Puthuvype Beach Race: Sun, Sand & Speed

KOCHI: Among the slew of programmes that make up the Vypeen Tourism Mela, perhaps nothing is as exhilarating as the Puthuvype Beach Race. Held every year on December 26, the event sees the beach turn into a festival ground as riders and riding enthusiasts descend from all corners of Kerala and nearby states. This year will be no different. It will be akin to Thrissur Pooram here, as is the case every year, says Emmanual Abin, one of the organisers. But this year, he adds, its extra special as it is our 25th year. Indeed, since its inception in 2000, the Beach Race has evolved into a mainstay event not just of the Mela, but in the national racing scene. For many years now, we have had teams from various bike companies taking part in the festival, from TVS, Hero, KTM, etc. National racing champions too have featured. We expect even more riders to join this year, says Sachin Joseph, another organiser. To cater to them and other enthusiasts, the team behind the race has opened two new categories - the ladies and the scooter class. This will be the first time a racing event for women will be held on the beach, Sachin adds. The track too has undergone a series of upgrades. This time, two jumps will be introduced. We had jumps during the initial editions of the race. Later, they were discontinued. Now, for the 25th edition, its making a comeback. Also, there are banks, turns and flat tracks all designed to invigorate the spectators. But, of course, with all aspects of safety looked into, says Swaroop Dennis, yet another organiser. This time, the race organisation team is led by local hero and national racing champion Amal Varghese. Amal won the last two years Beach race. If he wins again, thatd be the first time a rider has won three in a row, says Swaroop. But the event is more than racing or glory. Essentially, it is about inspiring the youth, to knit them together, explains Sachin. This is one reason why the event is so loved in Vypeen. The response from the locals is overwhelming, adds Abin. With the Fort Kochi Race moving out of the beach this year, the Puthuvype Race assumes greater significance. We hope to put on a good show, says the band of friends. - Ronnie Kuriakose & Aravind B

Kerala govt releases ranking of higher education institutions; Cusat tops univs

THRISSUR : The government on Friday released its first ranking of universities and colleges in the state under the Kerala Institutional Ranking Framework (KIRF). Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) took the top honour among universities. It is for the first time in the country that a state government has ventured into ranking its higher education institutions. Launched on May 3, 2023, KIRF was adopted by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) as the methodology for the rankings. KIRF was introduced for continuous evaluation of higher educational institutions, so that they perform better and improve their position in national and international rankings. Our framework for evaluating universities and colleges follows the national framework. Factors unique to the state were also incorporated. We introduced a portal as part of the effort, Higher Education Minister R Bindu said, announcing the rankings. The portal was opened for uploading institutional data on July 5, 2023. The process was closed on May 10 this year. A total of 449 institutions were part of the rankings. This included 10 universities, 216 arts and science colleges, 72 engineering colleges, seven management institutions, 10 medical colleges, eight dental colleges, six pharmacy colleges, 29 nursing colleges, three law colleges, 72 teacher education institutes, and 12 agriculture and allied sectors institution. Management, architecture, medical, dental, pharmacy, and law colleges were later excluded from this edition of the rankings due to insufficient participation. In addition to parameters considered under the national framework, factors like secular outlook and scientific temper were included in the state rankings. Regional diversity, first-generation learner, social inclusiveness, and green technology were also considered. The entire data collection was managed through the online platform, the minister said. CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) provided technical support, Bindu added.

