like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Right to Information Act, which were implemented by the first UPA government backed by the Left parties, he said. Opposition leader V D Satheeshan also paid tribute to Dr. Singh, highlighting his pro-people policies, including the relief packages announced for farmers. He credited Dr. Singh with strengthening social welfare programs, such as MGNREGA and NRHM. Other leaders, including Speaker A N Shamsheer and Muslim League Leader P K Kunhalikutty, also offered glowing tributes to the former Prime Minister.

Greeshma held guilty of murdering Sharon Raj state's youngest death row convict

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Greeshma, who was awarded capital punishment in the Sharon murder case , is the youngest person in the state to receive the death sentence. She has become the third woman to be sentenced to capital punishment and is the second woman on death row in the state. Rafeeqa Beevi, awarded capital punishment in the Mulloor Shanthakumari murder case last year, is the other woman convict on death row. With the verdict in the Sharon murder case, the total number of inmates on death row in the state has risen to 35. Justice AM Basheer, who sentenced Greeshma to the maximum punishment citing the brutal nature of her crime, had also delivered the verdict in the Shanthakumari murder case. The first instance of a woman being sentenced to death in the state was in 2006 when Binitha, convicted of murdering her husband Vidhu Kumaran Thampi, received the capital punishment. However, her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment by the Kerala High Court. Later, Rafeeqa Beevi was sentenced to death in May 2024 for murdering an elderly woman, Shanthakumari, to steal her gold ornaments. In that case, Rafeeqa's accomplices, including her son Shefeek and Al Ameen, also received death sentences, making it the only case in the state where all the accused were sentenced to death. Both Rafeeqa Beevi and Greeshma are lodged in the Thiruvananthapuram women's prison. Twenty-three of the death row inmates are housed in the Poojapura central prison in Thiruvananthapuram, four in Viyyur central prison, two in the Viyyur high-security prison, and four in Kannur central prison.

Court sentences woman to death for boyfriends murder

Thiruvananthapuram: A court in Kerala on Monday sentenced a woman to death for the sensational murder of her boyfriend in 2022. The Neyyattinkara Additional District Sessions Court also sentenced her uncle, Nirmalakumaran Nair, the third accused in the case, to three years of imprisonment. The 24-year-old convict, Greeshma, had sought leniency in sentencing by citing Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Kerala court pronounces death sentence for Greeshma in Sharon Raj poisoning case

A local court in Thiruvananthapuram sentenced 24-year-old Greeshma to death by hanging for murdering her lover, Sharon Raj, by poisoning him with a toxic chemical mixed into ayurvedic medicine on October 14, 2022.

Ahead of LSG polls, lax enforcement impedes garbage-free Kerala goal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the local body elections draw near, the enforcement activities by local self-government institutions (LSGIs) for waste-related violations are yet to gather steam, raising concerns over achieving the zero-garbage status for Kerala by March 30, 2025. The local self-government department (LSGD) as part of the high-octane campaign Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam aiming to transform Kerala into a garbage-free state has launched a week-long anti-littering initiative. LSGIs have been given strict orders to intensify enforcement activities over the next three months to achieve the target. Last December, the state government introduced new amendments to the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act and the Kerala Municipality Act, raising the maximum fine to Rs 50,000 and envisaging imprisonment up to one year for violation of waste management rules. The fine for littering in public and private places has been increased from Rs 250 to Rs 5,000. As part of the campaign, the LSGD has formed 23 enforcement squads to book violations. Of those, two squads each have been deployed in nine districts and one each in five districts. It has also been found that a majority of the local bodies are not too keen on enforcing the rules, fearing a backlash could impact their electoral prospects. Local Self-government Minister M B Rajesh told TNIE that many local bodies are lagging behind when it comes to enforcement. Expressing dissatisfaction with the lax enforcement by certain local bodies, he said that addressing waste management issues should remain top priority regardless of electoral prospects. We are closely monitoring their performances and they will be assessed publicly irrespective of party affiliation. We cannot compromise as it is an environmental issue and a lack of compliance by local bodies will call for actions, the minister said. In addition to the enforcement activities, the LSGD has also launched a WhatsApp number 9446700800 for people to report illegal waste dumping. The informer will get a reward of up to Rs 2,500.

Familial discord, substance abuse, lack of social spaces driving teen suicides across Kerala

KOCHI: The recent series of unnatural deaths among teenagers across the state has placed the spotlight firmly back on unhealthy tendencies within the demographic. While it is virtually impossible to pinpoint the exact cause, most of the deaths have been linked to trauma or other psychological factors. These tendencies are most often seen in children studying in the eighth grade and above. Familial issues such as poor interpersonal relations, sparse communication within the family, lifestyle problems, and substance abuse contribute significantly to these tendencies, said Pranav, a Thiruvananthapuram-based psychologist who works with child protection cells of various NGOs. Pranav pointed out that the lack of accessible social spaces, such as playgrounds, can also affect childrens mental health. The crowded atmosphere at cafeterias, especially in the evenings, reflects the publics and particularly childrens need for comfortable and safe spaces for leisure, he added. Highlighting the importance of individual attention, Pranav said, Even in connected families, its essential for children to have individual support. In some foreign countries, there are systems in place to monitor a childs development from the time of conception. Unfortunately, we lack such support in our country. He also emphasised the challenges posed by the childrens tendency to resist. A child will rarely disclose feelings or admit problems to parents. They are unlikely to open up about experiencing abuse or other issues. This resistance is often a significant barrier to addressing their struggles effectively, he stressed. Commenting on tendencies among teenagers, Dr C J John, senior consultant psychiatrist at Medical Trust Hospital, said, Teens are increasingly exposed to influences that are not suited to their mental development. As their brains and minds are still under development, they are often deeply connected to their emotional world rather than grounded in reality. Unfortunately, social institutions like families and schools are neither fully aware of nor adequately address these psychological changes in teens. He added that dangerous normalisation also influences teens negatively. Many movies, social media content, and even news feeds normalise aggression, glorify suicides, and portray running away as an acceptable response to challenges. For instance, characters like Rangannan and Ambaan (two characters in the Malayalam film Aavesham who extol violence), were even featured on the state governments Praveshanolsavam (school re-opening) posters. When children are frustrated, they may lean towards these unhealthy tendencies instead of focusing on positive growth, he said. Addressing potential solutions, Dr John added, We must first acknowledge that the psychological world of a teenager is vastly different from that of adults. Identifying these differences is the first step. Then we should move to corrections after understanding behavioural changes and warning signs. Reflecting on his experiences, South Zone IG S Syamsundar said the negative tendencies observed among teens stem from a variety of factors. Beyond individual issues, factors such as academic pressure, unrealistic expectations, relationship failures, drug use, and numerous other reasons lead to these tragic incidents. Each case is unique and must be treated as such. However, we must also address the issue comprehensively, he added.

No point in staying if Congress Kerala leadership lacks unity: Deepa Dasmunshi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a strong warning to warring leaders in the state, Congress Kerala in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi has said there is no point in continuing in her post if there is no unity within the leadership. Her warning came in the partys political affairs committee (PAC) meeting on Sunday. The statements of some leaders point towards lack of unity in the party. Then there is no use in me continuing in the post. Congress has to win both the 2025 local body and 2026 assembly elections, Deepa reportedly told the leaders in the PAC meeting. She also stressed the need for unity at the leadership level. The message going down to the ordinary workers and public is that there is a lack of unity. This is affecting the people who think that Congress should come back to power. If we stay united, we could win the elections. Do not send messages that if the UDF got power, there would be unrest in the Congress party. The AICC will be monitoring the situation in the state. AICC is also collecting details of leaders who are not active in the organisation, Deepa is learnt to have said. Though this paper tried to reach the AICC leader, she did not respond. Congress general secretary in charge of organisation K C Venugopal also stressed the need for unity in the state leadership. There are no issues in the party that cannot be resolved by the state leadership. The public does not want the Pinarayi government for a third term. There exists a strong anti-incumbency sentiment. If we stand unified, we will get the benefit, he reportedly said, and also asked the KPCC to convene PAC every month. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, without referring to the controversial news reports about the race between him and Ramesh Chennithala for the CM post, said such news are aired by some channels to set an agenda for the CPM. They are giving news that there is a contest for the CM post in order to help the CPM, he reportedly said. Satheeshan also said in the 2026 assembly elections, Congress has to retain the existing 21 seats and focus on 63 other seats so that UDF can come back to power. Chennithala, who participated virtually, also stressed on the need for unity. KPCC working president Kodikunnil Suresh has asked the leadership to implement the vision of Rahul Gandhi by giving enough representation to SC-STs and tribal sections in the leadership. The state Congress leadership is not implementing it and leaders who are in positions are being averted, he criticised. Initiating the discussion, P J Kurien asked the high command to come out with a firm and clear stand on the KPCC president post and party restructuring. The uncertainty surrounding the post should be avoided, he demanded.

Kozhikode-based overseas consultancy under scanner for alleged certificate scam

Preliminary investigations reveal that around 400 students from Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Thiruvananthapuram districts availed of the consultancys services.

Jyothis Central School gets new building at Attingal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union governments education reforms are aimed at giving more freedom in studies to students, Union Minister George Kurian has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the new building of Jyothis Central Senior Secondary School at Attingal. The new reforms will help students obtain PhD after degree education. It helps in early employment, he said. Jyothis Group of Schools chairman S Jyothis Chandran presided over the function. CBSE regional director Mahesh D Dharmadhikari spoke at the function. Other speakers were former Union minister V Muraleedharan, Attingal municipal chairperson S Kumari, vice-chairman G Thulaseedharan Pillai, Karavaram panchayat president Sajeer Rajakumari, ward councillor Deepa Rajesh, school director Santhosh, principal Kavitha and PTA president C S Adarsh spoke. George Kurian released Namukkithenthupatti, a collection of articles by Jyothis Chandran. Muraleedharan received the first copy. KR Builders owner Ramaswami was honoured at the function.

Nedumangad bus accident: MVD cancels drivers licence, fitness certificate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has cancelled the driving licence of a tourist bus driver involved in the accident at Nedumangad on Friday night that killed one and injured over 40 persons. Additionally, the fitness certificate of the vehicle has been revoked, while procedures are on to cancel its registration and permit. The driver, Renju, of Ottasekharamangalam, who was absconding after the incident, was nabbed from his friends residence on Saturday morning. He suffered a minor injury in the accident and sought treatment at a hospital in Kattakada before hiding in Vilappuram. The police subjected him to an alcohol test, which turned negative. Renju confessed that he lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve at Irinchayam. According to the MVD, the accident was caused by overspeeding and careless driving. It was also revealed that the vehicle had unauthorised visual and audio alterations. The body of Dasini, 60, the passenger who died in the accident, was handed over to her relatives after a postmortem examination. The passengers on the bus were on a leisure trip to Munnar. The injured, including children, are under treatment at the Medical College Hospital and the SAT Hospital. None of the injuries are reported to be serious. Meanwhile, the local Congress unit staged a protest at the accident site on Saturday alleging that the accident occurred due to unscientific road construction. Road renovation works had been halted midway due to corruption, they said.

Congress leadership asks DCCs to hold compulsory core committee meetings

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid criticism that the party state unit is in deep slumber, the KPCC leadership has asked all DCCs to hold district core committee meetings on the first Saturday of each month. In a circular sent to all party office-bearers, the PCC has asked all constituency core committees to call a meeting on the second Saturday of every month. On the last Saturday of every month, the district core committee should convene to review the meetings of all core committees. The state core committee of the Congress will be held on Sunday at Indira Bhavan. The circular also asked DCCs to hold district conferences of ward presidents before January 30. The restructured ward committee list should be submitted to the KPCC after getting approval from higher committees. As part of stepping up preparations for the local body election, KPCC has called upon DCCs to organise Mahatma Development conferences in rural and city areas. As part of the programme, conferences should be organised with the participation of elected representatives and office-bearers of Congress and its offshoot organisations. Development conferences should be organised in local bodies where the UDF is in power. However, in local bodies where LDF is in power, a chargesheet should be presented against the ruling body at a development conference. A rally and public meeting should also be organised at the mandalam level, it said. According to the KPCC, the development conferences at the block and district level would be held in April. In May, KPCC will organise a maha panchayat in which all ward- booth presidents and peoples representatives will participate. KPCC has decided to support the strike called by the Congress-affiliated service organization, SETO, on January 22. KPCC directs block committees to ensure community balance The state Congress leadership has instructed all Block Congress presidents to ensure community balance while forming Block committees. In a recent circular, it also asked the presidents to convene Block committees within January 20. The charge of the mandalam, booth committees and offshoot organisations should be divided among office-bearers, it said. Meanwhile, KPCC also asked the Block Congress committee to own a building to house its office or should work in a rented capacity. A Block general secretary should have the charge of the office. And another office-bearer should be given charge so as to provide services related to police stations and government offices. The personal details of all the office-bearers should be documented. A television should be installed to provide information on daily developments. The party organ Veekshanam should be provided in the office, the circular said. The KPCC has also advised the Block committees to avail of the help of KPCC digital media cell to initiate digital media works.

Households, restaurateurs in fix as food-waste collection goes haywire in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Waste management in the state capital has gone haywire with the Tamil Nadu government imposing more restrictions on the cross-border movement of food waste to pig farms. Private service providers engaged by the corporation and the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) members deployed for door-to-door collection of biodegradable waste are cutting down on regular services, landing residents and bulk-waste generators in the state capital in a fix. Authorities have been flooded with complaints from residents. For the last one week, we have not been receiving the regular service of HKS. The neighbouring wards are facing similar issues. HKS members now collect waste on alternate days. Moreover, many residents are not able to hand over the waste as the collection happens during the day, as opposed to the regular morning activities of the HKS, said Suresh G S, secretary of the Kaithamukku Residents Association. An official with the Sreekanteswaram health circle said service providers are unable to collect and deliver the waste to pig farms in Tamil Nadu owing to increased restrictions. Its a problem. Haritha Karma Sena members only collect non-biodegradable waste from households. The civic body is planning to implement a bio-composter project for household waste, the official said. The decentralised waste-management initiative of the civic body has failed terribly due to lack of maintenance of existing community waste treatment mechanisms and the absence of new ones. Sreekanteswaram ward councillor P Rajendran Nair said the community biogas plant in the ward, which can cater to at least three wards, has been lying defunct since 2015. We were the first among the hundred wards to implement and successfully operate the project for four years. The civic body is not maintaining these facilities, said Nair. Councillors are running from pillar to post to arrange alternatives. The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) recently met the mayor and health authorities seeking resolution of the issue. We are managing the crisis for now, but daily collection of waste from hotels and restaurants have stalled. We need a more stable system and the mayor has promised to convene a meeting next week to find a solution to the crisis, said B Vijayakumar, district secretary, KHRA. Corporation to rope in local farms A senior corporation official said that the civic body is seriously considering roping in pig farms within the district to tide over the crisis. We will soon be floating a tender to rope in pig farms in the district, the official said.