INTERVIEW | Life made me a rebel

Thrissur-native Poly Varghese is Keralas own icon in Hindustani music. Yet, he feels the state doesnt recognise his art. A product of Kerala Kalamandalam, 54-year-old Pauly started as a mridangam player and later became a Mohan veena exponent. Poly was among Grammy awardee Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatts first students. He took his music to stages across India and abroad, and forged bonds with global musicians. TNIE caught up with this Chennai-based maverick musician, who recently visited the state for the Swaryagna festival in Thiruvananthapuram. Excerpts from the interaction Lets start with some basics. Could you please tell us a bit about how Mohan veena differs from veena? See, veena basically refers to a string instrument. However, people usually refer to Saraswati veena when they say veena. There are many types Samudra veena, Rudra veena, etc. In Mohan veena, we can play five different string instruments such as sarangi, sarod, santoor, sitar, and Hawaiian guitar. My guru Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatts veena has 19-21 strings. I have added two more to play Dhrupad music. How did your guru develop Mohan Veena? My guru comes from a family with a 600-year legacy. He was a sitar player. Once a foreigner went to him with a guitar. Guruji wondered about the range of possibilities with a sitar-guitar combo. So he used his genius by adding taraf to the guitar. The instrument was later named after him as Mohan Veena. How did you get interested in music, and how did this journey begin? My beginning! My musical journey commenced at the age of eight. I started learning mridangam, and started as a Carnatic musician. I studied mridangam at Kalamandalam. But I often used to listen to Hindustani music, right from an early age. Did your family have any sort of musical legacy? No. This is something that just happened to me. Thrissur Christians are known for their business acumen I do not seem to possess such a knack for money matters. Thats why I am idly roaming around! So, what initially spurred your music journey? There was a Bhagavathar near my home. He was my fathers friend. Whenever I went to his place, I would hear him sing. His house was near the church. Also, at home, there was an old Murphy radio. Film songs would be aired from Thrissur, but they would air Carnatic music from Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram stations. This was a big problem. My sister would want to listen to film songs, and I wanted Carnatic. One day, Ammachi [ mother] was so vexed with our argument that she threw the radio! My whole world was classical music. I cannot enjoy film music even today. My family was settled in the Thriprayar part of the Thrissur district. From there, I went to academies and sabhas where music programmes were held. My father was supportive. I joined Kalamandalam after completing Class 10, without giving a second thought. When I was at Kalamandalam, I used to go to my ashans house where there was a TV. On the national network, at times, Guruji [Vishwa Mohan Bhat], who was not that famous then, would appear. I used to wonder what he played. I wrote letters to Guruji, but never received a reply. After graduating from Kalamandalam, I headed to Shantiniketan, where I met Guruji. I went with him to Rajasthan. From then, my life was at Gurujis house. I gradually stopped playing mridangam. Its been almost 30 years. It is believed that the philosophy of Indian classical music is dictated by the notion that it is from the divine I want to break such notions. I do not see any divinity. You may disagree with me. If this is divine, every occupation is. We, too, are like scavengers. Music, to me, is an art that emerges from a space of mental strife and social conflict. How can you label divinity to it? Are you trying to imply that art or talent is something that anyone can have? This [Mohan veena] was an unfamiliar instrument for me. I constantly practise this instrument. Even for a scavenger or a mason, in the beginning, it would be challenging. The skill is imparted to them by a mentor. The same goes for me; this is something I learned from a guru. This, to me, is more about activism than divinity. Isnt passion what separates art and, say, masonry? There is just a slight difference. Masonry and scavenging are livelihoods, but music isnt a livelihood for me. Doesnt art uphold a certain kind of creativity? A mason building a new structure is akin to me playing an instrument. So, if Poly Varghese decides to be a mason, he could? Poly Varghese cant be a mason, though I have done similar jobs. During my life in Kolkata, I had worked as a painter. But I cannot do it full-time. I am tuned in the way of art, but a mason is not tuned so. I cannot be a full-time construction worker because my taste doesnt work out like that. I am from a conventional Christian family. The songs I listened to while growing up were gospel music, Christian hymns. My relatives are big gold merchants in Thrissur. If I were in Thrissur town, then I too would have been a gold merchant or an entrepreneur. I cannot be a business person; I am not meant for it. Even today, I cannot commercialise my music. How do you people back home know you? When people in Thrissur organise programmes and approach advertisers for it, some businessmen, especially jewellers, wonder if there is an artist named Poly Varghese. They assume it is some keyboard player. I used to be known as Kalamandalam Poly, and that was a big hurdle. So I just removed the Kalamandalam tag. I have received a lot of laurels and honours. I even got it from Thailands Bangkok Universitys Sangeeta Ratnakara. But I do not like to hold on to all that. Some people attach Pandit to my name. I do not want to attach any titles. Are there any issues you faced as a classical musician due to your Christian identity? It affected me in Kerala. How? In Kerala, I only had three or four performances. They do not call me for any sabhas. Why do Stephen Devassys keyboard concerts get sold out? Because it is the keyboard. Let him do a Carnatic kacheri, will it sell as much? Kalamandalam Poly could have been a new brand You need to live in my shoes, and then judge. T M Krishna and I are close friends. I was living in Chennai for a while. When Krishna started getting involved in social causes linked to music, conversations began to erupt. But before Krishna came on board, I was there in Chennai for 17 years. I have played Mohan Veena on the streets and gullies of Chennai. During that time, there was a movement to get rid of LTTE in Sri Lanka. It was a political issue. Linked to that, many of us played musical instruments and were imprisoned. But no discourses happened. Why? Because T M Krishna comes from a background of privilege, and I dont. You mean caste privilege? Krishna is someone who does not hold casteist values. But caste flows as an undercurrent without even his awareness. You know how? [ TM] Krishna was thrown out of the sabha circle. I was also expelled. However, Malayalis have accepted Krishna; he is invited to literature fests and is popular in the socio-political circuit here. If Poly Varghese speaks out, that will not be the case. Even Krishna has told me that my name is a hindrance. During my mridangam days, Devarajan Master once told me that I should be known by a different name, and suggested Prasad Varadhan. I told the Master that I had a strong political stance, and that I could not change my father and mother. Are you a believer? I am not. The word belief itself is dangerous. If you start to believe something, there is something wrong with you. That means you are impeding your search, you are losing yourself to a particular subject. You said there was a problem with the Kalamandalam tag. But there have been revered artists such as Kalamandalam Hyder Ali I know what all Hyder Ali ashan had to endure. When I was studying at Kalamandalam, there was a Kathakali teachers who ridiculed me, asking on my face: What music will be there in a Nasrani (Christian)? I was so upset. Later, Hyder Ali ashan comforted me. He also taught there, but he was not even appointed as a permanent teacher there. There was also one Kalamandalam John, who was not made permanent. Do you believe in guruthwam (reverence to Guru)? It is just a fancy word. Guruthwam means the gurus blessings. They can teach you letters, words, and grammar, but art cannot be taught that easily. Artists are rebels, radical in nature. Are you saying an artist must be a rebel? No, but an artist naturally becomes a rebel due to circumstances. Experimentations in art lead an artist to go against rules. If you want to be a rebel, you must be a breaker of rules naturally or ideologically, like T R Mahalingam or Bismillah Khan. Are you a rebellious artist? Life made me a rebel, thanks to the frictions and denials I have experienced. What segregations or denials did you face as a mridangam artist? I have faced several incidents, including being shut out of stage performances due to my Christian faith. I was once made to leave the stage without performing on a reality show. Once my mridangam was thrown away from the stage at a temple I was not allowed to perform in temples. Is this segregation issue only in Kerala? Yes. I am basically a Malayali musician, but have you seen me perform in any kacheri in Kerala? Maybe four or five times. In north India, however, they were bothered only by the fact that I am a south Indian. However, as I have gained an identity, I no longer face such issues. Keralas cultural activism is superficial What hurdles does a south Indian Hindustani musician face in the north? The north-south divide is stark in my field. The famous vocalist from Karnataka, Bhimsen Joshi, also experienced it. But because of his legendary stature, he could not be avoided by the north Indian groups. Once, I was omitted from the line-up for the Konark festival in Odisha due to uproar from some quarters. Imagine my plight! But now, I do not face much discrimination. I have a Jazz Blues band with members from the US and Australia. Doing so, has opened my musical boundaries beyond Mohan Veena. We always prop up Indian classical music on a pedestal. There is not much to be gained from that in my opinion. We must transcend such musical categorisations. Music is universal. Why do you think you have not got due recognition in Kerala? One, Kerala is a consumer society. Discussions are mostly on gains/losses. Second, I am a south Indian who plays north Indian music. Also, organisations here, even the ruling Left government, are not interested in the arts. The art they know is limited to Stephen Devassy, Rimi Tomy film-oriented. Had Yesudas not sung for films, would we know him? Thats it. You worked on a film I composed for Kala Varkey, which came out in 2003. The film did not do very well. Then came Jeevamshamayi. For that, I came from Bengal. I was very interested in Baul music at that time. They wanted to recreate a similar music for the movie (breaks into a Baul song of Lalon Fakir, an 18th-century Baul/Sufi singer). How did you stumble across Baul music? Growing up, I had been familiar with Rabindra Sangeet. But I came to know of Baul only during my time at Shantiniketan. I saw several performances there and it greatly influenced me. I wanted to learn. Another aspect of Baul music that deeply influenced me was the singers ability to craft spontaneous songs that reflected their rebellious spirit. This experience sparked a desire within me to learn Bengali. I also wanted to read Rabindranath Tagores Gitanjali in its original form. I also had a great passion for playing traditional instruments like the ektara, gomukh, and dotara. What languages are you fluent in? Tamil, Bengali, Hindi, English, Malayalam, Urdu, Odiya, Marathi. I have done a drama in Marathi. Having been exposed to the cultural scenes of many states, how do you perceive the cultural scene of Kerala in comparison? I dont perceive Keralas cultural scene as being particularly profound. The cultural activism in Kerala seems somewhat superficial. Could the relative absence of such groups in Kerala be attributed to the states unique socio-cultural context, making them less relevant? The left wings shift away from cultural norms in Kerala has indeed had a significant impact. It appears that they have abandoned cultural activism. They are focused on electoral politics alone. The term activism appears repeatedly in your conversation. Do you believe it is essential for an artist to be an activist? I believe that art is not something that falls from the sky, nor is it something that is taught by a teacher. Art comes from the way you live your life. If you listen to the songs of the people around you, if you engage with others regularly, if you watch dramas, you will be affected by the problems in society. Even Nadanpattu exists as a response, right? Artists react through their songs. An artist needs people to listen to him when he sings. They receive energy from him, and he receives energy from them. An artist cant live isolated in a palace, do PR work, and move around in a Benz. What about the concept of purity in art? What remains here that is untarnished? Purity is something rooted in the Brahminical context. Does that concept still exist? Caste consciousness exists within you, even if youre unaware of it. You express it in various ways Can a fair-skinned man accept a dark-skinned wife? Even in movies, dont they lighten the complexion of dark-skinned heroines? I am experiencing it even in Australia. Are songs by Black people ever truly celebrated? Are the art forms of Black communities ever discussed on major global platforms? How long has it been since a Black artist won a Grammy Award or Oscar? Its talent that earns one honour, not colour, right? I need social acceptance. I dont think people who come to listen to me are here just for my music. I dont believe there is such an exemplary society here. Havent we moved beyond caste, at least in the realm of culture? Let me ask you a question. If you wanted to get married, would you marry a Dalit? Do you feel love for a Dalit? Love is also influenced by caste. Love is not activism Love is totally a vibrant, rebellious activism. Octavia Paz had said the world changes when two people kiss. Shouldnt an artists activism be more about music, rather than an agitation? To play well is my activism. This is my way of life. The show of culture isnt. But if you mean playing well is sticking to the conventions of purity, you might be disappointed. What is being discussed through my art are the social and political and personal issues. Arent there good artists who arent in activism mode? It is just that they dont speak. T M Krishna is a great artist and a rebel. But equally great is Sanjay Subramaniam, who doesnt show much rebellion Sanjay Subrmaniam was the one who opposed the grant of award for T M Krishna, taking a Hindutva stance. Ranjini-Gayatri, Anuradha Sriram, Trichur Brothers all did so. Ones politics will be revealed in ones music. Kabir Das, too, responded to social aspects, but never denied transcendental quality of art. Kabirs Rama is not the Rama of the masses. Ustad All Rakha, Bismillah Khan, Zakir Hussain none questioned arts divinity. Its my personal choice. I will totally deny arts facets that are not rooted in social activism. Cant music exist for the sake of experience, without activism? Thats unlikely, at least for me. Are you primarily an activist, then? Yes, I see myself as an activist, with art as my tool. Okay, lets end on a melodious note. Which is your favourite raga? Its difficult, but I can play a folk song in Khamas raga (plays his version of Oh Mridule). This is a film song I dont mind playing film songs. By the way, did you guys find me rude? Im a nave fellow (laughs, and plays Bhoopali and Mohanam ragas). TNIE Team: Cithara Paul, Anil S, Aparna Nair, Parvana K B, Varsha Somaraj, Vincent Pulickal (photos), Pranav V P (video)