Sharon Raj murder case: Prosecution seeks death penalty for Greeshma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prosecution has sought the death penalty for S S Greeshma, the prime accused in the Parassala Sharon Raj murder case , highlighting the gravity and premeditated nature of the crime. The Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court, which concluded arguments on Saturday, will pronounce the sentence on Monday. During Saturdays hearing before Judge A M Basheer, the prosecution sought capital punishment, describing the crime as one of the rarest of rare cases. Special public prosecutor V S Vineeth Kumar argued that Greeshma betrayed Sharons trust by pretending to love him, gained his confidence, and then gave a herbal concoction laced with a lethal herbicide with the intention to kill him. The prosecution argued that the murder was premeditated and diabolical, with Greeshma researching the effects of Paraquat online to plan the act. The prosecution highlighted the agony Sharon endured during the 11 days leading up to his death, marked by severe internal bleeding and organ failure. It added that such a heinous crime, which destroyed the sanctity of love, justified the maximum punishment to uphold societal conscience. At 11am, Greeshma was brought to court, where the judge asked if she had anything to say before the sentencing. She submitted a written statement and was later called into the chambers for further inquiries. Sharon Raj murder case verdict to be delivered on January 20 Sharon Raj Greeshma appealed for leniency, citing her young age, educational qualifications, lack of prior criminal history and desire to reform. She presented educational certificates and informed the court of her status as an English postgraduate with aspirations for further studies. Greeshma also mentioned that she is her parents only child and pleaded for the minimum punishment. On Friday, Greeshma was found guilty of abduction, poisoning, murder and misleading the police. Greeshmas uncle and third-accused Nirmalakumaran Nair was convicted for evidence tampering, while her mother Sindhu, the second-accused, was acquitted due to lack of evidence. The defence, represented by Sasthamangalam Ajith Kumar, argued against the death penalty, stating that the evidence was circumstantial. It claimed that Greeshma, facing mental distress, had repeatedly tried to end her relationship with Sharon, but he refused and blackmailed her. They alleged Sharon had used private images to intimidate her and even recorded intimate visuals, causing her extreme mental trauma. Prime accused appeals for leniency Greeshma appealed for leniency, citing her young age, educational qualifications, lack of prior criminal history and desire to reform. She presented educational certificates and informed the court of her status as an English postgraduate with aspirations for further studies. Greeshma also mentioned that she is her parents only child and pleaded for the minimum punishment Sharon Raj murder case: Greeshma, her uncle found guilty; court to announce sentence Saturday

Unaided schools must adhere to government academic calendar, says Kerala Minister V Sivankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government will direct unaided schools following the state syllabus to strictly adhere to the common academic calendar followed in government and aided schools, General Education Minister V Sivankutty told TNIE. He said that the government is also planning to take stern action, such as revoking the no-objection certificate (NOC) of unaided schools, that collect huge sums as donation during admission. Sivankutty said the government has decided to crack the whip on unaided schools after it was found that such institutions were conducting classes and exams as per their whims and fancies and promoting students to higher classes even before the commencement of the academic year. I came to know about such practices after a parent approached me with a recommendation for admission of his son to Class XI of an unaided school, months before the SSLC exam began, he said. Sivankutty also slammed the practice of conducting written tests for admission to Class I that causes a lot of mental stress to children and parents. The government will ensure that classes and terminal examinations in all schools follow a uniform calendar. The general education department will strictly enforce the norm, the minister asserted. Former secretary of general education Lida Jacob, who played a key role in drafting the states Right to Education rules, welcomed the governments move. As per the RTE Act, unaided schools have to comply with the directions of the state government. Adhering to a common calendar will be beneficial for the students in unaided schools who are denied vacations and holidays and put to a lot of stress, she opined. Meanwhile, the minister clarified that unhealthy practices such as collection of huge sums as donation will be curbed, irrespective of whether the school follows the state syllabus or not. He pointed out that schools affiliated to national boards, such as CBSE or Council for ICSE, require the state governments NOC for functioning. We will place stringent conditions for issuance of NOC by the department. Schools indulging in unhealthy practices will be denied NOC, which will eventually lead to their disaffiliation, Sivankutty warned. However, the former general education secretary expressed doubts on whether the government could fully curb the practice of schools demanding huge sums during admission, as long as parents are willing to pay. The government can act on the basis of complaints. But the schools will legitimise the funds as a voluntary donation even if any parent comes forward as a whistleblower, she added.

Kerala government issues order granting primary permission for Palakkad IMFL plant

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has issued an order giving primary permission to Oasis Commercial Private Limited to establish a unit at Kanjikode in Palakkad to produce extra neutral alcohol and other liquor products. The taxes department in its order dated January 16 has stated that permission has been given based on the governments decision to promote production of extra neutral alcohol in the state and give permissions to distilleries and units which come forward for it. The decision is based on the 2023-24 state liquor policy, the taxes department said. On the basis of the new liquor policy, the department gave permission to Oasis to start an ethanol plant, multi-feed distillation unit, Indian-made foreign liquor unit, a brewery, a malt spirit plant, a brandy unit, and a winery plant. It has also been instructed that only broken rice should be used as raw material for the production of extra neutral alcohol. The IMFL bottling unit will be set up in the first phase. In the second phase, an extra neutral alcohol and ethanol unit will be set up. In the third phase, a power generation unit will be set up and a brewery in the last leg. The company has also agreed to only use agricultural products from the state as raw materials. All criteria put forwarded by the MoEF would be met. Kerala Water Authority has given permission to supply water for the production, the company said. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan Huge corruption involved in granting licence to brewery, says V D Satheesan Kochi: Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan has asked Excise Minister M B Rajesh to respond to his allegations regarding granting of permission to start a brewery unit in Palakkad, instead of diverting the issue. He was speaking to reporters at the Kochi airport on Saturday. Satheesan said that the owner of the company that has been given permission to set up the brewery in Palakkad, was arrested in Delhi for breach of liquor policy and the company is facing several allegations in Punjab as its unit has been accused of polluting groundwater around 4km of its location. He also came out against the minister for diverting the issue. The minister had said that the allegations were being raised as part of the rift in Congress state leadership. Satheesan also claimed that huge corruption is involved in the deal and the excise minister and the CM are part of it. The land was given for brewery under the disguise of setting up a college. For this government, a brewery and a college are the same, he said.

No citizen should ever have to visit a government office

The state governments declaration of the internet as a basic right made headlines. Can you tell us the context of that move and the status of the free internet connection project? Kerala was one of the first states in the country to announce the internet as a basic right to its citizens. Other countries, such as Finland, have made the internet a basic right. Food, shelter, clothing, and bandwidth are the new norm. We cant live without these four now. That was an important announcement by the government because, if you take mobile phones, Kerala is deeply connected. There is 104% connectivity here. But If you look at the number of families who have fibre connectivity, its somewhere around 20%. We have Airtel, BSNL, Jio, Asianet, etc, and yet have covered only 20 lakh families out of a total of 85 lakh. So, from purely a market perspective, its a big market and a big opportunity. And two, all these people require fibre connectivity. Whats the total number of KFON connections given so far, including BPL, commercial connections, and institutions? We have reached 76,000 connections. We have connected all government institutions 13,438. The balance are all private homes, around 51,000. Our target is to give 1 lakh connections by March this year, inclusive of commercial, BPL, and institutions. Why should a person get a KFON connection when other private players are offering the same service? This is a public choice theory service. Everybody is there in the market. People can choose, and why should they come to us? If I dont maintain an SLA (a contract between an internet service provider and a customer that defines the expected quality of internet service), nobody would come to me. We offer an SLA of 99.9%. (which means the service is expected to be available at least 99.9% of the time). Thats the industry standard. Airtel, Jio, and other private players offer 99.9%. If I dont maintain that, we are finished. We have 68 teams, each team has five persons and a vehicle, who are patrolling. If theres any service disruption, they will ensure speedy restoration. We are not compromising on the quality of service. All 76,000 connections are running without any service disruption. Why should the state government be in a sector with cut-throat competition from private players? Thats a policy decision by the government. We are on par with any ISP because its stable. We are providing our service to the secretariat, Kerala assembly, collectorates, and all government offices run on KFON connection. But there are 1 lakh plus government offices in Kerala. Thats another opportunity that awaits me. We are providing the full bouquet of services, including leased lines that others are providing, except IPTV (internet protocol TV) and OTT. For IPTV and OTT, we have received the boards approval, and we will apply for the licence. You have connected most of the government offices and institutions. Has the government worked out the benefits received and the expenses saved because of KFON? I have visited 30-40 panchayat offices and found that they have 5-6 internet connections, which is mind-boggling. The entire government runs on e-office, and the panchayat uses several software applications like K-SMART (Kerala Solutions for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation), making downtime unacceptable. I have written to the government, stating that KFON needs to be the primary connection. They can have a secondary connection for safety, but our ring architecture ensures almost zero downtime. We prioritise redundancy, which is an advantage KFON offers. Do government offices pay KFON for the service? My regret is that government offices are utilising our services without paying. Ive informed the government about the significant investment of nearly Rs 1,000 crore and the need for a return on investment. Im not seeking a monopoly, but I believe KFON should be the primary connection. The issue is that government offices assumed KFON would be free and theyve been paying for other connections by other companies. They need to pay us, and its pending since October 2023. Initially, the government agreed to support us directly from the budget, with an expected budgetary support of Rs 250 crore. However, the finance secretary decided not to pay from the budget and asked me to bill consumers and institutions individually. How much is pending? As of now, we have to get around Rs 30 crore from the government. Going forward, I think its going to increase because various government institutions have taken internet lease lines. If I am going to replace it, there will be more revenue. Have government institutions disconnected private internet lines? They have started disconnecting private lines. But sometimes they say they want a secondary connection because they cannot afford to have only one connection. Theres a committee chaired by the IT secretary, of which I am a member. Mostly, we agree. There was a proposal to provide free Wi-Fi in public spaces. Whats the status now? We have submitted a proposal for Wi-Fi in public spaces. Its called KFi. Theres another proposal KSWAN (Kerala State Wide Area Network)-KFON integration. These proposals are pending with the government. The IT Mission has provided free Wi-Fi in 2,000 locations. It has been pretty successful. We are now proposing to spread it to 4,008 locations. We are awaiting government clearance, and once it comes, all public spaces in Kerala will have free Wi-Fi. Are you in a position to give on-demand connections? Yes. We have the KFON app on phones, KFON on the website, and a toll-free number. These three are the methods to reach us. We have a 24x7 call centre too. We are providing connections on demand. Whats the status of K-SMART which ensures hassle-free issuance of certificates? K-SMART is a mobile app-based e-governance system for local bodies in Kerala. It aims to provide a variety of services to citizens through an online platform. We launched K-SMART on January 1, 2024, in Kochi. There were initial hiccups. If you take buildings, the data was an enormous 200 crore records, which we had to move to digital. We made some miscalculations and took the job lightly. By the time we upload 50 crore records, there will be technical issues and we have to rework. From January 1, 2025, we have launched K-SMART in panchayats. My personal vision for K-SMART is that everything should happen over mobile phones and nobody should be made to visit government offices. No citizen should ever visit a government office. What we offer is joyful citizens, joyful employees, and efficient government. Now, marriage certificates can be downloaded through the app. Birth certificates will be issued within six minutes while death certificates in around 10 minutes. How many local bodies have come on board for the e-services? From April 1, this will be implemented in 941 grama panchayats, 152 block panchayats, and 14 district panchayats. All activities in local bodies will be on K-SMART. At Karakulam, on the third minute of a marriage, the marriage certificate was handed over by the minister to the couple on stage. My target is to have certificates issued before people ask for them. Thats what I mean by predictive governance. We have so much data with us. Our governance is file-based. If a person has any requirement, they have to visit each department concerned, where his petition will be filed. Currently, K-SMART is data-centric. But it can be human-centric. The activities linked to each department can be easily accessed. For us, technology-wise, it is not a challenge. But our problem is that we are all in silos. If we break these silos, we will be at the next level of governance. K-SMART can power that change. We can bring everything to one platform. How connected are we compared to Singapore or Malaysia? I stayed in Singapore for a year. They have an integrated system. In our country, at any point in time, there will be some kind of survey taking place. So, there are several persons of the same name in the database. But there is no mechanism to uniquely identify a person. This is an essential problem of governance. Now, the name of a person is written in different ways at various departments. To overcome that, when I was in Tamil Nadu, a government order was issued for family-based data. In this, we ordered that one mother department will identify a person uniquely. Other departments can only add metadata about the person. So, all the personal details of a person can be kept constant. It can be linked to an Aadhaar card or other unique number. Other details can be added further. This is not done in Kerala, and India. This is a huge area that needs reforms. Is there any resistance from the part of government employees against these reforms? In the initial stages of K-SMART, there was confusion among government employees. They were never used to it. Our panchayats are computerised but urban local bodies arent. There were connectivity issues. But those simple issues are over. Now, they find it very easy for them and consider it a productivity tool. What took three hours earlier now takes three seconds. So the volume of work is coming down. But my personal feeling is that the time has come to upgrade the skills of employees. Earlier, we had typists. But now we are all typists. As there is no requirement for typists now, it doesnt mean that people have gone out of job. We need higher levels of skills. As AI comes in, the skill set of people will improve, and nobody will lose their jobs. Where do Kerala and Tamil Nadu now stand regarding the implementation of citizen services? Whats Keralas strength? As far as citizen services are concerned, Kerala is No. 1, no doubt about that. Around 900 services are online. When our former chief secretary V P Joy sir assumed office, he pushed the e-office a lot. He also promoted e-sevanam, a bouquet of services of all government departments. But ideally, one should be directed to other websites as well. That facility is not there at present. Thats a disadvantage of e-sevanam. If you are a citizen in Kerala, you can go to e-sevanam and log in. If there are 10 departments, you have to log in 10 times on different websites. There should be a facility to go to any department with a single sign-in. Thats what were providing through K-SMART. In Tamil Nadu, not many services are online compared to Kerala. Where does Tamil Nadu excel? I was in charge of the system that works on the lines of KFON in Tamil Nadu. There, the project is called Bharat Net. Thats still at the halfway stage in terms of connectivity. Coming to areas where Tamil Nadu excels, the land allotment process is much faster there. And compared to other states of India? Nowhere in the country is it as extensive as it is in Kerala. Here, right up to the panchayat office, all have been turned into e-offices. Thats a big advantage. In the future, do you see just one card for a citizen, instead of separate cards for Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, etc? What I say is that its the people who give us the salary. And they have to stand for hours before us to get the services. That shouldnt occur. Thats a paradox in governance. Thats the British style. Every government office should become a back office. Theres no need to even reveal the name of the government office. Thats my concept. In offices like Microsoft and Facebook, I have visited their back offices which are massive. But we see only the front office. We dont deal with the back offices at all. Why should we deal with the back office? It is when we deal with such back offices that issues like corruption crop up. This should be minimised, and it can be. K-SMART is the best example. Whats the next stage of KFON? Were doing something very unique in the country connecting the unconnected. The idea developed within the team to connect tribal areas. We selected a village in Thiruvananthapuram Kottur. There are 27 hamlets. We connected two. Ninety-three families of Chonampara and Aalipara have benefitted from this, and the good thing is life has changed for them. These are deep in the forest, and they dont have any connectivity. The initiative was supported by South Indian Bank as part of their CSR. Inspired by this, we have connected Panthaladikunnu in Wayanad and Attappadi. We connected around 100 families. Now we are consumed by this. So, I have spoken to Renu Raj, the director of tribal welfare, to connect all 1,600 tribal habitations in Kerala. For a year, we can do with CSR funds. Maybe through this, I can request all companies to spend money on CSR and connect the tribal hamlets. The government has provided them with good houses but they dont have any option to connect. They have to move from one rock to the next to get connected. I feel that I must connect them. What does the consumer use this data for? Have you noticed any pattern in Kerala? The pattern is clear. More than 60% is on entertainment. Thats natural as well. E-governance doesnt require much data. But that is an essential part, and we cant deny them. Whats the status of the Work Near Home project? Any expansion plan? For a work-near-home setup, you will get an 80% interest-free loan through KSITM (Kerala State IT Mission). Two such centres have been set up. We are talking to people. These spaces should not be near the Cyberparks, Technopark, or Infopark. Thats a condition set by the government. In semi-urban areas? Our idea is to take it to village panchayats. But we dont know if people are working there. There will be people who are working from home. But there is no huge demand. We plan to come up with 10 such centres across Kerala. You have worked with the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments. What differences have you felt? The main difference is the process. Kerala is very process-driven. Tamil Nadu is not so. For example, if we have to sanction land to set up an industry in Tamil Nadu, you get the approval immediately. But in Kerala, one has to go through a big chain of procedures. It takes a lot of time. This is the bureaucratic delay I was talking about. This is because everyone is afraid of getting blamed. The bureaucratic levels are afraid of the petitions and RTIs that theyll have to answer. However, this makes the process very clean. In Kerala, there is no political interference. Thats not the case in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, auto-escalation is the only solution that can boost growth. How do you see the political class responding to new ideas? Are they receptive? Yes. Very much. Do you know who gave me the K-SMART idea? Govindan Master. He contacted me with the idea because he wants the system to change. That shows the positive attitude the political class at the top has when it comes to good governance. Be it any party. The only issue that casts a shadow is the delay in file movement. The crux of governance is file movement. Do you think the CM is frustrated by this so-called apathy in the bureaucratic system? This is because of the absence of an incentive system in the government system. There should be a performance incentive and non-performance disincentive. We are paying salaries with money from the taxpayers. The babus (government servants) need to do their work instead of sending out queries. The leaders need to have the wherewithal to overrule the decisions made by those down the chain. The leaders can do so while giving a reason for their decision. All this will speed up the process of file clearance. Many files get rejected for minor reasons. That is not so in TN. There I could take the file directly to the CM, and get it signed and approved in a day or two. Here, though the political class is ready to sign the files, the time it takes for the files to reach them is very long. Are you saying that there is intent but no on-the-ground realisation? Ahh... how do I say it? Things are improving (laughs). Computerisation has brought in a lot of improvement. What about ease of doing business? We are far ahead of other states in the country. However, we need to compare ourselves with other countries, like Singapore, which are way ahead.