Durbar Hall Art Gallery: A mystics wonderworld

KOCHI: Walking into the Durbar Hall Art Gallery in Kochi, one is immediately captivated by the vibrant charm of colours. Figures of mythology, vividly brought to life in four canvas frames, showcase an eccentric mastery of lines and curves that hook in onlookers. The colour-blocked frames feature graceful women, men, and creatures that spark a unique curiosity. Blissful brushstrokes create a harmonious blend of mythology, fantasy, and folk traditions, seamlessly tuned to contemporary artscapes. Each frame radiates a vivid and lively narrative, capturing the essence of a painter, illustrator, cartoonist, art director, and a celebrated figure in Indian art C N Karunakaran, a name cherished by Malayali art lovers. The retrospective, organised by Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, was inaugurated on December 14, as a homage, on the 11th death anniversary of the mystical artist. And it has been drawing crowds who seek to immerse themselves in the mesmerising world that CNK had created. Born in 1940 in Brahmakulam, a temple town in Thrissur, C N Karunakaran began his artistic journey as a teenager. He trained in design and advanced painting at the Government Fine Arts College in Chennai, dedicating his life to the world of colours. Early in his career, he worked as a designer at the Madras Design Demonstration Centre. In 1970, he joined Kalapeedam as an art instructor. His works adorned walls, galleries, and publications across Kerala and found recognition in galleries worldwide. In 1973, he established Chithrakoodam, the first privately owned art gallery in Kerala. In a way, CNK redefined contemporary art in India with his creative experiments that blended diverse artistic traditions into a unified whole. His choice of colour palettes shades of blue, pink, or red and recurring figures across frames conveyed distinct stories each time. In art circles, he was revered for his sharp observations and ideas. Though a quiet man, often lost in observation, he was well-connected to the socio-cultural circles of his time. Art lovers recognise CNKs paintings even without looking at the signature beneath, says Ayillyan Karunakaran, the artists son. Thats the legacy he has left behind. That is our inspiration. The 141 paintings exhibited at Durbar Hall are part of the familys private collection. He was a very silent person and immersed his whole life into painting, Ayillyan recalls. Even after all the fame and recognition he received, he continued to spend his days with a paintbrush upon a canvas. Thats how I remember him. His paintings are instantly recognisable for their graceful forms, vivid colours, and warm emotions. His style featured crafted lines, curves, and geometric patterns blended into aesthetically captivating works that appealed to a broad audience. CNK drew a lot of inspiration from artforms that fascinated him. The vibrant style he displayed is a carefully crafted mixture of Thai-Buddhist miniature paintings, Indian miniature paintings, and the mural art form of Kerala. He churned them all to create a new dimension for contemporary painting, notes Murali Cheeroth, artist and chairman of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi. He mastered that experimental style, which defined him. You see the hidden brilliance of perfect geometry. It is not an art of chaos, but meticulously curated pieces of beauty. The exhibition concludes on December 27.

Urban Commission proposes 25 per cent reservation for youth in local bodies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Urban Commission, formed to guide urbanisation for next 25 years, has come up with a slew of recommendations including 25% reservation for youngsters in local bodies, formation of metropolitan planning committees in Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, strengthened early-warning systems to address climate-related risks, professionalisation of urban governance and more. The commission submitted its interim report to the chief minister on Wednesday. LSG Minister M B Rajesh on Thursday said that the commission will be submitting the completed report by March 2025. He said that the commission has identified that Kerala is evolving into a continuous urban expanse, making it difficult to differentiate where cities begin and villages end. The urban commission headed by Satheesh Kumar of Queens University Belfast, includes national and international experts. The minister said that the recommendations are based on extensive studies, discussions focusing on 10 key areas including urbanisation, planning and design strategies, sustainable infrastructure and more. Rajesh said that the report offers comprehensive recommendations setting a roadmap for Keralas urbanisation simultaneously addressing environmental, social and economic challenges. The report strongly recommends the strengthening of LSG institutions to tackle the problems and opportunities of urbanisation. He said that the commission recommends efforts to increase own fund of local bodies by intensifying property tax collection to 90%. Key recommendations Professionalisation of urban governance Dedicated project teams for financial management of projects Metropolitan planning committees for Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Similar committees in Kollam, Thrissur and Kannur in the next decade. Business development councils in urban areas 25% reservation for youngsters SPVs under local bodies for projects Comprehensive spatial planning framework, including joint planning committees for all municipalities Strengthened early-warning systems for climate-related risks Comprehensive flood mapping and management systems Carbon audits and de-carbonisation measures by local bodies.

Supreme Court stays Kerala HC's norms on parading of elephants for Temple festivals

KOCHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the guidelines issued by Kerala High Court on parading of elephants at festivals, bringing relief to the devaswoms of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu, the major participants of Thrissur Pooram. A division bench of the Kerala High Court had imposed strict restrictions on elephant parade, directing that a 3-metre distance be maintained between elephants, and 8 metres between elephants and percussion ensemble at festivals. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice B V Nagaratna and Justice N K Singh observed that the restrictions imposed by the High Court, contrary to the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012, were impractical. The bench noted that the High Court should not have exercised suo motu powers in the case. Verdict will ensure smooth conduct of festivals: Paramekkavu devaswom secy The High Court bench of Justice A K Jayashankaran Nambiar and Justice Gopinath P had in the November 13 judgment observed that the use of elephants in festivals was not an essential religious practice. The devaswoms approached the Supreme Court pointing out that the restrictions will bring the conduct of Thrissur Pooram to a grinding halt.We welcome the order of the Supreme Court which will ensure smooth conduct of the temple festivals. The court has accepted our argument that the restrictions are impractical. We will conduct the elephant parade adhering to the Captive Elephant Rules, 2012, said Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary G Rajesh Poduval. V K Venkitachalam, secretary of Heritage Animal Task Force secretary, said: The SC has directed to conduct festivals adhering to the Kerala Captive Elephants Rules, 2012. As per the rule, the an elephant cannot be paraded during day and night on the same day. It also directs that an elephant should not be paraded for more than six hours a day. The authorities should ensure strict adherence to the rules. We will file an appeal against the SC order when the court reopens after vacation.

Thrissur Pooram: Supreme Court stays Kerala High Court order on use of elephants in temple festivals

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Kerala High Court order imposing certain restrictions on the use of elephants during temple festivals, such as Thrissur Pooram. The Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice NK Singh ordered that any direction issued by the High Court contrary to the Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance) Rules, [] The post Thrissur Pooram: Supreme Court stays Kerala High Court order on use of elephants in temple festivals appeared first on India Legal .

All India radio Thrissur programme head M. Balakrishnan passes away

Family sources said the death was due to a heart attack. He was former head of Akashvani, Manjeri

SC asks Thrissur Pooram organisers to comply with Captive Elephants Rules, stays Kerala HC directions contrary to the law

Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms, which host Thrissur Pooram, had approached Supreme Court challenging Kerala High Courts back-to-back orders which included directions that elephants paraded at the festival should maintain an exact distance of three metres from each other

Kerala government approves promotion of ADGP M R Ajith Kumar to DGP rank despite ongoing probe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant move, the cabinet on Wednesday accepted the recommendation of the high-level screening committee to bestow DGP rank to ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, who is currently heading the Armed Police Battalion, when a vacancy arises. The 1995-batch IPS officer, who is facing a vigilance probe over alleged illegal amassing of wealth, will be promoted as DGP by July next year when a vacancy arises after the retirement of state police chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb. Also, S Suresh, who is on central deputation with the Special Protection Group, will be promoted to the DGP rank. And after K Padmakumars retirement on April 30, 2025, Law and Order ADGP Manoj Abraham of the 1994 batch will be elevated to the DGP rank. Ajiths promotion will take place after that. The governments decision to promote Ajith has not gone down well with the Opposition. State Congress chief K Sudhakaran alleged that the controversial officer was being promoted as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had succumbed to the RSS. He said despite facing a battery of serious allegations, Ajith was promoted since he is the CMs blue-eyed boy. Ajith was the bridge between the CM and the RSS. If disciplinary action was taken against him, this promotion would not have happened, he said. Screening committee recommended promoting Ajith as no cases were pending against him Nilambur MLA P V Anvar, who had first raised the allegations against Ajith, termed the governments decision to promote the officer as shocking. He alleged that Ajith was the biggest criminal in the force and his elevation came at a time when an inquiry was on against him. The ongoing probe (against Ajith Kumar) is mere eyewash. The decision is proof the CMs Office has subjugated before the RSS, Anvar said. Ajith, who is considered as a close confidante of the CM, was removed from the coveted post of the ADGP Law and Order after he became embroiled in a slew of controversies. The Nilambur MLA had raised a series of allegations against the officer, linking him with gold smuggling racket and also accusing him of amassing wealth through corrupt means. Ajith was also accused of aiding attempts to sabotage the Thrissur Pooram and clandestinely meeting RSS national leaders. The police high-level inquiry team that carried out the probe found Ajith flouted service rules by meeting the RSS leaders in secret. At the same time, the team reported that there was no evidence to prove the other allegations against him. The screening committee comprising the chief secretary, home secretary, state police chief and the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) director that met recently recommended promoting Ajith to DGP grade. It had opined that since no cases were pending against Ajith and he was not under suspension, his promotion could not be stalled. Though the number of sanctioned DGP posts is four, Kerala currently has five DGP rank officers. They include Road Safety Authority Commissioner Nitin Agarwal, Fire and Rescue Services Director General K Padmakumar, State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb, DGP (Human Rights) Sanjeeb Kumar Patjoshi and VACB director Yogesh Gupta. It was Nitins repatriation from the Border Security Force to the state cadre that prompted the government to seek sanction for the fifth DGP post on a short-term basis. When Patjoshi retires on December 31, the number of DGP posts will be back to four. Meanwhile, the cabinet also concurred with the screening committees recommendation to promote IG Tarun Kumar of the 2000 batch as ADGP. DIGs Debesh Kumar Behera, Uma, Rajpal Meena and Jayanath of the 2007 batch will be promoted as IGs. SPs Yathish Chandra, Hari Sankar, Karthick K, Prateesh Kumar and T Narayan of the 2011 batch will be promoted as DIGs.

Munnar sees surge in tourism as temperature drops to six degrees

IDUKKI: The chilly weather in Munnar as 2024 nears its end is attracting visitors to the hill station in large numbers. The rush has come as a boon to the tourism industry, specifically hotels, with nearly all of them booked to near capacity till December 31. As per the data from the United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI), the lowest minimum temperature of six degrees Celsius was recorded at Chundavurrai estate in Munnar on Tuesday. Other areas of the hill station, including Silent Valley, Devikulam, Lechmi, Sevenmalai, Mattupetty and Nallathanni, recorded temperatures between 8 and 9 degrees Celsius. People associated with the tourism industry hope the mercury drops to a sub-zero level within a week, which would further drive up footfall. We believe Munnar is going to experience the highest footfall this season since 2020. Even before the holidays have begun, there is a considerable rush in tourist spots, Asish Varghese, an adventure tourist guide in Munnar, told TNIE. He said almost all the hotels in Munnar have reported 90% bookings from December 20 to December 31. Besides families, adventure buffs too are making a beeline for the hill station to enjoy trekking and witness the fog-laden hills and the extreme climate. Sujith Krishnan, a tourist from Thrissur, said the weather has been great in Munnar for the past two days. It is really cold here. This is the first time we are experiencing such low temperature. We visited Munnar two weeks ago, and the weather now is colder than then. We came early in the morning this time to enjoy the climate, he said. As the temperature dipped, locals and tourists were seen huddling around bonfires to stay warm. Tourism department officials too said they were expecting a good turnout this Christmas and New Year. The tourist footfall is expected to rise not only in Munnar, but also in other spots, including Wagamon, Idukki and Panchalimedu. Visitors will be ensured all necessary infrastructure facilities at the spots. We hope this season leads to turnaround of the industry, the official said. Tea plantations wary of drop in temperature While the tourism industry and visitors are hopeful, tea plantations at the hill station are not looking forward for a further drop in temperature. A spokesperson of the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP) said though frost fall is beneficial for the tourism industry, the plantation sector will suffer if the temperature dips below minus one degree and frost starts falling. Frost on the tea leaves will result in their wilting. Last year, tea leaves in over 500 hectares was damaged due to frost, he said. Meanwhile, Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, said, The minimum temperature in Munnar dropped the most since December 15. The temperature dropped in the absence of rain which ensured a clear sky. It is unlikely to fluctuate much in the coming days. Maximum temperature is also in the 28-29 degrees Celsius range. Last year, winter condition set in late by mid-January due to the rain.