Mentally ill who are threat to selves & others liable for police action: Experts

KOCHI: In the wake of the Chendamangalam murder in which a 27-year-old killed three of his neighbours, experts point to the wrong perception that police cannot initiate any action against people with psychiatric issues. In fact, the law states that police should take protective measures to ensure that people with mental illness dont become a threat to themselves and others. Following the murders of Kizhakkumpuram residents Venu, 65, his wife Usha, 62, and their daughter Vinisha, 32, neighbours claimed that multiple police complaints had previously been lodged against the accused Rithu Jayan. However, no action was initiated as he possessed a certificate that stated that he suffered from a mental illness. According to Dr Arun B Nair,professor of psychiatry at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, there are provisions for police under in Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, if a person turns a threat to himself and others. Section 100 of Act directs an officer in charge of a police station to take under protection any persons within the limits of the station whom the officer has reason to believe is a risk to himself or others by reason of mental illness. The person should be produced before a medical officer for assessment of the condition. After the assessment, the person shall be taken to the nearest public health establishment within 24 hours from the time of being taken into protection. So, a person involved in criminal activities cannot evade police action even if he has a certificate issued from doctors, Arun said. According to him, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) clearly states about persons who are not criminally responsible for their actions. Under section 22 of BNS, formerly section 84 of IPC, the person who is mentally ill and cannot understand the nature of their action is not criminally responsible for their action. So not just mental illness, it is also important that the person understand the nature of the action. If a person with a psychiatric issue stabs another person for some other reason, he would not be exempted from the law. It is vital to establish that the person is not legally insane, Arun said. He said the increase in drug abuse among youngsters can be linked to gruesome incidents like the one in Chendamangalam. When a mentally unstable person uses drugs, he turns more aggressive. Measures to tackle drug abuse among youngsters should begin from the family level. Children should be taught life skills, which must be made part of school curricula. Stringent punishment after a speedy trial would also act as a deterrent, he said Meanwhile, police have started recording statements of neighbours who witnessed the triple murder. As part of evidence collection, officers examined the premises of Rithus house on Saturday. Venus son-in-law Jithin, who suffered injuries in the attack, remains in critical condition. He underwent surgery on Friday and continues to be on ventilator support. He has been placed under 48 hours of observation, hospital authorities said.

Shiv Sena Kerala unit founder M S Bhuvanachandran quits organisation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shiv Sena Kerala units founder and chief M S Bhuvanachandran has left the organisation. He had been leading the state unit of the party for the past 34 years. Bhuvanachandran said he had a disagreement with the working style of Uddhav Thackeray. Bal Thackerays ideals were the inspiration to start the Kerala unit. I am quitting the organisation due to disagreement with the working style of Uddhav Thackeray, he said in a statement. Shiv Sena should not have a politics without Hindutva. Uddhavs style will weaken Hindutva, he added. Bhuvanachandran said his association with Bal Thackeray began in 1987. The Kerala unit was formed three years later. According to him, the organisation was a pioneer in free ambulance service, free food at hospitals and voluntary blood donation in Kerala. The future course of action will be decided at a meeting of the party at Ernakulam on January 21.

Pinarayi Vijayan determined to be last CM from CPI(M): Congress MP

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala state Congress President and Kannur MP K Sudhakaran, on Saturday, January 18, accused Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan of prioritising personal gain over the states welfare. Pinarayi Vijayan seems determined to ensure he is the last CPI-M Chief Minister of Kerala by focusing solely on amassing wealth for his children and relatives, said Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

All-India science conference of Breakthrough Science Society in Thiruvananthapuram in February

Plea to operate Vande Bharat Express to Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore

Sharon Raj murder case verdict to be delivered on January 20

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court will deliver its verdict in the Parassala Sharon murder case on January 20. The court concluded final arguments ahead of sentencing on Saturday. While the prosecution demanded the death penalty for the accused, the defense sought leniency, arguing that the maximum punishment should be life imprisonment, considering the age of the first accused, Greeshma. The sentencing arguments began at 11 am on Saturday, with Judge A M Basheer presiding it. Greeshma and her uncle, Nirmalakumaran Nair, were previously found guilty in the case. Greeshma was brought to court at 11 am, where the judge asked if she had anything to say before sentencing. She submitted a written statement and was later called into chambers for further inquiries. Greeshma appealed for maximum leniency, citing that she was just 24, lacked prior criminal history, and desired to continue her education. She also presented her educational records to the court. The prosecution argued that the Sharon murder case was among the rarest of rare cases, warranting the death penalty. They argued that Greeshma not only murdered a young man but also betrayed the trust of love, describing her actions as diabolical. The prosecution added that she lured Sharon to her home under false pretenses and after a failed first attempt, she meticulously planned and executed the murder. They further said that the doctors statememts revealed that Sharon endured severe pain for 11 days before his death. The prosecution added that the murder was premeditated and deliberate, highlighting that Greeshma destroyed Sharons dreams and aspirations without showing any remorse. The defense, represented by lawyer Sasthamangalam Ajith Kumar, argued against the death penalty, stating that the evidence was circumstantial. The defense claimed that Greeshma, facing mental distress, had repeatedly tried to end her relationship with Sharon, but he refused and resorted to blackmail. They alleged Sharon had used private images to intimidate her and even recorded intimate visuals, causing her extreme mental trauma.

The art of Touch

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Art is what makes life bearable. These words by Friedrich Nietzsche guide the veteran artist George R from Thiruvananthapuram who believes in the deep connection between art and life. A lover of both science and literature, George explores human connections through his paintings. Now, he is back with his latest collection, Touch , a series born from the idea that touch is the essence of life, the language of survival, and the force that connects beings and to themselves. During the pandemic period, I was stuck at home without enough materials to work on my paintings. That time I used to think about humans and what it means to live without sensory experiences. Throughout history, our survival has always depended on direct connections and relationships. To me, this is something essential for us, and Covid stripped that away completely. People couldnt meet, touch, or interact directly. When I finally got materials again, these thoughts naturally began to take shape in my work, says George. These paintings are an attempt to confront the invisible threat posed by the disappearance of touch in modern times, whether due to disease or the boundaries imposed by culture. The exhibition at Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan showcases 34 oil paintings by George, completed over four years. He transformed each blank canvas into a blend of colours, dark and light, which, according to him, are meant to evoke an experience rather than convey an understanding. I see this as experiential art, and here, the colours are the mediums I have used to communicate the idea of touch. The 71-year-old George, a former BSNL employee, has participated in several group and solo exhibitions across the state. Touch marks his 18th solo exhibition. He has also published six anthologies of poems. Talking about his themes, he reflects on how the value he places on human connection is expressed throughout his series of paintings. One important aspect of my approach to art revolves around how we, as living beings, perceive reality and life, and how we connect. Maybe thats the reason, through my paintings, I continue to explore and express the idea of connections. My previous solo exhibition, Breath, was about how, despite the differences in humans, breath still remains the same, connecting us all something we all share, though not consciously, he explains. When it comes to connections of touch the idea goes beyond its physical form and becomes something deeper, an experience that cannot be easily captured or fully explained through words. It refers to the intangible ways in which touch affects us emotionally and mentally. The exhibition, open from 10 am to 6.30 pm, will conclude on Sunday.

Loyola College celebrates autonomous status achievement, launch of four-year UG programmes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Loyola College of Social Sciences has officially announced its transition to autonomous status during a formal ceremony held on its campus at Sreekaryam near here on Friday. The launch of the newly introduced four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) was also celebrated on the occasion. Starting from the 2025-26 academic year, the newly introduced undergraduate programmes on offer are: BCom Finance and Accounts with CA and ACCA, BCom FinTech and AI, BCom Logistics and Supply Chain Management, BSc Psychology, BSc Data Science, and BSW. Rajan Gurukkal, vice-chairman of the Kerala Higher Education Council, who presided over the event, commended Loyolas efforts in transitioning from bureaucratic pathways to the broader realm of autonomy. He reminded educators of their responsibility to elevate students to new levels of knowledge and enable them to raise critical questions. Joe Arun, director LIBA, Chennai, and chairperson, Minority Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu, who spoke on the occasion said Jesuit institutions flourish through the power of imaginative growth. Prof Shyam B Menon, Vice-Chancellor of BML Munjal University, New Delhi, delivered the keynote address. K S Anilkumar, registrar of the University of Kerala, and Binoy Jacob SJ, Jesuit Higher Education Kerala coordinator, extended their wishes. Fr Sunny Kunnappallil SJ, manager and rector of Loyola Institutions, welcomed the attendees. Following the inaugural session, a panel discussion was organised on the topic Leveraging of FYUG Programmes as the Education for Future. Prof Shyam B Menon led the discussion.

Food safety department aims for NABL accreditation for microbiology labs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The states food safety laboratories are on track to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in the microbiology category, with the inauguration of a new microbiology laboratory at the Government Analysts Laboratory here on Wednesday. Health Minister Veena George announced that NABL accreditation for all three labs will be achieved within a set timeline. This recognition is expected to boost the states standing in food safety, as Kerala has held the top position in the National Food Safety Index for two consecutive years. The minister emphasised that food adulteration is a serious crime and assured that stringent action would be taken against those who violate food safety standards. The new laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram will enhance the Food Safety departments ability to detect harmful microbes in food items. Previously, such facilities were only available in Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The microbiology lab has been set up in line with NABL standards at the Food Safety Department Government Analysts Laboratory which receives over 25,000 food samples from four districts. Kerala is the first state in the country to complete the FSSAI NABL Integrated Assessment. In 2021, 75 parameters were approved, and this number has now increased to 1,468, all of which have achieved NABL accreditation. Microbiology testing has been prescribed as per FSSAI norms for most food categories, including milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables and their by-products, spices and herbs, bottled water, drinking water, meat and meat products, fish and fish products, eggs and egg products, health supplements, nutraceuticals, foods for special dietary use, foods for special medical purposes.

Poor app engagement times out Supplycos delivery service

KOLLAM: Supplyco has discontinued its Supply Kerala delivery service introduced to offer doorstep delivery of essential goods. The service was phased out due to limited customer engagement with the app for online purchases. Launched by the civil supplies department, the Android app aimed to ensure fast delivery of essentials, particularly in rural areas. However, it garnered just three orders and fewer than 500 downloads over the past three years. Via the app, customers could place orders by selecting their nearest Supplyco outlet. The distribution network of over 500 Supplyco supermarkets across the state was expected to create job opportunities for more than 10,000 youth. Additionally, the app provided information on newly launched products. Despite these features, the app was removed from the Play Store after failing to gain traction among users. In the past three years, we have received only three orders through the app. After the first six months, we didnt receive a single order. Initially, we thought cities like Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi might see success, but there was no significant uptake there either. The main issue was that we charged extra for delivery, while several other delivery apps offered free delivery. In a market where private delivery services are more effective, we couldnt compete, a source with Supplyco told TNIE . Launched in 2021, the app made home delivery available within a 10km radius of Supplyco outlets in both rural and urban areas. Delivery charges were based on weight and distance. For example, an order weighing 5kg to be delivered within 4km incurred a charge of Rs 35 plus GST. Special offers were available for orders over Rs 1,000. Another source with the civil supplies department revealed that the app was never actively promoted by the outlet managers at Supplyco supermarkets. The Rs 35-charge was a huge deterrent. Due to this fee, many officials at the outlet would directly engage with customers, offering home delivery without any charge. As a result, managers at several Supplyco supermarket outlets chose not to promote the app, the source explained. Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil acknowledged that the apps failure stemmed from a lack of market research. The issue was that the supply company mainly serves middle-income consumers seeking subsidised goods, and these customers generally do not use delivery apps for such purchases. This hindered the apps success in urban areas. In towns, better delivery apps are available, and people dont order subsidised goods through them. In rural regions, people preferred to buy directly from Supplyco stores. The entire initiative had flaws which led to its rollback, Anil said.

Insurance barriers restrict patients access to mental health treatment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Insurance companies are increasingly using patients mental health treatment records to deny them claims for unrelated medical conditions. Treatments for conditions like depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are being used as reasons to reject insurance claims for procedures such as cataract or heart surgeries. The practice has sparked opposition, especially after actor Archana Kavi shared her own struggles with a claim denial. Hospitals known for mental health services are witnessing a wave of complaints from patients over claim denials, despite the fact that the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, mandates equal treatment for mental and physical illnesses. The trend not only deepens the stigma surrounding psychiatric care but also discourages people from seeking help or disclosing their mental health struggles. While the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) mandated that all health insurance policies include coverage for mental health conditions starting November 2022, its implementation has been inconsistent. Ajinas, a resident of Ernakulam, was taken aback when his mothers cataract surgery claim was rejected. I took my mother for cataract surgery at a well-known hospital in Perinthalmanna. Since I was aware of the cashless claim process, I instructed the hospitals insurance team to notify the insurance company for approval. However, when they did, the firm responded with questions about my mothers depression history, Ajinas said. They kept asking about her depression treatment and ultimately denied the claim. How can a cataract surgery be denied due to depression treatment? The two are unrelated. It feels like the insurance company is intentionally trying to avoid covering a legitimate claim, he said. Vivek Raj (name changed) from Alappuzha faced a similar battle when his claim was rejected due to his history of bipolar disorder. Even after approaching the IRDAI, he could not get a favourable ruling. Mental illness is still seen as a high-risk category, so insurance policies include specific clauses related to it. If people dont disclose their mental health history, it can lead to claim rejection during document verification, said Dr Ushus Kumar, director of Optimus Medical Services Pvt Ltd, which conducts third-party verification for several insurance companies. New challenge A new challenge has emerged as insurance companies, despite the legal obligation to cover mental health conditions on par with physical issues, have created policies that complicate matters for patients. One such policy requires applicants to prove at least a 40% mental health disability to qualify for coverage. The clause has sparked criticism from health experts, as it contradicts the intent of providing equal coverage for mental health issues. By linking the Mental Health Act with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the burden is placed on patients to obtain a certificate proving 40% disability. This is rare for mental health conditions. Patients with OCD, depression, or even stabilised schizophrenia would struggle to get such a certificate. The policy seems designed to make it difficult for people with mental health histories to access insurance coverage, said Dr C.J. John, senior psychiatrist at Medical Trust Hospital and a member of the State Mental Health Authority.

Kerala is facing liquidity crisis due to declining share from Union transfers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is facing financial stress due to tapering of revenue deficit grant and cessation of GST compensation, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said in his maiden policy address in the Kerala Assembly on Friday. This is despite the state taking earnest measures for revenue mobilisation and rationalisation of expenditure, he said at the start of the 13th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. Kerala is facing a liquidity crisis due to declining shares from Union transfers. Keralas share in the central divisible pool steadily declined from 3.875% during the 10th Finance Commission to 1.925% under the 15th Finance Commission. The cessation of GST compensation and revenue deficit grants coupled with restrictive conditions on Centre-sponsored schemes and new borrowing constraints have posed significant fiscal challenges for my government. Yet, despite these hurdles, my government has remained steadfast in fulfilling the promises made to the people of Kerala, he said. Augmenting the fiscal capacity of the state is imperative to ensure that the social security pension to 62 lakh beneficiaries is not impeded. The state effectively presented its case before the Sixteenth Finance Commission and the state is hoping for the best. The commissions chairman described the efforts as incredibly impressive, a testament to the dedication and meticulous planning of my government, he said. Over the past decade, Kerala faced a series of devastating disasters, including the 2018 and 2019 floods, Cyclone Ockhi and Meppadi landslide. Keralas disaster management model, rooted in community resilience, technological integration and proactive governance, has garnered global recognition as a beacon of effective crisis response. My government is committed to rehabilitating all those affected by the Meppadi landslide by ensuring the completion of the townships within one year, he said. Policy address sets the tone for guv-govt relations Governor Rajendra Arlekars maiden policy address before the state assembly on Friday, paved a marked difference from the previously warring governor-government relations of the past five years. Contrary to earlier times, both the government and the governor chose to avoid the path of confrontation. Unlike in the past, wherein the Raj Bhavan and the LDF government were engaged in an open tussle, Fridays policy address proved more or less uneventful. In an obvious move not to provoke the governor, the government visibly toned down its criticism of the centre. On the other hand, the governor on his part, chose not to skip any remarks in the address.

Digital, circumstantial evidence help prove Sharon murder case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Sharon Raj murder case was challenging for the prosecution as there was no eyewitness in the case. They had to rely on circumstantial, scientific, digital evidence and expert opinions to convince the court that Sharon was murdered by his girlfriend Greeshma in order to marry another man. Special public prosecutor V S Vineeth Kumar said though there was no trace of poison in the body of the victim, the doctors who treated him in the Medical College Hospital clearly testified that the physical changes that occurred to the internal organs were result of paraquat poisoning. The prosecution produced statements of 95 witnesses, 323 documents and 51 pieces of material evidence to reinforce its case. The police had retrieved digital evidence including the Internet search history of Greeshma, wherein she was found to have browsed about the way the poison works in human body. The statements given by Sharon to his friend Rejin, his father Jayaraj and the dying declaration given by Greeshma before the magistrate after her suicide attempt also proved to be crucial. Will challenge Sindhus acquittal: Sharon Raj's parents The prosecution also relied on the statements given by the head of the department of medicine, ENT, respiratory, emergency, nephrology and ICU departments of Thiruvananthapuram MCH where Sharon had received treatment. Forensic Medicine experts Dr Dhanya Raveendran and Toxicology expert Dr V V Pillai had testified that Sharon was poisoned with paraquat. Timeline 2021: Sharon and Greeshma started their relationship March 2022: Her marriage was fixed with a soldier August: Sharon was administered excess doze of paracetamol tablets in juice October 14: Greeshma administered him poisonous concoction October 25: Sharon died at the MCH October 31: Greeshma attempts suicide while in police custody; Greeshma's mom and uncle arrested November 1: Greeshma arrested January 2023: Chargesheet filed October 2024: Trial begins

Will challenge Sindhus acquittal: Sharon Raj's parents

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The parents of Sharon Raj said they expect maximum punishment for Greeshma and her uncle Nirmalakumaran Nair, who were found guilty of murdering their son . They, however, expressed dismay over the acquittal of Greeshmas mother Sindhu and said they will challenge it in the High Court. Jayaraj, father of Sharon, expressed happiness over the court verdict, but said justice has not been fully delivered as Sindhu was let off for want of evidence. Jayaraj said he and his wife Priya survived two years just to see that justice is done to their child. We held on so that the culprits got punished. We knew that if something happened to us, the culprits would somehow get out of the wrangle, he said. The parents appreciated the police probe and said they will consult legal experts to challenge Sindhus acquittal after the court pronounced the sentence on Saturday. No mother should have supported her child to take another life. But Sindhu did it. She should get punishment, Priya said.

Kerala: Neyyattinkara Gopans burial held amid probe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid ongoing investigation to ascertain the exact cause of his death, Neyyattinkara Gopan Swamis burial rites were completed by Friday. The ceremonies began at 4 pm in a newly constructed tomb near his house in Aralummoodu. The burial rituals were conducted by monks from various ashrams. His sons, Sananthan and Rajasenan, along with other family members, performed the ceremonies. The body was brought home from a private hospital in Neyyattinkara in a ceremonial procession led by Hindu organisations. It was transported on an open vehicle, where the body was seated on a platform, dressed in saffron robes. The face was covered during the procession. The newly constructed tomb has been named Rishipeedom. The new tomb, made of bricks, was filled with ash, camphor and fragrant materials before the body was lowered into the pit. It was then covered with more ash and camphor, and a slab was placed on top to seal the tomb. Kerala: The curious case of Gopan 'Swami' who is 'missing'; family says he attained 'samadhi' The family said that prayers led by monks would be conducted at the site for the next 41 days. VSDP, All India Nadar Association and other Hindu groups coordinated the event. Heavy police deployment, led by the Neyyattinkara DySP, was present from the hospital to the house. The family constructed a new tomb to lay Gopan Swami to rest near the earlier burial site, which the police had opened on Thursday. Stones were placed inside the tomb for the burial. The tomb was opened on Thursday and the body was exhumed for a postmortem at medical college hospital. The police carried out the exhumation after the High Court rejected a plea by Gopans wife and sons to stay the order. The body had been buried with camphor, ash and other ritual materials filled up to the chest. The preliminary postmortem report showed no external injuries or any foul play . The cause of death remains unclear. Police are waiting for results from chemical analysis, forensic lab tests, and histopathological examinations to determine if there were internal injuries or substances in the lungs. The police may question Gopan Swamis family members again as part of the investigation.

Demolition of building housing Ernakulam KSRTC bus station to begin soon

KOCHI: The demolition of the over five-decade-old building that still houses the Ernakulam KSRTC bus station will get under way soon, and a new terminal, to be modelled after the Vyttila Mobility Hub, will be set up on 2.9 acres of land at Karikkamuri. However, no ownership of land will be exchanged with the Vyttila Mobility Hub as decided earlier. This was decided at a high-level meeting led by Industries Minister P Rajeeve and Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar in Thiruvananthapuram. The order directing demolition of the old building will be issued next week. The tender process will be completed on a war footing and the demolition will begin thereafter, said P Rajeeve, who is the minister in charge of the district. However, it was decided that the ownership of land at Karikkamuri and Vyttila wont be exchanged. Earlier, it was agreed that the right of possession of the proposed land at Karikkamuri, owned by KSRTC, would be given to the Vyttila Mobility Hub, and in exchange the corporation would get certain land at the Vyttila Hub. The change will be incorporated in the Memorandum of Understanding as well, he said. A new swanky bus terminal will be set up in the adjacent Karikkamuri on the model of the Vyttila Mobility Hub. For this, 2.9 acres of land there will be handed over to the KSRTC. The KSRTC will be exclusively given the rights over six bays in the new terminal, which will also have facilities like Station Masters Office and the facilities for employees. The KSRTC will be exempted from paying the user fee. All revenue modes will be explored to generate income from the new terminal. The new building will have a waiting area, various kiosks for medical shops and refreshment stalls, a drop-off area for passengers, separate entry and exit points for private vehicles, and proper drainage facilities, besides other facilities for passengers. At Vyttila hub, the KSRTC will be given the right of operation and also the facilities for the Station Master office. The new terminal can be accessed by both private and KSRTC buses. The Kerala State Construction Corporation has been entrusted with the construction of the new terminal, for which the Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) has set aside a sum of Rs 12 crore. With the construction of the new bus terminal, the city will have two separate hubs for private and KSRTC buses. The KSRTC Mobility Hub at Karikkamuri will benefit passengers by providing them easy connections to the Ernakulam South railway and metro stations, the minister added. Besides the ministers, Ernakulam MLA T J Vinod, Transport Secretary K Vasuki, Transport Commissioner C H Nagaraju, Additional Transport Commissioner P S Pramoj Shankar, District Collector NSK Umesh, District Development Commissioner Aswathy Nair and Smart City Mission CEO Shaji V Nair attended the meeting.

One dead, several injured as tourist bus overturns near Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A tourist bus overturned at Irinchayam, near Nedumangad, on Friday night, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. The deceased has been identified as Dasini (60), a resident of Kavalloor. Around 49 people, including women and children, sustained injuries in the accident, which occurred at approximately 10.15 pm. The passengers, consisting of families from Kattakada, Perumkadavila, and Ottasekharamangalam, had started their journey at around 8 pm. The accident occurred when the bus lost control and overturned at a curve near the Irinchayam Milk Society on the Nedumangad-Vembayam road. Local residents, hearing a loud noise, rushed to the spot and immediately began rescue operations. Police, fire force, and locals quickly transferred the injured to Nedumangad Taluk Hospital in multiple ambulances. Those with serious injuries were then shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital by 11 pm. Health Minister Veena George directed the medical college superintendent to ensure specialised treatment for the injured. She also instructed the hospital to prepare adequate facilities to manage the situation. A total of 25 people were shifted to the Medical College Hospital, with reports suggesting that many sustained severe injuries. Seven children were taken to SAT Hospital. Nedumangad police and fire force teams continued the rescue operations at the site, lifting the bus to check if anyone was trapped underneath. The police stated that the exact cause of the accident would be revealed after further investigation. However, locals reported that the bus was overspeeding and overturned after hitting a roadside slab while trying to give way to another vehicle. The accident happened at a turning, but there were no apparent hazards on the road to explain the incident. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation, said a fire force official.

Sharon Raj murder case: Greeshma, her uncle found guilty; court to announce sentence Saturday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Neyyattinkara additional sessions court has found Greeshma guilty in the sensational Sharon Raj murder case. Judge A M Basheer ruled that the 24-year-old was found guilty of several charges, including murder and criminal conspiracy. Greeshmas uncle Nirmalakumaran Nair was also found guilty of destroying evidence and conspiracy, while her mother Sindhu was acquitted for want of evidence.The sentence will be announced on Saturday. Sharons parents Priya and Jayaraj said they were disheartened over Sindhus acquittal and will file an appeal in the High Court against that. Sharon Raj was killed by Greeshma using a drink mixed with pesticides on October 14, 2022. Greeshma executed the murder after almost ten months of planning with the aid of information collated from Google. She had attempted to kill Sharon at least five times before she finally succeeded. She tried to kill him twice by initiating a juice challenge, after mixing 50 Dolo tablets in bottled mango juice. As per the chargesheet, Greeshma started planning to murder Sharon as he did not backtrack from the relationship, even after her marriage was fixed. The first attempt was made in the washroom of the CSI College at Neyyoor by giving him juice mixed with 50 Dolo tablets. But the attempt went in vain after he spit it out due to its bitter taste. She made a similar attempt a few days later near Kuzhithurai Bridge. This too failed because Sharon did not drink it either. It was then she decided to mix pesticide in a concoction that he drank, leading to his death, the charge sheet said. Digital evidence, including chats, deleted photos, and audio messages shared between Sharon and Greeshma over the past two years, were also retrieved by the police. The murder of 23-year-old Sharon Raj by 22-year-old Greeshma came as a shock to many. Greeshma wanted Sharon out of her life and to marry a soldier. Sharon was called to her house in Ramavarmanchira near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and given the poisoned concoction. The youngster died 11 days later due to multiple organ failure at the Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. With the Parassala police initially clueless about the murder, the crime branch took over the case and finally cracked it.

VC walks out of KTU Syndicate meeting, sparks protest over suspended employee issue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first Syndicate meeting convened by K Sivaprasad, after assuming the charge as Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (KTU), was called off following a heated argument between him and Left-backed Syndicate members. As the pro-Left Syndicate members continued with the discussions, the Vice-Chancellor later reported on the unauthorised meeting of the university body to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, the varsitys chancellor. Sivaprasad also issued a notice to the Registrar of the varsity who continued to attend the meeting after it was called off. The Vice-Chancellor walked out of the Syndicate meeting after the pro-Left Syndicate members included an item in the agenda without his approval. The Syndicate members wanted to discuss the issue related to the suspension of a pro-Congress employee of the varsity. As the VC did not allow the matter to be discussed, an argument erupted following which other items in the agenda were not taken up for discussion. Despite the VC calling off the meeting, the Syndicate members continued with the discussions. However, the pro-left Syndicate members maintained that they insisted on discussing the inquiry report on the suspended varsity official based on the directives of the High Court. The Syndicate members disputed the VCs charge that they held an unauthorised meeting and added that Sivaprasad walked out abruptly after asking them to continue. The Syndicate members said that unlike other universities, statutory members are also de-facto members of the varsitys apex body and the VC had no right to direct the Registrar not to continue with the meeting. Meanwhile, the Confederation of University Employees Organisations (CUEO), Kerala, has condemned the VCs action as an attempt to further the Sangh Parivar agenda to create an administrative crisis in the varsity. In a statement, CUEO accused the Vice-Chancellor of shying away from his administrative responsibilities. By walking out of the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor did not allow discussions on important matters related to construction of the university headquarters and the service issues of teachers and non-teaching staff. Joint agitation of employees A joint agitation of all university employees in the state will be launched if the VC does not mend his ways and start functioning in a lawful and responsible manner, the Confederation of University Employees Organisationss said.

Thiruvananthapuram transport department sets five-day deadline for file clearance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: To curb the practice of unnecessarily delaying files, the Transport Department has directed employees to decide on the files within five days of receiving them. Officers who fail to adhere to the five-day deadline shall either be removed from their specific duty or transferred to another office, according to the order issued by Transport Secretary Vasuki K. The head of the department has been directed to monitor the process and identify the laggards. The decision comes at a time when Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar has criticised the functioning of a few departments with public interfaces under his purview. He said action would be taken against department officials who fail to decide on a file within five days, following an inspection by the internal vigilance squad. The order shall apply to all staff members in the Motor Vehicle Department, KSRTC, KSRTC-SWIFT, KTDFC, State Water Transport Department and Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering (SCTCE), Thiruvananthapuram. The direction is to start implementing the order on a pilot basis in January and ensure full compliance by March 31. In all offices with an e-office system, a competent officer shall be designated to monitor the file movements on a weekly basis. The department shall conduct a monthly review and submit the report to the office of the transport minister. The lower level offices of KSRTC may get more time till they complete the computerisation process. The direction specifies that monitoring of the movement of physical files shall be done by checking the file register.

Wonder whirled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is no stranger to festivals - be it traditional ones such as pooram, perunnal, and Theyyams, or modern celebrations like film, dance music and art festivals, Biennale, and other cultural extravaganzas. However, the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village (KACV) in Kovalam has taken the concept of festivals to a whole new level with the Ragbag Festival. At the venue, a magical water curtain sets the stage for Belgiums Shadow Dance, while Poland reimagines George Orwells Animal Farm, offering a fresh and experimental perspective on the classic tale. Rajasthans Manganiyar Seduction fills the air with music, as 40 folk musicians perform within a towering, four-storey framework, celebrating the regions rich heritage. Cubo, a tribute to Latin energy, combines physical comedy, mime, and circus skills in a breathtaking performance. And theres so much more drama, music, circus, physical comedy, magic, puppetry, shadow play, video art, acrobatics, trapeze, and vertical dance. Ragbag is a confluence of novel, experimental, and diverse artistic expressions happening across different parts of the world, says festival curator Sasikumar V. Ragbag refers to a bag where scraps of fabric and old clothes are kept for reuse, a metaphor for recycling and mismatched things. When we conceptualised this festival, we wanted it to be thoughtful, not just another event. For that, we worked behind the idea, focusing on the changing global scenario, technological developments, imagination, art forms, and how these elements could be blended and conveyed in a new way. Considering the atmosphere of Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, everything should connect to that. Thats how I started searching for art forms and artists who do art in new ways. Ultimately, its a celebration of human skills. The Ragbag Festival, which kicked off on January 14 and concludes on January 19, features over 300 artists from 16 art groups across 10 countries, including India, with performances from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Chile, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, and more. The festival is not just about performances; it also offers food, a craft bazaar, hands-on workshops, and engaging panel discussions. One of the main highlights is the Craft Bazaar, curated by Jaya Jaitly, which features 33 craft groups from different parts of India. Handwoven textiles, unique jewellery, home dcor, and other handmade products, as well as craft workshops like Madhubani painting, Bagru printing, Sanjhi craft, and bag-making, are available. I have always been reading Jaya Jaitlys books on Indian crafts, craftsmanship, artists, textiles, and more. Besides being a well-known politician, she is also an expert in the traditional arts and crafts of India and the founder of Dastkari Haat Samiti, a national association of craftspeople with members from all over India, says Sasikumar. So, Sreeprasad T U, the chief operating officer of KACV, and I went to her residence in Goa to personally meet her, explained the idea behind the festival, and she agreed to be a part of it. This is the first-ever craft exhibition of its kind happening in Kerala. Another thing that makes the festival interesting is Ragbag Feast, a food festival curated by popular culinary expert Anumitra Ghosh Dastidar. The spread includes flavours from Nagaland, Bengal, Nizamuddin (New Delhi) and Sri Lanka. A series of panel discussions will also take place at the festival, with experts sharing their insights and experiences on topics such as From Tradition to Innovation: Circus and Performance Art, Towards a Pluralist Ecology of Knowledge Systems, and Cultural Thematic Routes and Kerala Tourism. Its been three days since the programme started, and the response has been amazing. , says Walter DCruz, one of the organisers. The Manganiyar Seduction on Wednesday saw a huge turnout, exceeding our expectations. The festival runs from 11am to 11pm, with performances mostly in the evening. Tickets for the festival are available for purchase on BookMyShow as well as directly at the venue. A day pass is available for Rs 499. Special rates are available for groups. Sasikumar says the team hopes to make Ragbag an annual event. After all, every festival gets another edition if its well-received by the audience. The festival should create a community with a shared vision. We want the viewers to experience different perspectives and feel like theyre travelling through various journeys So, we hope it will create an impact, and we can come up with another edition, he says.