A nation truly becomes free when its minorities are safe: Abdurahiman

Minister inaugurates Minority Rights Day celebrations in Thrissur

Panic in parts of Thrissur as wild animals stray into human habitations

Wild elephants spotted at Athirappilly and Palappilly on Wednesday and a tiger was spotted at Palappilly on Tuesday night

Guard of honour at religious rituals in Kerala to stay

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will not implement its decision to abolish police guard of honour at religious ceremonies, for the time being, Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan has said. The practice will continue. Though a direction was made earlier, it has not been implemented. Any future decision on the matter will be taken only after consultation with temple authorities, he told TNIE. Currently, the guard of honour is performed at about 20 temples in the Tranvancore-Cochin region. These include the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (for festivals and processions), Thiruvallam Vellayani Devi Temple, Haripad Subrahmanya Temple, Tripunithura Poornathrayeesa Temple, Ernakulam Shiva Temple, Palluruthy Alangad Bhagavathy Temple, Thrissur Oorakam Ammathiruvadi Temple and Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple. It was in September that the home department decided to do away with the guard of honour at religious rituals. At a meeting convened by additional chief secretary (Home) Biswanath Sinha, it was decided the practice will be allowed only if temple authorities bear its expenses. The meeting was held to address a request from Sree Varaham Sree Kunnandan Ganapathi Temple to provide the guard of honour and police band performance during the Vinayaka Chathurthi procession. DCP Vijay Bharath Reddy, Sree Varaham Sree Kunnandan Ganapathi Temple advisory committee president C Jayachandran and secretary V Sreekanth had attended the meet, after which the home department had sent a letter to the state police chief. Sources said the decision was not implemented as a review is on. The decision to ask temples to bear the expenses is also under review now. No final call was taken to stop the guard of honour, said a source. Travancore Devaswom Board President P S Prasanth said the board has not received any official communication from the government. We came to know about it from media. From what we have understood, it will be applicable for six temples under TDB, said Prasanth. Following reports on the decision to abolish the guard of honour, many organisations had raised concerns. All Kerala Brahmins Association said the Union government in 1949 provided a written assurance to the Travancore-Cochin Maharaja, saying temple rituals and traditions would be upheld without any interruptions. It said the government should provide the guard of honour during festivals in around 20 temples, and it does not have the right to withdraw it. Even after the direction was issued in September, guard of honour was provided during the Alpashi festival and Navaratri festival at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. We have not received any official communication, but feel it might be implemented in future, said a member of the association. Hindu Aikya Vedi state secretary Sandeep Thampanoor termed the governments move part of a deliberate attempt to insult Hindus. In 1750 Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma, founder of modern Travancore, surrendered his kingdom to Sree Padmanabha Swamy. Since then, the deity became the principal ruler of the state. The constitution also acknowledges the right of deities. It is in this background the guard of honour is being given to deities, said K P Madhusoodhanan, state coordinator of People for Dharma Trust. performed at 20 temples Guard of honour is performed at about 20 temples in Tranvancore-Cochin region, including Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple At a meeting in September, it was decided the practice will be allowed only if temple authorities bear its expenses. Reports about the decision had sparked concerns.

Youth taken into custody for roller skating on busy city roadin Thrissur

Thrissur Pooram: Two Devaswoms move Supreme Court against Kerala high court's guidelines for elephant parade

The Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms have appealed to the Supreme Court against the Kerala High Court's restrictions on the Thrissur Pooram elephant parade. They argue that the court's mandated distances between elephants, fire, and the public are impractical for the historic venue and disrupt the centuries-old tradition.

Photos: Rahul Gandhi in Thrissur

Thrissur: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi paid his last respects to late P P Madhavan at his residence near Ollur, Thrissur, Kerala, Tuesday. Madhavan, personal secretary to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi passed away Monday after suffering a heart attack. Also ReadBJP, Shiv Sena counter Rahul Gandhis attack on Savarkar Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi meets 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 .

Buckle up or face action, KC Venugopal to Thrissur Congress leaders

KOCHI: Searching for answers following the Chelakkara by-election drubbing, a seemingly angry AICC general secretary (organisation) and MP K C Venugopal has asked party leaders T N Prathapan, Jose Vallur, Anil Akkara and M P Vincent to buckle up in Thrissur or face organisational disciplinary action. The incident occurred on the morning of December 7, when Prathapan, Vallur and Vincent visited Venugopal at his MP Camp House, Rajeevam, in Pazhaveedu, Alappuzha, according to a source. Their intent was reportedly to advocate for Vallurs appointment as the Thrissur DCC president. During the meeting, Venugopal, who is usually equanimous, was fuming and criticised the leaders sharply for their ineffective management of the election campaign. He remarked, in the presence of leaders from other districts, that the trio had previously been accorded numerous opportunities but they primarily acted in self-interest, the source said. Venugopal indicated that the trio, along with Anil Akkara who was absent from the meeting, should have been removed from organisational duties for six years. But the party refrained from taking such stringent action largely due to the leniency extended by K Muraleedharan, who lost the Lok Sabha election for the Thrissur seat. Muraleedharan reportedly advised Venugopal that the partys organisational health in Thrissur cannot afford further leadership changes at this time, the source added. After the Chelakkara by-election results were announced, P V Mohan, the AICC-assigned in-charge of Kerala, had told TNIE that Vincent, Vallur, Prathapan and Akkara were well-acquainted with the district but their contributions to the campaign would have to be thoroughly scrutinised, given the realisation that the Congress organisational structure in Thrissur is weak. Party sources have also revealed that both Muraleedharan and Ramya Haridas have verbally complained to Venugopal regarding the inadequate support from Thrissur leaders during the campaign. An inquiry report detailing Muraleedharans defeat in the Lok Sabha election which was a shocker to the party is still pending.

Student killed as elephant-toppled tree branch falls on bike in Kerala

Kochi: A female engineering student was killed and a youth sustained injuries when a huge palm tree branch fell on their motorcycle near Kothamangalam on Saturday. Ann Mary C V (21), a native of Thrissur, was riding pillion on the bike driven by her college mate Altaf Aboobacker (21) around 6 pm at Chembankuzhy near the Nagarampara forest office, and the branch of the tree uprooted by the elephant, fell on them, police said. Local forest officials who arrived at the scene rushed the duo to a private hospital in Kothamangalam. According to Forest officials, the area often experiences frequent wild elephant intrusions.