ORR project: 25 landowners to get compensation next week

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After much hue and cry, the district administration has finally initiated steps to give compensation for 25 landowners who surrendered their property for the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR) project in the state capital. According to sources, the landowners will be given compensation next week. An official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told TNIE that the district administration has submitted the documents of 25 landowners and they will be given the compensation next week. However, procedural delays are plaguing the distribution of compensation as multiple departments are involved in the process. The district collector has convened a meeting on Friday to review the progress. As many as 2,500 families handed over their properties to facilitate the ORR project nearly two years back. The affected families have been clamouring for the promised compensation which was supposed to be handed over within three months after the submission of documents. Last month, a 57-year-old man, who surrendered the land for the project from Kilimanoor died by suicide because of the inordinate delay in getting compensation. According to sources, even now the procedures to finalise the compensation package for the affected families are going on at a snails pace. It is learned that the PWD, in charge of assessing the depreciation value of the properties for fixing the compensation, is not working at the desired speed owing to lack of human resources. There are hundreds of properties that need to be assessed to fix the value and the PWD authorities are complaining that they dont have enough staff strength to do the assessment. Giving compensation for a few landowners only will not solve our issue. We are tired of empty promises and people are really suffering here, said chairman Chandramohanan Nair, Outer Ring Road Vizhinjam-Navayikulam Janakeeya Samiti. The ambitious project implemented as part of the Capital Region Development Programme II (CRDP), is crucial for the upcoming Vizhinjam port project and will facilitate smooth port-bound transportation in the future. An official of the district administration said that its a lengthy process and they are doing their best to expedite the procedure. Around six departments are involved in the exercise and the affected families are unnecessarily putting pressure on officials. These procedures often take time and we are doing our best. We have initiated steps to give compensation for landowners immediately, said the official.

Digital RC book roll-out before March 31: Kerala transport minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) will roll out digital RC books by March 31, enabling vehicle owners to download and print the certificate for all practical purposes. The RC books will be available online once the MVD completes linking the digital copies with the bank hypothecation. Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar announced this in Thiruvananthapuram while flagging off 20 Bolero vehicles purchased by the MVD for traffic enforcement in the state on Thursday. He said the digitalisation is part of MVDs modernisation efforts. Ganesh also spoke of the new system whereby driving test applicants can get digital copy of their licence as soon as they clear the test. This can be managed after motor vehicle inspectors supervising the tests approve the same online. The MVD will provide officers tablet computers to help them provide inputs immediately after the test. The MVD had introduced e-licences as part of its digitalisation drive from November 1, 2024. Later, the transport department issued an order validating the digital driving licence. The order said the digital copy either stored in Digilocker or otherwise is adequate and no enforcement officer shall insist on a physical copy of the licence within the state. It also directed the National Informatics Centre to facilitate downloading and printing of digital driving licences from anywhere. Meanwhile, the MVD purchased the new vehicles using the Road Safety Fund. Ganesh said a request to purchase 50 more vehicles has been submitted before the chief minister. The enforcement vehicles will be equipped with state-of-the-art systems such as breath analyzer, front and rear cameras, radar, and display units. The screen will display violations and fines in six languages. MVD officials need not leave their vehicle for inspection. There is no need to obstruct the movement of motorists, Ganesh said. Transport Commissioner Nagaraju Chakilam, Additional Transport Commissioner, and KSRTC CMD P S Pramoj Shankar also attended the function that was presided over by Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth.

Sub-CoE for research support to be set up at Govt Womens College in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A sub-centre of excellence (CoE) for research network support will be established at Government Womens College, Thiruvananthapuram. Higher Education Minister R Bindu made the announcement on Thursday after inaugurating the multidisciplinary fest Cognitopia organised by the college as part of its 125th-anniversary celebrations. The minister said the centre aims to coordinate research activities and secure cooperation from national and international institutions. She emphasised that the initiative is a recognition of the Womens Colleges contributions to public-benefiting research. She also highlighted the governments efforts to bridge the gap between higher education and employment in Kerala, noting the strong support for the states academic reforms. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by MLA Antony Raju. College principal J S Anila welcomed the gathering, with notable attendees including principal secretary of Department of Science and Technology K P Sudheer and ASAP MD Usha Titus. The minister also launched a computerised aptitude test for school students, jointly developed by the psychology department at Womens College and ASAP under the higher education department. The three-day mega fest Cognitopia features sessions by experts from cultural and educational fields, and various exhibitions. On the first day, VSSC director S Unnikrishnan and Prof Sabu Padmadhas from University of Southampton spoke. The festival attracted thousands on its first day, with a variety of cultural events, including storytelling, fashion shows, music concerts, and band performances. Entry to the mega fest is free. On Friday, sessions will feature MP A A Rahim, MLA Chandy Oommen and writer Sunil P Elayidom.

Skys the limit

KOCHI: His journey has been anything but easy. Life challenged him at every step, throwing seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his way. Born with multiple physical challenges, he has undergone 16 major surgeries, including a kidney transplant, all by the age of 24. However, these hardships prepared him to conquer greater heights. Defying the odds, Syam Kumar S S became the youngest person in the world to complete a solo skydive from an altitude of 13,000ft and a certified paragliding pilot with a prosthetic leg both achievements recognised by the International Book of Records. I was born with complex medical conditions three malformed kidneys, an underdeveloped right leg, and a spinal tumour, says the 24-year-old, who hails from Kulathummal village in Thiruvananthapuram. My first surgery was when I was just 19 days old, for an enlarged right kidney. By age eight, my right leg was amputated. I now walk with a prosthetic limb. In my school life, I faced constant taunts and had to use a catheter due to a small bladder. In high school, my kidney function dropped to just 25 per cent, and many other problems came along, Speaking of his fightback, Syam says he is no superhuman, but an ordinary man who has been enduring a lot of pain -- physcial and mental. I have felt exhausted with life many times. But at a certain point, I realised that everything in my life was permanent; nothing would change, he recalls. Each passing day only brought more complications. At that point, I had two options: either seek escape through drugs or suicide, or push myself forward. I chose the latter. I chose to live. Syam started off with activities like clay modelling, swimming, cycling, and adventure sports. I did not want to remain trapped in the cycle of home, hospitals, and school, he says. Cycling, he recalls, helped him improve his health. It soon became his passion. He incorporated push-ups and other strength exercises into his daily routine. Once, I cycled about 1,000km in just six days, despite suffering from severe kidney issues at that time. Later, I took up mountaineering as well, he smiles. In 2022, Syam underwent a life-saving kidney transplant. My mother donated one of her kidneys. The transplant itself came with many complications. But by then, I had been through so much that everything felt numb. I was ready for anything, he says. Syams passion for adventure and the drive to make the most of life kept fuelling him to take up new challenges. Next, he wanted to go skydiving. Just three months after the transplant, I decided to do a solo jump. As it is said, strong desires give people the energy to move forward, he says. Skydiving made me push my limits. I used money from a crowdfunding campaign to pursue this high-risk jump. Syam reached out to several national and international skydiving platforms for an opportunity. Eventually, Skydive Thailand responded positively. He travelled to Thailand and did six solo jumps, learning how to free-fall with a prosthetic limb. He also trained in a wind tunnel. There are not many skydiving schools in India that offer training programmes for solo skydivers, and the rules are complicated. Thats why I had to go to Thailand, he says. Upon returning to India, Syam achieved further milestones, becoming a certified paragliding pilot after completing his training at Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh, the second-highest paragliding point in the world. Notably, Syam is also skilled in drone flying and videography, which he has taken up for a means of income. My father is a daily wager, and my mother, who was once a school art teacher, left her job to take care of me. While I have had immense emotional support from my family, finance has been a challenge, he says. From a young age, I began looking for ways to earn money through whatever small tasks I could do. With that and the disability pension, I managed to save some money and bought a bicycle first. After my transplant, I bought a camera and began my career in videography and editing. Now, I have a steady income, but a big portion goes toward medicines and hospital bills. The constraints, however, have not hampered his quest for exploring life. I recently started learning skateboarding and kalaripayattu, he gushes. Syam rues that society continues to view successful people with disabilities with sympathy, rather than approaching or supporting them as a person with skills or achievers. The way we are treated is different. We are often inspirational material instead of being seen as athletes. My desire is for society to recognise us as skilled individuals, not just as objects of pity, he says. What next? Syams dream is to earn an A-to-D skydiving licence, set a world record with a 45,000ft jump, and become a wingsuit flyer. For this mission, I would need about Rs 2.5 crore. I wish I had some support from the government. Syam says he is certain that no matter what obstacles come my way, persistence and determination are the keys to achieving any dream. The greatest power lies in not giving up. I believe every person has potential within themselves, but its the lack of confidence and faith that holds many back from conquering their dreams. I will be elated if my story inspires at least one suffering soul out there to break free of self-imposed shackles.

Govt will monitor arts fest events at school level from next year: Kerala Minister V Sivankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will begin monitoring competitions at the school level from the next year as part of ensuring fairness and transparency in all stages of the state school arts festival. At present, supervision of the fete by the general education department begins from the sub-district level. General Education Minister V Sivankutty told TNIE that this apart, the government will also consider bringing in a law soon to curb appeals obtained by contestants from bodies like the child rights and human rights commissions. There have been complaints about the judging process at the school level as there is no monitoring mechanism by the department in place at present, Sivankutty said. The festival manual will be revised to bring in guidelines on how the competition should be held at the school level, he said, adding the document will also lay down guidelines on how judges should be selected to assess school-level competitions. An observer from the general education department will be deployed during school-level competitions to monitor the process, he said. On appeals at various levels of the competition, Sivankutty said their numbers were fewer this time than previous years. However, the government will consider enacting a legislation soon to curb appeals obtained by contestants from quasi judicial bodies such as the child rights and human rights commissions, he said. In a democratic set up, people are free to approach the court and the government is bound to comply with its orders. However, we see commissions, that may not be competent to judge the merit of the performances, directing the government to consider appeals, Sivankutty noted. The proposed legislation will lay down competent bodies where appeals can be submitted. Sivankutty also noted that the practice of limiting the merits of a contestants performance to mere arguments between advocates in courts needs to be examined too. Ideally, opinions of experts in the particular art form should be sought before arriving at a decision, he said. The department, he said, was also trying to get the state school arts festival included in the world records. Its the biggest event of its kind in Asia with a participation of over 14,000 students. However, the high entrance fee in enrolling the event in record books is a deterrent, he said.

Keralites behind Indias first anthem honouring Navys civilian workforce

KANNUR: The Indian Navy is set to unveil its first-ever dedicated anthem honouring its civilian workforce. Titled Jee Jaan Lagan Se, the anthem will be launched on Friday during the commemoration of the Year of Naval Civilian Celebration at DRDO Bhavan in New Delhi. In a matter of pride of Keralites, two Malayali civilian scientific officials with the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, Kannur, are the creative minds behind the tribute. The lyrics were penned by senior scientific assistant T R Sreekanth, while the anthem was put to music by scientific assistant T R Rithul Mohan. Sreekanth, hailing from Karumam, Thiruvananthapuram, is an emerging lyricist with a passion for poetry. His lyrical prowess spans multiple languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, and Sanskrit. This is the first time a song has been created exclusively for Navy civilians in the country. We are immensely proud to contribute to the milestone, said Sreekanth. The team was mentored by Commander Satish Champion, director of music (Navy), while the Naval Central Band provided the orchestra. The creative process for the anthem began in July. We were chosen for this project based on our affinity for music, shared Rithul. Online auditions were conducted to identify talents among Navy staff nationwide. These selected individuals underwent months of grooming and practice sessions at INS Kunjali, the cultural hub of the Navy. Rithul, from Moothakunnam, Ernakulam, is a trained musician who has been guided by renowned music director Jerry Amaldev. He received Hindustani vocal training under Vidushi Priyadarshini Kulkarni, an acclaimed vocalist and A grade artist with All India Radio, Pune. He also mastered the harmonium under the tutelage of Prakash Ulliyeri. The duo, known as RTR & SR Ananthapuri in the music community, has already gained recognition for their compositions, like Shivakaram and Saketam. They plan to continue enriching Indias musical heritage by releasing more original works on digital platforms.

Curiosity now gets better of visitors in search for truth

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nearing the residence of Gopan Swami in Athiyannoor, there was no escaping the pervading scent of death lingering in the air. The body had been moved for autopsy, but the fragrances that had been lavishly applied on Gopans body mixed with decaying flesh let off a putrid stench. Even the slightest breeze wafted the unmistakable odour. As the body was moved out of the chamber, the crowds started to thin. Overwhelmed by the samadhi claims and counter claims, local residents mostly kept away, wanting to move on with their lives. Noticeable, however, was the arrival of visitors, including women, from far-off places, in search of the truth. For them, the realms of faith and superstition were separated by a fine line, and they were ready to do a tightrope walk. A woman in her 50s was seen directing visitors to Gopans house. They thanked her profusely, in the belief that she was a local resident. The woman, however, had arrived from Pothencode, some 45 km away, bemused by what she had been watching on television channels. I have a sister-in-law in Neyyattinkara who has cancer. I regularly visit her. I scheduled this trip so that I can come here as well, she chuckles. Gopan may have attained samadhi as his family claims, but they couldve managed things better, she adds. Information of the passing would have silenced doubters. The family couldve acted in a transparent manner. We cannot blame the action of officials. Samadhi opened, preliminary probe finds no foul play Visitors are mostly driven by curiosity, a neighbour points out. Some ask about the early life of the deceased, while others want to know whether he practised black magic. Few seem keen to know if he was adept at kalarippayattu, he says. However, the majority of outsiders are taking in the turn of events with a pinch of salt. Is it written anywhere in the scriptures that once a person nears samadhi, the family should keep it confidential?. Times have changed and people should understand that, a man, who identified himself as a resident of Balaramapuram, said. If it emerges that Gopan died of natural causes, there is a strong chance that the area will be celebrated and in turn draw devotees in the future, he adds. At Aralumoodu junction, roughly a kilometre away from Gopans residence, the older generations still remember him. Gopan had worked in the headload union for a long time. He dabbled in various things. From loading work to real-estate broking. He used to perform puja rituals, too, said a shop owner, who knew Gopan for long. The controversy was sparked because family did not reveal his passing, he says.

N S Madhavan made creative responses: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Writer N S Madhavan is noted for his creative literary responses, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. As an example, he cited Vanmarangal Veezhumbol which is in the context of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhis murder. Some other works like Thiruthu and Nilavili also put forward politics, he said. The chief minister was speaking after presenting the Ezhuthachan Award to Madhavan here on Thursday. The awakening and energy of modernism are visible in Madhavans works, he said. Pinarayi said his government was giving importance to Malayalam. Some schools which fined students for speaking Malayalam were asked to stop the practice. The Malayalam Language Bill is an example. He said the greatness of Malayalam should be preserved as it was the language for the people to think and dream. Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian presided over the function.

Samadhi opened, preliminary probe finds no foul play

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After days of uncertainty, the controversial samadhi chamber of Gopan Swami at Aralamoodu near Neyyattinkara was opened on Thursday morning. The inquest that followed revealed no visible injuries or wounds on the body of Gopan Swami, whose discreet burial by family members on January 9 had kicked up a row. The postmortem examination was conducted at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. According to the police, the preliminary investigation has not detected any foul play. However, the exact cause of death will be known only after the detailed postmortem report, which will include chemical analysis of internal organ samples, comes out, the police said. The analysis of samples may take up to a week. The tomb of Gopan Swami, located at his house, was opened under the supervision of the sub-collector. The body was found seated inside the concrete chamber, with ash, flowers, and aromatic substances filled chest high. His mouth was found agape, filled with bhasma (sacred ash) and perfume. Police said initial observations indicate the body might have been placed in the tomb after Gopan Swamis death. Final rites will be conducted today: Family Meanwhile, doctors are examining whether ash entered Gopans lungs, as this could have potentially led to a heart attack. According to doctors, there are charred marks on his head, but due to the decomposed state of the body, it is difficult to determine this accurately. Sanandan, son of Gopan Swami, claimed that he declined a police request to be present at the site when the tomb was opened. However, he later reached the medical college hospital during the postmortem. Initially, Gopan Swamis family had refused to accept the body, citing that the exhumation was done in violation of rituals. After intervention by VHP leaders and discussions with officials, the family agreed to receive it. The body is kept at the mortuary of a private hospital. The family has announced that the final rites will be conducted on Friday at their house as per rituals. The process of exhuming the body was conducted peacefully, with tight police security arranged due to concerns of potential conflict. A large police force led by two DySPs was deployed at the site early in the morning. The district administration coordinated the procedures, and access to the tomb was restricted. The area was covered with tarpaulin before officials, including forensic experts, inspected the site and removed the tombstone. The police took action after the High Court rejected a plea by Gopan Swamis wife and two sons to stay the order to inspect the tomb.

Tharoor urges Kerala govt to swiftly resolve Waqf land dispute in Munambam

Kochi : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Thursday urged the Kerala government to act swiftly in resolving the Waqf land dispute in Munambam and appealed to them not to turn it into a communal issue. Residents in Cherai and Munambam in Ernakulam district allege that the Waqf Board has been unlawfully claiming their land and property, despite them holding registered deeds and land tax receipts. Protesters from Munambam village have urged Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to find a lasting solution to their ongoing land dispute with the Waqf Board. Interacting with reporters after visiting the locals who have been on a hunger strike for the past 96 days, Tharoor said, It's not a Muslim-Christian issue, it's a technical-legal issue and should be resolved in that way. So let's not make it a communal conflict. It's an administrative, legal confusion which should be clarified in the earliest possible moment, he said while urging the state government to act immediately to resolve the issue. The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said, My appeal is no one should wait much more and the state government should not delay in establishing the facts on file what is happened. Whatever judicial process has already begun should be expeditiously concluded so that these people should get their lands, he added. Responding to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that India got rue independence after the Ram temple consecration, Tharoor said, Independence was won with a lot of sacrifices and hard work of a lot of people in our minds, starting with Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation. Bhagawat may have several other ways of being happy in his political career or political interests but it's not the right category in which it was discussed, he added. How can any responsible Indian denigrate the achievements of freedom fighters who have given their lives in several cases as well as their freedom in British jails to fight for the freedom that we take for granted today, he posed. Welcoming the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, the former union minister said, durable and permanent peace should be established.

India approves Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota, boosting space ambitions

Tirupati, New Delhi: Indias spaceport at Sriharikota will get a third launch pad for next generation launch vehicles (NGLVs) and human spaceflight missions to lift off, in about two years. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of the third launch pad (TLP) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The project, estimated to cost 3,984.86 crore, is expected to be completed within 48 months. The TLP will be capable of putting 30,000 tonne spacecraft in low earth orbit as against the existing capabilities of 8,000 tonnes as India eyes a larger pie in the global space economy. It has been envisioned as a critical back-up while facilitating launches of NGLVs, Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rockets with semi-cryogenic stages, and upgraded NGLV configurations. It is expected to launch landmark projects such as the Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS) and a crewed lunar landing planned for 2035 and 2040, respectively. Indias foray into space exploration began on November 21, 1963, with the launch of a sounding rocket (Nike Apache) from Thumba in Kerala. Over the decades, the country has developed three primary rocket launch sites: the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, and SDSC in Andhra Pradesh. The Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), now the VSSC, now develops rockets and related technologies. The ITR primarily supports missile testing under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The SDSC, launched in 1971, focused on launching small sounding rockets and now handles launch of complex rockets for the deployment of advanced satellites and interplanetary missions. Located near the equator, SDSC enjoys geographical advantages that enhance the efficiency of launches into geostationary orbits. The existing launch pads are equipped with advanced vehicle assembly, testing, and launch facilities. These facilities include world-class solid motor production units, supporting diverse mission types. The first launch pad, constructed in the early 1990s, pioneered the Integrate on the Pad concept using its 3,200-tonne mobile service tower. Since its inaugural launch on September 20, 1993, this pad has supported approximately 54 launches, primarily for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) rockets. The facility is equipped to handle both earth-storable and cryogenic propellants with advanced storage, transportation, and servicing capabilities. The second launch pad (SLP), operational since May 2005, was developed to meet Isro's growing launch demands. It implements the Integrate, Transfer and Launch (ITL) concept, where rockets are assembled on a mobile launch pedestal and transported vertically via rail to the launch pad. This launch pad supports both cryogenic and earth-storable propellants and has been crucial for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and LVM3 programmes. With around 36 launches to date, including the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, the SLP also functions as a backup for PSLV launches. It is undergoing upgrades to support human spaceflight through the Gaganyaan programme.

19 differently-abled students graduate in graphic designing and editing

Thiruvananthapuram : As many as 19 differently abled students graduated from the graphic designing and editing course at the Different Art Centre (DAC) on Thursday. The graduates, comprising 15 boys and four girls, overcame unique challenges with grit and determination to complete the transformative training, thanks to the critical training and certification provided by Toonz Media Group. The support from Toonz enabled these children to develop valuable skills for their professional journey ahead. It brings me immense happiness to see my son complete this course and excel in graphic design, said an elated Preetha Shibu, mother of Ashwin Shibu, an autistic student. We have discovered the potential and talent our children truly have, said Kunjumol, mother of Riyan Naseer, a 22-year-old with an intellectual disability. The graduation ceremony was presided over by Kerala Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamsheer, in the presence of Toonz Media Group CEO P. Jayakumar and DAC Executive Director Gopinath Muthukad.

Kerala police exhume body of man who attained samadhi

The police on Thursday exhumed the body of a 69-year-old man, whose family claimed that he had attained 'samadhi, near Neyyattinkara in the capital district. Under tight security, the Neyyattinkara police unearthed the grave and recovered the body, reportedly identified as that of Gopan Swami. Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala police today exhumed the body of temple priest Gopan Swami in Neyyatinkara, Thiruvananthapuram. His body was found in a sitting position with ritualistic objects inside a concrete chamber a week ago in Neyyatinkara. pic.twitter.com/ukfpePQq0Q ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2025 After completing the inquest proceedings, it was shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Earlier, the police made extensive security measures, deploying a large contingent of personnel in the area along with a medical team led by a forensic surgeon. During the exhumation, the body was discovered in a sitting position. Several pooja items, including 'vibhuti' (sacred ash), were reportedly found inside the grave, according to police sources. We held talks with the family members and shifted the body for a post-mortem examination, Thiruvananthapuram sub-collector Alfred O V said. Speaking to the media, he said that the police will conduct further investigations and the body will be handed over to the family after conducting the post-mortem. Following the protests from family members and a section of local residents, the police temporarily halted the exhumation proceedings on Monday. Subsequently, the family approached the Kerala High Court seeking an order to prevent the police from attempting to demolish the site of the 'samadhi'. However, the court declined to interfere with the investigation. The court stated that probe agencies have the authority to investigate cases involving individuals who go missing or die under suspicious circumstances. The court observed that there appeared to be something suspicious in this matter and, therefore, the investigation could not be stopped. The court questioned the petitioner about her apprehensions regarding the investigation and inquired how her husband had died. According to the police sources, the post-mortem examination of the body will be held on Thursday itself. The Neyyattinkara police had received an order from the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to exhume the body, which was buried under suspicious circumstances, for a post-mortem examination. The incident came to light after posters near the man's residence proclaimed, Gopan Swami has attained samadhi. The police registered a missing case and decided to exhume the body following complaints from residents alleging foul play in his death. Gopan Swami's son, Rajasenan, claimed that his father walked to the burial site around 11.30 pm on last Friday and entered samadhi. He told the media that Gopan Swami had instructed the family to keep his body away from public view and bury it in the grave. The special burial site was built by Gopan Swami, a priest who had established a temple on his property at Kavuvilakam in Neyyattinkara.

Move to rope in controversial agency for biocomposter project sparks outrage

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram corporation council meeting on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes and debates over the decision to engage a private service provider who had come under the shadow of corruption in the past. The council turned stormy when the days agenda was taken up for discussion, triggering widespread outrage among the opposition members. The decision to entrust Omega Ecotech Products India to implement the biocomposter project in households drew sharp criticism from the opposition. BJP councillor K Anil Kumar questioned the track record of the company and the selection process. He said the same company was blacklisted by the Suchitwa Mission for failing to implement kitchen bins in households back in 2017 and later in 2022. Following audit reports against the company, the vigilance had launched an enquiry against the same company, he said. In response to the allegation, health standing committee chairperson Gayathri Babu explained the selection process by an expert panel comprising officials from the Suchitwa Mission and the health department, besides engineers. She informed the council that the evaluation was done based on 10 tough conditions and the agency scored better scores than other agencies shortlisted for the project. Despite stiff protest from the opposition, the ruling council passed the agenda amid the ruckus. Following that, the opposition staged a walkout.

Scamster tries luck with police HQ number, cop pulls his mask off

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A cyber scamster who tried to dupe a woman on Wednesday was in for a rude shock. For the person he tried to pick on turned out to be a Kerala Police officer. The scamster tried his luck by contacting the official mobile phone number of the police media centre located in the police headquarters, claiming that he was calling from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The call was attended by woman battalion constable Shibina S, who was well aware of the fraudulent ways being used by the scamsters to con people. The man tried to trick her into believing that her SIM card would be inactivated within two hours as it was misused. However, the officer encountered the conman with panache and punched a hole in his narrative, finally forcing him to concede that he was indeed a conman. I was on duty at the media centre and got the call by 10am on Wednesday. From the onset, I knew it was a scam call but decided to play along out of curiosity, Shibina said. Shibina, who is a postgraduate in English literature, used her mastery over the language to upset the plans of the caller. She turned the tables on the caller by demanding him to tell her aadhaar number, which he failed to do. She then mocked the way he spoke, saying that he did not appear to be part of TRAI. She then told him that he was talking to a police officer, which apparently shook him a bit. Shibina said being part of the media centre, which has been spreading awareness messages on cyber fraud, she could immediately identify that the call was a spam. Later, the matter was reported to the cyber police.

SC grants bail to Attingal double murder accused Anushanthi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Anushanthi, the second accused in the 2014 Attingal double murder case, who was sentenced to double life imprisonment. Bail was granted considering her health condition until the petition to quash her sentence is resolved. The trial court will decide the bail conditions. Anushanthi had sought bail, citing visual impairment and health issues. Earlier, she was granted two months of parole for eye treatment. The case involved the murder of Omana, a 57-year-old retired taluk office employee, and her four-year-old granddaughter Swastika. The incident happened on April 16, 2014, at their house in Alamcode. Omanas son Lijesh, an assistant engineer with KSEB, was also severely injured in the attack. The crime was committed by Nino Mathew, a Technopark employee, with help from Anushanthi, who was Lijeshs wife and Ninos colleague. The murders were driven by their extramarital affair. According to the police, Nino entered the house around 1pm, pretending to be a KSEB employee and Lijeshs friend. He convinced Omana to call Lijesh home under the pretext of a wedding invitation. Once inside, Nino followed Omana into the kitchen, attacked her with a baseball bat, and slashed her neck. He then murdered Swastika too. When Lijesh arrived, Nino threw chilli powder at his face and attacked him. Though Lijesh managed to block the first blow and escape, Nino chased and wounded him before fleeing. By the time the local residents informed the police, Omana and Swastika were dead. The police arrested Nino and Anushanthi the same day. Based on evidence from phone records and statements, it was confirmed that both were involved in planning and executing the crime. Nino was caught while attempting to escape from his house in Karamana. Police had sealed the borders and carried out extensive searches to arrest him. The Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court sentenced Nino to death and Anushanthi to double life imprisonment. However, the High Court later commuted Ninos death sentence to 25 years of imprisonment without parole, while Anushanthis sentence was upheld.

How AI helped nab Army deserters wanted for brutal murders of 2006

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a random check using an AI tool by the police technical intelligence wing that led to the recent arrest of two Army men, who had been on the run for nearly two decades after murdering a woman and her newborn twins. Heres a quick flashback. The crime occurred in 2006, at Areyam near Anchal in Kollam district. Although the investigation was handed over to the CBI in 2010, the Kerala Police unofficially continued its pursuit of the suspects Divil Kumar B of Anchal and Rajesh P of Sreekandapuram who were serving in the 45 Air Defence Regiment of the Army, posted in Pathankot at the time. On January 24, 2006, Renjini gave birth to twin daughters. The 24-year-old and her newborns were found murdered on February 10. It was a brutal murder. Their throats were slit, and there were severe stab injuries on their bodies, recalls an officer, who had worked at the Anchal police station in 2006. Renjinis mother, Santhamma, was not at home at the time as she had gone to the panchayat office to obtain birth certificates for her granddaughters. Santhamma mentioned that a man named Anil Kumar had visited the house just before she left. That is when we started tracking Anil. Investigators soon discovered that Renjini had been in a relationship with Divil, a fellow native of Anchal, who was stationed in Pathankot. Renjini and her mother had approached the Kerala State Womens Commission after Divil refused to acknowledge the children. The commission decided to conduct a DNA test to establish the childrens parentage. However, we confirmed that Divil was in Pathankot at the time of the murders, the officer notes. Our focus shifted to Anil, who had become acquainted with Renjini and her mother at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram and regularly visited their home. A breakthrough came when police recovered a motorcycle registration certificate at the crime scene. The vehicles owner had sold it to a used-motorcycle shop in Thiruvananthapuram. We showed a photograph of Divil to the shop employee, who identified him. However, the identity of the second person remained a mystery. On one occasion, a shop employee mentioned that the second individual had taken him to an ATM to withdraw cash. That was a crucial lead, says the officer. Police scrutinised ATM transactions and found a withdrawal linked to a Pathankot bank account belonging to Rajesh, an Army colleague of Divil. Rajesh was on leave at the time of the murders. On our request, the Army faxed us a photograph of Rajesh. Santhamma and the shop employees confirmed that Anil was, in fact, Rajesh from Sreekandapuram in Kannur, the officer recalls. With Rajeshs involvement established, the police pieced together the plot. Disturbed by the Womens Commissions intervention, Divil sought Rajeshs help. Rajesh befriended Renjini and her mother, and committed the murders while on leave in Kerala. Meanwhile, Divil went into hiding on realising that he was a suspect. The police tracked their ATM withdrawals and discovered the duo had travelled to Delhi, Nashik, and Nagpur. State Special Branch SP Shanavas A, who initially investigated the case as circle inspector in Anchal, says, We worked tirelessly to nab the accused, travelling to various states. However, they always managed to evade us. They were eventually arrested after a recent tip-off from police to the CBI. In 2010, the High Court had directed the CBI to take over the probe. The Army, by then, declared both men deserters. Enter AI Of late, the Kerala Police intel wing has been on an unofficial mission to track those accused on the run in grave, long-pending cases. Though the Anchal murder case was under CBI investigation, police sleuths used an AI tool to recreate images of the fugitives as they might appear now. They then scanned social media platforms using these images. We identified a photograph of one accused on Facebook. Our probe revealed that he was living in Puducherry under the name Vishnu, says an officer who was part of the investigation. Rajesh, using the alias Praveen, was also in Puducherry. Both were running an interior design business, and had settled there with their families. This info was passed to the CBIs Chennai unit, which confirmed their identities. On January 3, the CBI arrested the duo and produced them before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrates Court, where they were remanded in judicial custody. We preserved the childrens DNA, knowing it could be crucial for future investigations. The CBI can now use these samples to confirm the parentage of the murdered babies, says the officer. Case diary This weekly column brings you exciting, intriguing police stories, straight from the crime files.

Biggest multi-level car parking facility in Thiruvananthapuram remains underutilised

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ten months after its inauguration, the multi-level car parking facility at Palayam - the largest such facility in the state - remains underutilised in the capital. Set up at a cost of Rs 30 crore by Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) with a capacity to accommodate 300 cars, it was opened to the public by the end of May, two months after its inauguration. Despite being located at a strategic spot like Palayam, the state-of-the-art facility, aimed at addressing parking woes along the bustling MG Road stretch, was expected to reduce congestion and provide safe parking for cars. Until November, SCTL offered the parking facility free of charge to users. An SCTL official said that once the user fee was introduced, there was a drastic decline in the number of users. Currently, only an average of 50 to 55 vehicles are parked at the facility daily. Earlier, when it was free of charge, around 100 to 115 cars used the facility, said an official. A fee of Rs 30 is charged for parking a car for two hours, with an additional Rs 10 for each subsequent hour. To encourage more people to make use of the facility, the corporation and the SCTL are planning to renovate the Jubilee Hospital Road, which is being used for parking. We are planning to develop the stretch and put up no parking boards. There are a slew of facilities inside the MLCP, including EV charging station and toilets, said the official. The area is fully under CCTV surveillance. The official said case studies show that it may take a minimum of three months for the public to accept such facilities and use them regularly. Though the traffic authorities tried to curb parking, the public are not obeying. We have given a letter to the commissioner to enforce rules to curb parking by encroaching the footpaths and roads in the area. People are hesitant to use the facility because they are impatient. Parking on the roadside is much easier, said the official.