SCR to run Sabarimala special train services from Dec.19

Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) is running Sabarimala special trains covering several important pilgrimage destinations enroute from December 19 to January 24. These trains are planned for the benefit of Ayyappa devotees visiting the Sabarimala shrine from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The devotees travelling by these special trains can conveniently plan to visit enroute pilgrimage centres of important temples in Kerala. The temples included in the circuit are the Sastha temples at Pandalam, Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu, Achankovil and Erumeli. Other famous temples covering enroute stations are Golden Temple at Vellore, Annamalaiyar Temple at Tiruvannamalai, Ranganatha Swamy Temple at Srirangam, Mariamman Temple at Samayapuram (Tiruchirappalli), Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai, Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple at, Thiruparankundram (Madurai), Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple at Palani (Dindigul), Andal Temple at Srivilliputhur (Virudhu Nagar) and Sri Krishna Temple at Punalur etc. Train No. 07175 / 07176 Secunderabad - Kollam - Secunderabad specials (four services): These Special trains will stop at Moula-Ali, Cherlapalli, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, Nadikude, Piduguralla, Sattenapalli, Guntur, Tenali, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur, Srirangam, Tiruchchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudunagar, Tenkasi, Sengottai and Punalur stations in both the directions. Train No. 07173 / 07174 Kakinada Port Kollam Kakinada Port specials (six services): Enroute, these special trains will stop at Kakinada Town, Samalkot, Rajahmundry, Nidadavolu, Tanuku, Bhimavaram Town, Akividu, Kaikaluru, Gudivada, Vijayawada, Tenali, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Tirupati, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam, Ettumanur, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Chengannur and Kayankulam stations in both the directions. Train No. 07177 Vijayawada Kollam Special (three services): These special trains will stop at Guntur, Narasaraopet, Donakonda, Markapur Rd, Giddalur, Diguvametta, Nandyal, Koilakuntla, Jammalamadugu, Proddatur, Yerraguntla, Kadapa, Rajampet, Renigunta, Tirupati, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam, Ettumanur, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Chengannur and Kayankulam stations. Train No. 07178 Kollam Kakinada Town Special (three services): These special trains will stop at Kayankulam, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ettumanur, Ernakulam, Aluva, Thrissur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Chittoor, Tirupati, Renigunta, Rajampet, Kadapa, Yerraguntla, Proddatur, Jammalamadugu, Koilakuntla, Nandyal, Diguvametta, Giddalur, Markapur Rd, Donakonda, Narasaraopet, Guntur, Vijayawada, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry and Samalkot stations. Train No. 07175 / 07176 Secunderabad - Kollam - Secunderabad Specials (six services): These special trains will stop at Moula-Ali, Cherlapalli, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, Nadikude, Piduguralla, Sattenapalli, Guntur, Tenali, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Katpadi, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur, Srirangam, Tiruchchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudunagar, Sivakasi, Rajapalaiyam, Tenkasi, Sengottai and Punalur stations in both the directions. Train No. 07179 Kakinada Town Kollam Special (two services): These special trains will stop at Samalkot, Rajahmundry, Tadepalligudem, Eluru, Vijayawada, New Guntur, Tenali, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Renigunta, Tirupati, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva and Ernakulam Town, Ettumanur, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Chengannur and Kayankulam stations. Train No. 07180 Kollam Guntur Special (two services): These special trains will stop at Kayankulam, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ettumanur, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Chittoor, Tirupati, Renigunta, Guntur, Nellore, Ongole, Chirala and Tenali stations. Train No. 07181 Guntur Kollam Special (three services): These special trains will stop at Narasaraopet, Donakonda, Markapur Rd, Giddalur, Diguvametta, Nandyal, Bethamcherla, Dhone, Gooty, Anantapur, Dharmavaram, Kadiri, Madanapalle, Piler, Pakala, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Ettumanur, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Chengannur and Kayankulam stations. Train No. 07182 Kollam Kakinada Town Special (one service): These special trains will stop at Kayankulam, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ettumanur, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Chittoor, Pakala, Piler, Madanapalle, Kadiri, Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Gooty, Dhone, Bethamcherla, Nandyal, Diguvametta, Giddalur, Markapur Rd, Donakonda, Narasaraopet, Guntur, Vijayawada, Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Rajahmundry and Samalkot stations. Train No. 07185 Kollam Guntur Special (two services): These Special trains will stop at Kayankulam, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ettumanur, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, Palakkad, Podanur, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Chittoor, Pakala, Piler, Madanapalle, Kadiri, Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Gooty, Dhone, Bethamcherla, Nandyal, Diguvametta, Giddalur, Markapur Rd, Donakonda and Narasaraopet, stations. Train No. 07183/07184 Narsapur Kollam - Narsapur Special (Four services): These special trains will stop at Palakollu, Bhimavaram Jn, Bhimavaram Town, Akividu, Kaikaluru, Gudivada, Vijayawada, Guntur, Narasaraopet, Markapur Rd, Giddalur, Diguvametta, Nandyal, Koilakuntla, Jammalamadugu, Proddatur, Yerraguntla, Kadapa, Rajampet, Renigunta, Tirupati, Chittoor, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Ettumanur, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Chengannur and Kayankulam stations in both the directions. These special trains consist of first AC, 2AC, 3AC, sleeper class and general second-class coaches.

Flute workshop in Thrissur

Just as greeting card culture perished, our art form is also slowly dying, says Kerala bamboo artist

KOCHI: The six-day Bamboo Fest, which concluded at Marine Drive on Thursday, was a crowd-puller from Day 1. Among those who put up various bamboo and other items on display at the fest was a man sitting inside a 3x3-ft-stall, poised and focused. He is B Radhakrishnan, a 58-year-old with a story, about Perinad in Kollam, a village once home to hundreds of handicrafts until two decades ago. We had so many hay art craftsmen in our village that we were able to ship a single order of eight lakh hay greeting cards to Europe around 25 years ago. Even today, we get a handful of orders, but the craftsmens count has come down from tens of hundreds to mere hundreds. Of them, just a few dozen are seasoned ones. Just as the greeting card culture perished, our art form is also slowly dying, said Radhakrishnan, a two-time winner of the National Handicrafts Award and numerous other accolades, including the State Handicrafts Award. At the fest, he exhibited a few of his works. The art needs a bit of artistic talent and lots of patience. One may find it simple, but it takes a lot of time, up to 25 to 30 days, to come up with some work, he said, pointing towards the work titled Buddha. Buddha depicts the new era, where Gautam Buddhas ideas are fading faded. A human body covered in termites, a horse exhausted from running, terrorists with hidden faces and various emotions of Buddha have all been created with the minutest detailing. Replicas of The Last Supper, Gandhi, a few sceneries and a number of portraits hang behind him. Hay art is like any art. You have the liberty to create any images that come to mind. Its just that the work hours are longer. It takes time to bring to fore the minutest emotions and elements through the medium and thats the fun element in it, he said. All it takes is hays, gond gum and canvas. Radhakrishnan started 42 years ago. I learnt the art from my elder brother. However, todays youngsters are not very interested in it; as I said, patience is the basic skill of this art, he said. Even today, his day begins by drying the long hays and separating them. We can cut three pieces from a long straw. When straw dries, it first turns white. As it dries further, it turns yellow, then light brown, and finally dark brown. These are the basic colours we use for shades in this art form. We have hays that are several years old, he said. His Meditating Hanuman is yellowish, Thrissur Pooram is light greyish and the Budha is dark greyish. Radhakrishnan said he was confident that one can lead a good life with hay art. We create works that are priced from Rs 50 to several lakhs. The patience is worth it, he said. Radhakrishnan said he himself has trained a thousand people in the art. Only a handful of them stick to it. Even my son is busy trying his luck at a corporate job, he concluded, signalling the hard reality the art faces today.

Thrissur court in Kerala orders registering case against two policemen for abetment to suicide of teen

Special Court trying offences under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act orders registering case against two policemen for abetment to suicide of 18-year-old who was tortured in police custody

UAE: Indian graphic designer falls to death in Sharjah

In a tragic incident, a 40-year-old Indian graphic designer recently died after falling from a building in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The deceased has been identified as K J Jose, a native of Kadappuram village in Thrissur district in the Indian state of Kerala. As per a report by Kerala daily Manorama Online, Jose 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 .

Orange alert issued for rains in four Kerala districts

Thiruvananthapuram: Several parts of Kerala are expected to receive heavy rainfall on Thursday with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert in four districts of the state for the day. The IMD sounded the orange alert in Kollam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts. The weather department also issued a yellow alert in eight districts of the state for the day. An orange alert means very heavy rain (6 cm to 20 cm). A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. The IMD further said that there was a possibility of light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms in some parts of the state in the next five days. Besides that, there was a possibility of very heavy rainfall in some parts of the state on Thursday, it said.

Kerala IMD weather update: Heavy rains prompt orange alert in 4 regions

Kerala braces for heavy downpours on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Kollam, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur, predicting very heavy rainfall (6-20 cm). Eight other districts are under a yellow alert, anticipating heavy rainfall (6-11 cm). Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms is also expected across the state over the next five days.

Three defence witnesses turn up for actor Dileep in abduction-rape case

KOCHI: The three defence witnesses from the side of Dileep in the actor abduction case have turned up before the Ernakulam District Principal Sessions Court, with the trial nearing conclusion. According to the court diary, it was on November 29 that Dileeps lawyer submitted a list comprising names of three persons who were to be examined as defence witnesses. On December 5, the three defence witnesses appeared in court. While the examination of one witness was completed then, the other two were examined on December 6. On November 27, after completing the examination of the accused under section 313 of CrPC, the court had considered a petition of an accused for acquittal under CrPC 232. After hearing the petition, the court however found there was no ground to acquit the accused. On Wednesday, the court heard arguments from the side of the prosecution, and would continue in the coming days. After the prosecution argument, the court will hear arguments from the part of defence lawyers. Later, a final hearing would be conducted before posting the case for judgment, which the prosecution and defence lawyers expect in a months time. It was on February 17, 2017, that the survivor was abducted and raped in a moving vehicle while on her way to Kochi from Thrissur. Nine accused persons, including Dileep, are facing trial in the case. The trial that commenced in 2019 has seen several controversies including the allegation that a pen drive containing assault visuals was illegally accessed. Recently, the victim wrote to the President of India for her intervention, claiming that there has been no action from the part of the High Court and the Supreme Court into the alleged tampering of visuals.

Thrissur youths trapped in Russian warfront

Binil Babu and Jain Kurian from Thrissur, both relatives, who went to Russia seeking jobs, have been stuck in the conflict zone since June, carrying out dangerous tasks like delivering supplies and digging trenches for Russian soldiers in Ukrainian territory

Victory for UDF in Kerala Local Body By-Poll, Set Back for LDF

Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling LDF in Kerala suffered a setback in the local body by-elections held in 31 local body wards across the state. The UDF won in 17, the LDF in 11, and the BJP in three wards. The LDF is set to lose its rule in three panchayats which the UDF has wrested. The LDF will lose power in the following panchayats; Thachanpara in Palakkad, Nattikka in Thrissur, and Karimannoor in Idukki district. Kerala PCC president K Sudhakaran said the results reflected the people's anger against the government at the grassroots level. There is widespread discontentment against the LDF misrule in the state. People are at the receiving end and their anger is reflected in the local body election by-poll results, he said. Sudhakaran pointed out that in the by-elections held in 31 local self-government wards in the state, the UDF wrested nine wards from the LDF and won 17 seats. The LDF leadership, however, maintained that the byelections were held on local issues. They said the victory in the recent Chelakkara assembly by-poll indicated there was no anti-incumbency against the government. The LDF leaders said the ruling front wrested sitting seats of UDF in Kollam, Thevalakkara, Naduvilakkara and Kallada panchayat. Many in the LDF believe that the defeat in the polls is a timely wake-up call for the ruling front to put their house in order as the local body polls in Kerala are scheduled to be held next year.

Upper hand for Congress-led UDF in Kerala local body bypolls; wrests three panchayats from LDF

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) managed to gain a clear upper hand in the local body by-election to 31 wards, that was held on Tuesday, in 11 districts. Of the 31 wards, UDF managed to wrest 17 while the LDF (Left Democratic Front) and the BJP-led NDA won in 11 and three wards respectively when results were announced on Wednesday. The UDF also wrested three garma panchayats from the LDF. They were: Nattika in Thrissur, Karimannoor in Idukki and Thachampara in Palakkad. Before the election, LDF had controlled 15 of the 31 wards while UDF and NDA had held 13 and three wards respectively. While LDF lost four wards to the UDF in the by-election, NDA's tally remained the same. The 31 wards to which bypoll was held on Tuesday included 23 grama panchayat wards, three municipality wards, four block panchayat wards and one district panchayat ward in districts except Ernakulam, Wayanad and Kasaragod

Jumbo parade: Association approaches Kerala HC chief justice against order

KOCHI: The Poora Premi Sangham, an association representing the festival enthusiasts in Thrissur, has submitted a complaint to Kerala High Court Chief Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar, on the order imposing restrictions on elephant parade. The association urged the chief justice to quash the impugned order issued by the division bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and P Gopinath and assign the matter to a bench free from perceived conflicts of interest. The complaint said that the original case on the brutal killing of a dog was registered as a suo motu writ petition based on a letter written by Justice Jayasankaran Nambiar to the-then chief justice. The case was assigned to the bench of the initiating judge. This has raised concerns about judicial impartiality. The case expanded beyond its initial focus due to petitions from animal welfare groups seeking a ban on elephant parades at temple festivals. According to the complaint, judges Nambiar and Gopinath were affiliated with a legal firm which represented animal rights groups in a writ petition filed in 2015.

Malayalam film shot entirely on iPhone set for IFFK screening

KASARAGOD: Adhithya Baby, 22, is set to bedazzle audience at this years International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), with her directorial debut Kamadevan Nakshatram Kandu (Cupid saw the star). Scheduled to be screened in the Malayalam cinema section, the film, which explores the lives of hypersexual men and the chain of events that unfold when a woman becomes a part of their lives, promises to provide an intriguing cinematic experience. However, what sets the movie by the young Konnakkad resident apart is the fact that the entire film all one hour and 25 minutes of it was shot on a mobile phone in a span of 28 days. After a thorough discussion with our team, we decided to use a mobile phone, specifically the iPhone 14 Pro, as the primary tool for capturing the entire film. This not only significantly reduced production costs but also streamlined the filmmaking process, making it efficient and convenient, Adhithya said. The increasing trend of using mobile phones as a filmmaking tool has not only revolutionised the industry but also empowered aspiring filmmakers, allowing them to bring their creative visions to life without the constraints of traditional, high-budget production methods. Despite the inherent limitations associated with mobile phone filmmaking, Adhithya and team meticulously planned each shot and frame, successfully overcoming many challenges, including weather and availability of natural light. The film was primarily shot using minimal equipment, including tripods and basic lighting setups, with a strong reliance on natural light. Produced for approximately Rs 2.5 lakh, Kamadevan Nakshatram Kandu demonstrates the potential of mobile phone filmmaking to deliver high-quality results even within tight budgetary constraints. Adhithya said they approached the film after proper homework, which helped them shoot flexibly. The team has also done a few short films, one of which was presented in the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), 2023. The shooting began in July and the production wrapped up in August. The film is presented under the Good Films That Make Your Life Better productions. This is the companys second film to screen at the IFFK Blue Hair, screened last year, being the first. A theatre arts graduate from Thrissur with a focus on acting, Adhithya is currently pursuing PG in performing arts in Puducherry.