Kerala HC: Probe installation of illegal boards in front of Secretariat

KOCHI: Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the State Police Chief to constitute a competent team of officers to ensure that an investigation into the complaint of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on the installation of the board in front of the Secretariat is conducted and completed swiftly. The probe shall reveal the names and identities of the persons who are responsible; as well as that of the printer/advertisement agency responsible for putting it up, held Justice Devan Ramachandran. The court also directed the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to file a report indicating the amount of fine imposed/collected; the expenses incurred and the strain taken for disposal of the huge board. The court took the stern decision after considering the submission of Amicus Curiae that a huge board was installed in front of the State Secretariat, apparently under the aegis of the Kerala Secretariat Employees Association (KSEA). He further reported that the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation removed it immediately, presumably because the illegal action was widely reported in the media. The court said there are larger issues involved in this matter. If the illegal board had been installed by an association of government employees, then certainly, it is in breach of Government Orders, and judicial directives; and the persons concerned would have to face disciplinary action, apart from penal provisions being attracted. Case registered against employees association The Cantonment police have registered a case against the Secretariat Employees Association for installing a flex board outside the Secretariat premises. The board was placed in an area that has been demarcated as a plastic-free zone. It was placed in connection with the inauguration of the association building and it had a cutout of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The High Court had banned erecting flex board in public places. The corporation officials directed the association to take the flex board down. However, they did not pay heed and following which the corporation officials pulled it down.

Congress aiming to complete Kerala party restructuring by February

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress high command has initiated one-on-one discussions with party leaders and representatives in Kerala, aiming to complete the restructuring of the state unit by the end of this month or the first week of February. As the assembly session is set to start on January 17, MLAs would be present in Thiruvananthapuram, making it easier for the AICC general secretary in charge of the state to meet them on January 19. The high command has decided to give priority to Kerala and Assam as they go to assembly polls in 2026, a senior Congress leader told TNIE . We intend to restructure from booth to KPCC levels. Ineffective committees and leaders will be replaced. The final call will be taken after the AICC in-charge of the state, Deepa Dasmunshi, submits a report. In the informal meeting with Kerala leaders, during the CWC meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka, Deepa reportedly expressed unhappiness over a lack of coordination in the state leadership. She stressed on the need for better coordination, and also expressed indignation on the lack of meetings, a senior Congress leader said. There is a growing criticism that some leaders use the party for their personal agenda, he said. They take advantage of the organisations weakness. The KPCC president is not even present at the Indira Bhavan. We have been sitting in opposition for the past eight and a half years, but some leaders are acting as if they have already won the election, a KPCC office-bearer said. The national leaderships focus on prioritising youth and women, in addition to experience, has led to discussions on a possible change in leadership. If there is consensus within the Kerala leadership, the AICC may allow Sudhakaran to remain in place. However, a majority push for change could lead to leadership adjustments. Some party leaders advocate for a Christian community candidate, such as MLA Sunny Joseph or MP Anto Antony. Others have proposed names from the Scheduled Caste community, like Kodikkunnil Suresh, due to his local experience and potential to strengthen the UDF in upcoming elections. Kodikkunnil has tremendous experience and his entry will work wonders for the UDF in the local body elections, a UDF leader said. MP Adoor Prakash is also under consideration, with calls for a leader from the Ezhava community if Sudhakaran is replaced. On the other hand, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan and his supporters back younger leaders like Mathew Kuzhalnadan and Roji M John, though others argue that the 2021 assembly election results highlight the need for experienced leadership.

Kerala Banks total loan volume crosses Rs 50,000 crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Banks loan portfolio has crossed Rs 50,000 crore for the first time in its history. The bank is in the top five of 45 banks functioning in the state with loan disbursals over Rs 50,000 crore. The total loan volume at the time of the banks formation in November 2019 was Rs 37,766 crore. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Cooperation Minister V N Vasavan said the banks credit-deposit (CD) ratio of 75% was the highest among banks in the state. Unlike other banks, Kerala Bank disburses deposits collected from the state here itself, he said. Of the total loan disbursal, the agricultural sector and and primary agricultural credit cooperatives (Pacs) received a quarter each. Loans provided by the bank helped boost the states rural economy, agricultural and MSME sectors, thereby generating more employment, the minister said. MSMEs garnered 12.30% of the disbursal. As on December 31, 2024, Rs 6,203 crore has been made available to MSMEs across 1,45,099 loans. Kerala Bank stands second among state-based banks in terms outstanding loans. It has an 8.42% share of the total disbursals by banks in the state. Among the 33 state cooperative banks in the country, Kerala Bank has become the first to cross the Rs 50,000 crore loan-portfolio milestone. Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank is second with a loan portfolio of Rs 33,682 crore. In the current financial year, the Kerala Bank disbursed loans worth Rs 16,000 crore. Of this, Rs 3,000 crore was sanctioned to Pacs. Outstanding gold loans stood at Rs 6,024 crore. Farm loans constitute Rs 2,577 crore. Bank president Gopi Kottamurickal, board chairman V Raveendran, member B P Pillai, director S Shajahan and CEO Jorty M Chacko attended the press meet.

Body of temple priest Gopan Swami exhumed by Thiruvananthapuram Rural Police; inquest proceedings commence

The exhumation process began around 7 a.m. under heavy police security

Kerala govt blinks, shelves vexed Forest Amendment Bill

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Facing criticism from various quarters, including its allies as well as the Syro-Malabar Church, the state government has decided to drop the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill 2024 following concerns that it would grant excessive powers to forest officials. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan clarified on Wednesday that the government would not pursue any amendment that could cause hardship to the public. The reversal comes after the draft amendment, which was made public, sparked protests from farmers in the high ranges. The decision also gains significance as it comes ahead of the local body elections this year. Several concerns have been raised about the proposed amendment. The government is making it clear that it will not move forward with the amendment without addressing the concerns, Pinarayi told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the government was carefully considering the possibility of misuse of powers in any department. The Church as well as the Kerala Independent Farmers Association (KIFA) welcomed the decision. We welcome the CMs intervention to withdraw the Bill considering the concerns raised by the Church, various community organisations and the public. We urge the CM to ensure the safety of people living in forest fringe areas by initiating steps to restrict wild animals within the forest territory, said Mar Joseph Pamplany, Thalassery Archbishop and vicar to the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. Alex Ozhukayil, KIFA chairman, too hailed the decision and stressed any amendment should be implemented only after considering the opinions of farmers living in forest areas. We know it is a step to appease farmers as elections are approaching, he said. Meanwhile, the CM reiterated that any law should serve the publics best interests, taking into account factors such as the states population density, geography, and lifestyles. CM urges Centre to recognise states unique challenges At the same time, the CM stressed that efforts for nature conservation must not be compromised. Safety of people from wild animal attacks must be ensured. At the same time, forest resources should not be exploited unjustly, Pinarayi said. He also voiced concern over the loss of human and animal lives in wild animal attacks and assured that the government was considering a permanent solution. Though the state government has repeatedly sought permission to classify wild boars, listed in Schedule II of the central Act, as vermin to be controlled by any means, the Union government has consistently denied these requests. Pinarayi urged the Centre to recognise the unique challenges faced by Kerala and take appropriate action. He also called on the states MPs to push for reforms in this regard. Addl powers bone of contention Amendment to Kerala Forest Act, 1961, began in 2013 during UDF rule Proposes new set of forest offences Provisions of additional powers to forest officers to deal with the accused Provisions include penalties for stopping vehicle inside forest, entering forest The stated objective is to prevent dumping of waste materials in forest areas Wider powers would impact people living along forest fringes

Kerala Government Halts Forest Amendment Bill Amid Public Concerns

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has decided to put the Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill 2024 on hold due to widespread protests across the state. The decision was taken during the weekly Cabinet meeting. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressed the media, stating that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government would not proceed with any amendments that would create inconvenience for the public. We will not move forward with any further measures on this issue. There are significant concerns among people regarding the bill, he said. He emphasized that the government has taken the public's apprehensions seriously, particularly regarding the potential misuse of the provisions proposed in the bill. Our government's objective is not to enact any legislation that goes against the interests of farmers and residents of the high-range areas. Any law should be in the interest of the people, the Chief Minister added. Vijayan also mentioned that forest laws should be formulated considering the state's unique geography and the lifestyle of its people. While the government aims to protect citizens from wildlife attacks, it will also ensure that there is no unscrupulous exploitation of forests and forest products, he said. The Congress-led opposition, United Democratic Front (UDF), had launched a campaign against the Forest Amendment Bill, claiming it is detrimental to the residents of high-range areas. Former Nilambur MLA P.V. Anwar, who recently resigned from the assembly, accused the government of introducing the bill to displace people living in these regions. He noted that the Forest Bill would serve as a key issue in the upcoming Nilambur by-election. The government announcement came on a day when a tribal woman was fatally gored by a wild elephant in the Malappuram district. Sarojini, 54, was attacked while she was in the forest behind her house grazing her goat. Unbridled powers bestowed with forest officials draft bill The bill proposed powers to the forest beat officer to search a house and arrest or detain a person without a warrant on suspicion of involvement in any forest offence. What is more alarming is the power to arrest or detain a person on suspicion even outside a forest area. A forest officer of the rank of section officer will have the authority to arrest any person who attempts to obstruct him or his subordinates from performing duties. The Bill also includes stringent provisions against fishing in rivers near the forest and against dumping waste in such areas. Many other provisions in the proposed bill had created fear and apprehension among the high range population.

Kerala Assembly Session from January 17

Thiruvananthapuram: The 13th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly will begin on January 17 with the customary policy address by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. This will be the first address of Arlekar who was sworn in as Kerala's 23rd governor on January 2. Finance Minister K N Balagopal will present the 2025-26 Budget on February 7. The discussion on the budget will be held on February 10,11 and 12.

Amid BJP protests, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council approves service provider for kitchen bin

Meeting decides to approve Omega Ecotech Products India Private Limited, which quoted the lowest unit rate of 1,975, as the service provider

ED directed to file status report on probe into BSNL Engineers Cooperative Society scam

Petitioners ask the Kerala High Court to direct the Enforcement Directorate to hold its camp sittings in Thiruvananthapuram considering the advanced age of the depositors

Domestic passenger traffic, cargo movement reaffirm new traffic trends at Thiruvananthapuram airport

Flowers and rubber stems are the main products handled by the airport on domestic routes

Government College for Women Trivandrum celebrates 125-year legacy; to host academic fest Cognitopia

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, is hosting Cognitopia, a three-day multidisciplinary academic fest from January 16 to 18 as part of its 125th-year celebrations. The event aims to create awareness about research initiatives, academic achievements, and societal contributions from various higher education institutions across fields like science, culture, arts, commerce, sports, and languages. The fest will feature an exhibition with over 70 stalls, showcasing Keralas education, heritage, empowerment, and progress. Visitors can expect a variety of displays, including cutting-edge research, literature, art, and lifestyle management exhibits. A flea market and food festival will also be part of the experience. In collaboration with the Kerala Chalachitra Academy and the Cine Paradise Film Club, the fest will present the Cognitopia Film Fest, featuring a curated selection of seven films. The screenings will take place in two sessions daily, from 4pm to 6pm and 6pm to 8.30pm. The cultural festival is scheduled from 6pm to 9pm at the New Auditorium, with another session from 9pm to 10pm at the amphitheatre. Competitions will also be part of the event, including a quiz, the thought leader competition series, and an inter-departmental digital newspaper contest on January 17. The events are open to all.

Transforming healing through dance movement therapy in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In recent years, conversations around mental health have gained prominence as more people recognise the importance of therapy and emotional support. With this growing awareness, various therapeutic approaches, including Dance Movement Psychotherapy, are emerging as transformative tools for healing. Noticing the lack of such practices in the capital city, Krishnendu B S, a dance/movement psychotherapy practitioner and social worker with over six years of experience, is on a mission to help people address psycho-social challenges through expressive movement and art therapy via various workshops and programmes. When people hear about dance therapy, they usually assume it involves a structured dance form as the core element, but thats not the case. This is dance movement therapy, where the focus is on movement itself, explains Krishnendu. Everything a person does including breathing, blinking, walking, and even a handshake is a form of movement. This therapy explores the connection between the body and mind, helping individuals understand and express themselves through movement, she adds. As a trained classical dancer in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Keralanadanam, and Kathak, Krishnendu did not initially plan a career in Dance Movement Therapy it was a path she stumbled upon. It was while trying to pursue her Masters in Social Work at CLL-TISS Kolkata that Krishnendu first learned about a course in dance movement therapy. Though she was not selected for the programme, her curiosity led her to research the field. That research led me to Kolkata Sanved, an NGO dedicated to healing and empowering marginalised people, including survivors of gender-based violence and at-risk children. They help survivors become healers and that inspired me, she recalls. Krishnendu completed an internship at Kolkata Sanved, and the experience inspired her to pursue a Diploma in Dance/Movement Therapy from CLL-TISS, Mumbai and Kolkata. When I was going through a difficult time, dance helped me a lot. As I started studying and practising dance movement therapy, it became a tool to deal with my traumas and challenges. It helped me understand who I am, what I like, and what I dont. I am confident in this method because it worked for me. It is a powerful tool for healing, and I believe in its potential, having experienced it firsthand, says Krishnendu. After returning to her hometown, the 30-year-old started her own space called Navem, providing a safe environment for individuals to release trauma, express themselves creatively through movement, and find freedom in both body and mind. It was initially difficult to make people understand because this therapy can only be experienced, not explained. However, during the pandemic, as everything moved online, I received more inquiries as many felt desperate and alone. And now, I think there is greater awareness of such practices here, she says. While there is growing awareness, Krishnendu pointed out that there are only 5-10 certified Dance/Movement Psychotherapy practitioners in Kerala. She noted that many classical dance teachers, who have not undergone professional therapy training, offer dance for wellness, which can be misleading. It is wrong to call it therapy without proper qualifications. Educated individuals calling themselves dance therapists without understanding what therapy means is misleading, Krishnendu points out. Krishnendu recently facilitated a workshop as part of a project by UNICEF and the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA). The workshop was for Kudumbasree and WCD social workers and counsellors across Kerala who work closely with children. It focused on providing psychosocial care and support to children who have difficulty verbalising their feelings. Krishnendu guided participants on how to use art interventions, understand emotions through movement, and hold a safe space for children. She also developed the module for the programme, which is set to continue in February. In addition to this, she leads dance movement therapy sessions for children with special needs, in corporate settings as well. She also plans to start a dance class dedicated to wellness.

Thiruvananthapuram Airport records 18.5% passenger growth in 2024

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 49 lakh passengers used the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in 2024, according to data released by the airport authorities. The passengers included 26.4 lakh domestic and 22.7 lakh using international routes. Compared to 2023, TIAL witnessed an increase of around 18.52% in overall passenger traffic. A total of 41,48,644 passengers had travelled via Thiruvananthapuram in 2023 while the number increased to 49,17,019 in 2024. The airport also saw a 14.19% rise in air traffic movements at 32,324 in 2024 as compared to 28,306 ATMs in 2023. This growth highlights an ever-increasing demand for air travel from Thiruvananthapuram and reflects the importance of the city for passengers from neighbouring regions in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, a TIAL spokesperson said. The passenger traffic figures and growth observed at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in 2024 aligns with industry trends, reaffirming the airports commitment to providing seamless connectivity and world class service standards. Prioritising safety and security, Thiruvananthapuram airport ensures a smooth and convenient experience for all travellers, he added. The Thiruvananthapuram airport operates over 100 daily flights with an average of over 15,000 passengers. TIAL has connectivity to 11 domestic and 14 international destinations. Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi have emerged as the top three domestic destinations. While Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai have continued to hold their status as the top three preferred international destinations. Air India Express, Indigo and Air Arabia have emerged as the top airlines with the highest market share in the domestic as well as the international sector. Domestic cargo operations saw a significant boost, with 33.3% growth to 3,279 tonnes of cargo handled during 2024.

Kerala establishes new microbiology lab for food testing in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Food Safety Department has established a new microbiology laboratory equipped with modern facilities for testing various food products in Thiruvananthapuram. The government analysts lab will supplement the activities of the existing Regional Analytical Labs in Ernakulam and Kozhikode. Health Minister Veena George will inaugurate the facility at the State Public Health Lab campus on Wednesday. MLA Antony Raju will preside over. The minister emphasised the importance of microbiology testing, especially during emergencies like food poisoning. She said efforts are being made to obtain NABL accreditation for the Microbiology section of all the three labs in a timely manner. Kerala has consistently topped the National Food Safety Index in 2022-23 and 2023-24. The minister also stated that with the operation of the Microbiology Laboratory and subsequent accreditation, the state will be able to maintain national standards of excellence in food testing. As per FSSAI norms, microbiology testing is required for a wide range of food categories, including milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables and their by-products, spices and herbs, bottled water, drinking water, meat and meat products, fish and fish products, eggs and egg products, health supplements, nutraceuticals and foods designed for special dietary or medical purposes. Equipped with modern facilities The new microbiology lab, equipped with modern facilities for testing various food products in Thiruvananthapuram, is set up at the State Public Health Lab campus. The government analysts lab will supplement activities of existing Regional Analytical Labs in Ernakulam & Kozhikode

Relatives to move Kerala High Court against exhuming Gopan Swamis body

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The decision to exhume the body of Neyyattinkara Gopan Swami from the controversial burial site will be taken by the sub-collector based on a new police report. Meanwhile, the family has decided to move the High Court with a writ petition challenging the exhumation order. Gopan Swamis son, Sananthan, has firmly opposed the move and said that it hurts religious sentiments. He also claimed that no police notice was issued regarding the exhumation. The police will also hold discussions with Hindu organisations regarding the matter. The police recorded the statements of Gopan Swamis sons again on Monday and found contradictions. Due to discrepancies in the statements of the family members, the district administration has decided to open the tomb and examine the mortal remains. It has been decided to proceed with the inspection by opening the tomb under tight police security. The exhumation, initially scheduled for Monday, was halted due to protests by the family and certain religious groups.The controversy arose after a neighbour filed a complaint about Gopan Swamis disappearance. Following this, the police sought the collectors permission to open the tomb built near the familys house in Aralamoodu. Meanwhile, the police sealed the tomb on Saturday evening.

Hundreds attend Army Day weapons display at Kanakakunnu; interact with military personnel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hundreds of people gathered at Kanakakunnu on Tuesday to witness the weapons display organised by the Pangode Military Station in connection with the Army Day celebrations. The event held under the theme Know Your Army, offered an opportunity for the public to interact with the Army and explore its operational capabilities. Brigadier Anurag Upadhyaya, Station Commander Pangode Military Station, interacted with the audience. The event featured display of weapons, war equipment and other military artifacts, drawing keen interest from visitors of all age groups. Children and youth were particularly fascinated by the intricate mechanisms of tanks, artillery, and other advanced weaponry. Rifles, both indigenous as well as those imported from France, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, used extensively by Indian Army were also exhibited. The Army personnel present at the venue provided detailed explanations, answering questions and sharing insights into their equipment and operations. The visitors also got an opportunity to touch, feel and hold DSR and INSAS rifles. A glimpse of Armys disaster management and rescue operations equipment showcased the efficient use of specialised equipment like rescue landers, nylon ropes, carabiners, harnesses, axes, and buoys. These tools enable the Army to execute precise and effective operations, saving lives during natural disasters and emergencies. The visitors also got an opportunity for an immersive journey through Indias military history, screening significant war victories and the key battles that shaped the nations unity and independence. Engaging visuals and detailed presentations highlighted the Armys pivotal role in the integration of princely states post-independence, ensuring territorial integrity, and the bravery of soldiers during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. It also revisited the Indo-Pak wars, particularly the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, a landmark victory demonstrating Indias military prowess and dedication to regional stability. The Kargil War of 1999 stood out as a testament to the grit and heroism of soldiers who defended the nations borders under extreme Himalayan conditions. Visitors lauded the event calling it a unique experience. Ive always admired the Army, but seeing their equipment up close and learning about their operations was truly inspiring, said Meghna Mathew, a college student. We came for an evening stroll and stopped to see the display, said Kamala Kumari a resident of PTP Nagar. A mesmerising Pipe Band display, performed by the Indian Armys skilled musiciansat the event left the audience enthralled.

CBG plant at Brahmapuram nearing completion

KOCHI: In a major boost to effective waste disposal in the Kochi region, the 150 TPD Compressed Biogas (CBG) Plant at Brahmapuram, which is nearing completion, would take in waste from nearby local bodies as well, besides the Kochi corporation area. The construction of the plant, with a capacity to treat 150 tonnes of biodegradable waste in a day, would be completed by March end. Earlier, it was agreed that the bio-waste from only Kochi Corporation would be fed into the plant, being set up by the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) at a cost of Rs 90 crore. The waste-to-energy plant requires continuous supply of degradable waste. A decision has been taken at the state government level to feed the waste from nearby local bodies as well -- Thrikkakara, Kalamassery and Eloor. This is to ensure continuous feed to facilitate the functioning of the plant at full scale, BPCL sources said. Earlier, the Kochi corporation handed over nearly 10 acres of land to the BPCL, which is constructing the facility on its own. As per the agreement, the corporation could dispose of the biodegradable waste through the plant free of cost while the BPCL would utilise the biogas for operations at its Oil Refinery located at Ambalamugal. The plant construction is progressing and is scheduled to be completed by March end. Weve also constructed a road of seven metres width for access to the site. The land ownership will continue to be vested with the corporation. The possession of land by the BPCL is limited to the project life period. Our advantage is that we get to dispose of the waste free of cost. All other expenses will be taken care of by the BPCL, a senior health official of the Kochi corporation said. According to him, nearly 240 tonnes of biowaste is generated daily from the corporation area. Currently, we have the facility to treat 100 tonnes of food waste, thanks to the Black Soldier Fly plants by FABCOO and Zigma. The 150-TPD CBG plant will enable disposal of the remaining waste as well, and enable the corporation to meet its long-cherished zero-waste goal when it comes to biowaste, the official added. BPCL to set up CBG plants in Tvm, Kozhikode as well Meanwhile, the BPCL is in talks with the Local Self-Government department to start similar CBG plants at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode as well. We held discussions with the LSGD, and the Minutes of Meeting has been approved by the cabinet. The government has promised us to allot the required land in both the cities, the BPCL official said.

Row over movement of food waste across Kerala - TN border puts pig farmers in a spot

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A conflict over the movement of food waste across the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border has left pig farmers in the bordering regions in a fix. Last week, during border checking, the special task force of police in Kanyakumari seized five vehicles and arrested nine persons for transporting food waste intended for pig farms in Kerala. The Tamil Nadu government and the Pollution Control Board have stepped up border checking following repeated incidents of illegal dumping of medical and other waste in the bordering villages of Tamil Nadu last month. Subsequently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had also intervened and registered a suo motu case for dumping hazardous medical waste in Tamil Nadu. According to Pig Farmers Association (PFA), Kerala, there are around 37 major pig farms owned by Keralites in bordering areas. Cross-border movement of food waste is becoming a major concern. There are farmers who have operations there. There are local farmers too depending on the food waste from Kerala. We have decided to take it up with the state government and there should be some kind of administrative dialogues between the two governments to find a resolution to the issue, said K Bhasi, state secretary, PFA. With the movement of waste from Kerala to Tamil Nadu coming under the scanner of NGT, the state government has also stepped up vigil. The local self-government institutions (LSGIs) in bordering areas of Tamil Nadu have been asked to step up surveillance in border areas to prevent the illegal movement of waste from Kerala to Tamil Nadu. Chief Secretary Saradha Muraleedharan told TNIE that the state has developed a digital platform to monitor the pig farms in the state and streamline the movement of food waste to pig farms. The new digital system will be piloted soon. Its a very complex matter and we have to quantify the requirement of food waste to these farms and ensure that exact quantities of waste are supplied to these farms daily. Once this is rolled out we will be able to address a lot of issues, said Saradha Muraleedharan. She said that the state government has been in touch with the Tamil Nadu government and has a common app to check cross border movement of waste. The NGT has also constituted a committee and the Pollution Control Boards of both states are working together to resolve the issue, she said. Giving a major relief for the pig farmers, the state government has given relaxation in the regulations. The relaxations have come as a boon and now majority of the farmers will get registration and licences, said Bhasi. According to the association, there are around 12,000 pig farms in the state and they manage approximately 1,800 tonnes of food waste generated daily. The regularisation of pig farms will benefit the LSGIs in the state struggling to manage bio-degradable waste. Platform to track farms Kerala has developed a digital platform to monitor pig farms in the state and streamline the movement of food waste to farms The platform will be piloted soon. Additionally, the state and the Tamil Nadu government has a common app to check cross border movement of waste

Over 4,000 Pocso cases in Kerala last year

KOLLAM: Sexual abuse of children continues to be a major concern in Kerala, with 4,196 incidents reported under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, last year, until November. According to a source with the State Crime Records Bureau, the figure is expected to exceed 4,500 once data consolidation for December 2024 is completed, which is expected by the first week of February. In 2023, a total of 4,641 Pocso cases were registered in the state. Among the districts, Thiruvananthapuram reported the highest number of cases (541), followed by Malappuram (465), Kozhikode (416), and Kollam (397). The least number of cases was reported in Pathanamthitta (150). Soja Thulsidharan, special prosecutor for Pocso cases in Kollam, said there has been a surge in the number of child sexual abuse cases in the state in recent years with a large number of such incidents originating from the victims home and educational institutions. She also highlighted an increase in cases involving male victims. Soja said there has been a growing awareness about reporting sexual abuse of male children. Previously, sexual abuse cases involving male victims were limited to one or two. But now around 50 such cases are reported annually, she said. The special prosecutor said the rise in consensual sex among teenagers is contributing to the issue. Teenagers often do not realise that sexual activity below the age of 18 is not legally consensual. These incidents often come to light when the victim becomes pregnant or faces other medical issues. It is important to not only raise awareness but also educate children about the Pocso Act, she said. Schools lack enough no. of counsellors She noted that the majority of cases stem from the victims home or tuition centres, where close relatives, teachers, and friends may be the perpetrators. In many cases, the victims mothers may be aware of the abuse but feel powerless to speak out due to fear, financial pressures, or family constraints, said Soja. Meanwhile, child rights activists have called attention to the shortage of counsellors in schools. In most instances, child sexual abuse comes to light when school counsellors report such incidents to the child protection council members, who then notify the police. Unfortunately, schools lack adequate number of counsellors. For every 1,000 students, only 78 counsellors are employed. In many schools, counsellors are overburdened or unavailable, said Anson P D Alexander, director and founder of Kanal, an NGO focused on childrens welfare.

Man behind Indias cryogenic engine takes the helm at ISRO

BENGALURU: Dr V Narayanan, Distinguished Scientist (Apex Grade), took charge as the new Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission, late on Monday. ISROs social media handle shared the details of Dr Narayanan taking over from S Somanath in the early hours of Tuesday. The change at the helm of Indias premier space agency happened in Thiruvananthapuram, and the new chief is yet to take charge at the Bengaluru office. He is scheduled to visit the Bengaluru office on Wednesday, soon after which he will be heading to Delhi for a series of meetings, ISRO officials said. Narayanan is known as the rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, who joined ISRO in 1984, and carries 40 years of work experience in the research organisation. Since January 2018, he was the director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) headquartered in Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, with a unit in Bengaluru. As LPSC Director, he played a crucial role in the development of liquid, semi-cryogenic and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles, chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellites, control systems for launch vehicles and transducer development for propulsion system health monitoring. Narayanan helped boost various ISRO launchers Under his leadership, LPSC delivered 226 liquid propulsion systems and control power plants for launch vehicles and satellites of ISRO. The development of cryogenic propulsion systems put India among six countries with this capability and ensured self-reliance in launch vehicles. He was also the chairman of LPSC-ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPrC) Coordination Committee, chairman of Project Management Council-Space Transportation System (PMC-STS), and the National Level Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB) of Gaganyaan programme. Holding various chairs, he guided the teams in operational and development activities of launching various ISRO vehicles. When India was denied cryogenic technology for GSLV Mk-ll vehicle, Narayanan designed the engine systems, developed necessary software tools, contributed for establishing the necessary infrastructure/test facilities, qualification and completion of Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) and made it operational. As project director for C25 Cryogenic Project of LVM3 vehicle, he successfully developed the C25 Cryogenic Stage powered by a 20-tonne thrust engine and played a vital role in successfully launching LVM3 vehicle in its maiden attempt, making the stage operational. His M.Tech thesis and PhD work at IIT Kharagpur were employed in the cryogenic propulsion systems development, ISRO said. Narayanan completed his M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering, and bagged the silver medal for first rank in the M.Tech programme. He was honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 and Life Fellowship Award 2023 by IIT Kharagpur. Narayanan started his career with TI Diamond Chain Limited, Madras Rubber Factory, BHEL in Trichy and in Ranipet for one-and-a-half years before joining ISRO in 1984 beginning a journey to be promoted to the highest level as Distinguished Scientist (APEX Scale).

Jail authorities say no special privileges were given to businessman Boby Chemmanur

KOCHI: Police have started an investigation following reports that businessman Boby Chemmanur (aka Boche) received special privileges at Ernakulam District Jail in Kakkanad. The reports claimed that persons of VIP stature visited Boby at the Kakkanad jail. Their names were not recorded in the visitors' diary. Apart from them, Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (Central Zone) P Ajayakumar met Boby at the jail on January 10 (Friday). When contacted, Jail authorities refuted such reports and said no special facilities were given to the businessman who was a rrested in the case for obscene remarks against actor Honey Rose . Boby's bail plea is expected to come before the Kerala High Court later on Tuesday, and he's expected to get the bail. Boby, who is into jewellery retail business, has been in jail since last Friday (Jan 10). Following reports that Boby received special consideration, officials of the State Special Branch- the intelligence wing of Kerala Police visited the jail and conducted an inquiry. Special Branch officials checked visitors' diaries and CCTV cameras. Speaking to TNIE , Ajayakumar confirmed that he had met Boby at the jail. However, no special consideration was given to the businessman. On January 10, while on the way to Thiruvananthapuram, I visited Kakkanad jail as part of an inquiry into a complaint. Then I met Boby Chemmanur. I know the businessman. However, he neither demanded any special consideration nor gave him any facility. People associated with him might have met him at the jail. But it was done as per the rules. As far as I know there was no VIP among the visitors. Boby told me that earlier he had paid Rs 500 to stay at a jail in some other state as part of a tourism program. Now he could experience the same without any cost, he said, half serious, half in jest. He said some officers who maintain vengeance against him might be behind the allegations. After going through the reports, I suspect it was targeted towards me. I had taken disciplinary action against some officers. I suspect that they could be behind the circulation of these false reports, Ajayakumar said.

Wayanad landslide: Kerala government decides to declare missing as dead

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has decided to declare those who went missing in Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides as dead, which will help their immediate relatives get ex-gratia. The government on Tuesday issued a directive to form committees, which will carry out the procedures required to declare the missing people as dead. The decision came as a big relief for families of 35 people, who went missing in the disaster that struck havoc in the hilly terrain on 30 July, 2024. The government had earlier announced guidelines to provide financial aid, including ex-gratia, for the relatives of those who died in the mishap. The committees will provide recommendations to provide ex-gratia to the kin of those who went missing by counting them as dead. The committees will be formed in the local as well as state-levels. As per the government order, the revenue department officials will collect FIRs registered in connection with missing people. The officials will prepare special inquiry reports marking that the missing persons could not be located. The local-level committee will the panchayat secretary, village officer and police station house officer as members. The committee will prepare a list of the missing people and file it before the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The DDMA will examine the list and forward it to the state-level committee with proper suggestions. Priyanka Gandhi accuses Modi government of neglecting Wayanad landslide rehab efforts The state-level committee will have additional chief secretary (home), principal secretary (revenue and disaster management) and principal secretary (local self government) as members. The state-level committee will submit the list provided by the local-level committee to the state government after proper scrutiny. The government will issue an order providing ex-gratia to the relatives of the deceased by considering them as dead. The government has also notified a slew of steps that should be taken by the officials in order to consider those missing in the landslide as dead. An FIR should be filed by the closest relative of the missing person in the police station where he resided. If the missing happened in another police station limit, the FIR should be referred to that station as well. The statement given by the closest relative of the missing person, which was attested by a notary public, should be kept as a permanent document. The FIR should be forwarded to the tahasildar/ sub-divisional magistrate along with police repor, ration card, bank passbook and other documents required for identification. The tahasildar/ sub-divisional magistrate should conduct a detailed inquiry about the missing person. The tahasildar/ sub-divisional magistrate should issue an order by reaching a temporary conclusion that the missing person is no more. Wayanad landslides: Assembly seeks central aid, loan waiver A list of persons who were temporarily deemed as dead should be published in newspapers, official gazette and government website with a scope for those having any objections to raise it. 30 days should be given for filing objections. If there are no objections, the tahasildar/ sub-divisional magistrate should provide the details to the registrar of birth and death, who in turn should issue death certificates against the names of the missing persons. The death certificates should be provided free of cost to the immediate relative of the missing person and it should also be forwarded to the police station where the FIR for man-missing was registered. In case of objections being raised, officers above the rank of tahasildar/ sub-divisional magistrate should conduct an inquiry and give a detailed report to the tahasildar/sub-divisional magistrate. Based on the report, the officer can make a decision whether to grant the death certficiate or not.