Theatre buffs protest move to postpone ITFoK 25

THRISSUR: The Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademis (KSNA) decision to extend the dates of the International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) 2025 has sparked widespread concern across social media platforms. Theatre enthusiasts, united under the banner of NATAK, have launched a hashtag campaign with the slogan #NirtharuthuITFoK to express their discontent. The 15th edition of ITFoK was initially scheduled for February 2025, with entries open until November 10. However, following the receipt of entries from both national and international theatre groups, the Akademi recently sent emails apologising for the uncertain postponement of the festival. The sudden delay has fueled speculation that this might signal the end of ITFoK altogether, igniting a significant controversy in Kerala. Protests have emerged from leftist thinkers and theatre artists, prompting a response from KSNA secretary Karivellur Murali. Murali issued a statement explaining that the state government is facing a severe financial crisis, exacerbated by the recent landslides in Wayanad. Due to this funding shortage, the executive committee of KSNA decided to postpone ITFoK 2025, with hopes to reschedule it before the end of December 2025. He called for cooperation from all stakeholders to overcome these challenges and ensure the festival can be held later in the year. Introduced by actor Murali in 2008 during his tenure as chairperson of the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi, ITFoK has played a pivotal role in nurturing theatre in Kerala, inspiring many to pursue careers in the field and refine their acting skills. Shailaja, the founding festival director of ITFoK, criticised the KSNA administrations decision, calling it an irresponsible act. She noted that the state government had already allocated its annual budget for KSNA, and there had been no cuts to the funding. Additionally, there had been no official statement or order from the government to cancel ITFoK. Shailaja also pointed out that the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is still going as planned, further highlighting the inconsistency of the KSNAs decision. Shailaja emphasised the importance of ITFoK as a platform for cultural exchange, providing theatre enthusiasts, artists, and professionals with opportunities to explore global theatre trends. If the festival is not organised within this financial year, the funds allocated in the budget will go unused. Furthermore, with local body elections approaching, the chances of organising ITFoK later in 2025 are slim, she said. Prominent theatre personalities, including Hareesh Peradi, have also expressed their opposition to the postponement of ITFoK through social media posts, joining the growing chorus of protests against the KSNAs decision.

Heavy rain likely, Orange alert for three districts in Kerala on Thursday

An orange alert warning of very heavy rainfall has been issued for three districts Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur on Thursday by the India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Kerala man sent to fight in Ukraine, wife seeks help

Binil T B, an electrician from Thrissur, left for Russia seven months ago, hoping to secure a better job and higher wages while his wife was expecting their first child.

Changampuzha fest: Odissi dancer Madhulita mesmerises audience

KOCHI: Dancer Madhulita Mohapatra and her team Nirtyantar from Bengaluru regaled the audience with an Odissi performance at Changampuzha Park on Sunday. The dance, Colours of Krishna, was choreographed by Madhulita. She, along with Sahana Raghavendra Maiyya, Reshmi Divakaran, Nandana Sasikumar, Angeleena Avni, and Shubhangi Gosh performed on stage. The event was organised by Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram as part of the month-long Changampuzha fest to celebrate the life and contributions of the poet. The fest, in which several dancers, kathakali and theatre artists, and musicians are performing, will conclude on December 31. On Monday, Thrissur-based dancer Sandra Pisharody will perform mohiniyattam at the park.

Protests in Thrissur demanding preservation of traditional festivals and rituals

EXPRESS DIALOGUES | CPM not against any religious practices: Minister VN Vasavan

V N Vasavan, the lively CPM leader, handles the key portfolios of devaswom, ports and cooperation. While the Sabarimala pilgrimage season is progressing smoothly, the noises surrounding the cooperative banking sector scams have quietened down a bit, showing his adept handling of the situation. In an interaction with TNIE, Vasavan touches upon all these topics. Excerpts It seems the government prepared well for the Sabarimala season this year. Even the NSS has openly expressed happiness with the arrangements at Sabarimala... Yes. The NSS has publicly expressed its appreciation for the facilities and systems in place at Sabarimala. Other organisations, such as the Ayyappa Seva Sangham, have also voiced their approval. The success of the new system can be attributed to the teamwork between various departments including the police, health department, and the devaswom officials. Can you explain the planning and execution? We looked at the issues that arise every year so they could be addressed to have a smooth pilgrimage season. Normally, the preparatory meetings begin during September-October. I said lets start in July, which means two months earlier than usual. First, I visited the Sannidhanam, and on returning, held a state-level meeting at Pampa. There we decided on the preparatory work. Later, I took the initiative to hold a meeting with all the heads of departments. Another meeting was held in Pathanamthitta and then an online meeting had the CM in attendance. Later, I went to all edathavalams (halting places for Sabarimala pilgrims) such as Ettumannur, Vaikom, Kadapattoor, Chengannur, Pandalam, Pathanamthitta etc., and held meetings. Normally, ministers do not participate in such meetings, but I attended all but one. Utmost care was taken to provide all amenities to pilgrims. Any steps in particular? An important one was regarding parking space. We tarred all roads to Sabarimala well in advance, and then the parking lots. At Nilakkal, the existing parking space could accommodate 8,000 vehicles. We increased it by another 2,500, to accommodate 10,500 vehicles. Second, the other route to Sabarimala is through Erumeli in the north. After a discussion with the Devaswom Board, we found that the Kerala Housing Board owned a six-acre plot there. We approached the revenue minister, and they took the initiative and prepared the land for parking. So, we got two additional spaces for parking this season. But there are complaints regarding the limited number of slots for daily darshan... There are no complaints. Ill explain. When we discussed the matter with the police, they said there were issues with spot booking. Our decision, taken before the season, was that no devotee would be turned away without getting darshan. The police restriction on spot booking was to ensure that more devotees arrived through the virtual booking system. If 80,000 pilgrims come per day, the intention is to allow 70,000 through the virtual queue and 10,000 through spot booking. There is one difference this time. Earlier, when a policeman helped a pilgrim onto the 18 sacred steps, one of his hands would be on the rope and the other on the devotee. That way, only 65 pilgrims could go through in a minute. Now, the policeman can sit and help the pilgrims, and thus, 85 pilgrims can go through in a minute. When theres no delay, the pilgrims are also happy. Do you mean to say that more pilgrims can be accommodated now and that there can be relaxations in the quota when the need arises? Even if theres a sudden surge in pilgrims, we can accommodate them, unlike in the past. While some devotees cancel or postpone their visits, the system allows for adjustments. A recent incident involving policemen taking photos in front of the sacred steps at Sabarimala sparked a controversy... Taking photos in front of the steps is against temple rituals, according to the court ruling. The police deployed at Sannidhanam go through great strain. It is strenuous work. After 10 days of toil at Sannidhanam, they felt the need for a photo by the pathinettam padi (18 holy steps). It is natural, but when the court says it is against the rituals, we have to take action. But it is the same place where an RSS leader, Valsan Thillankeri, earlier stood with his back to the Sanctum Sanatorium and addressed people? True... he stood with his back facing the deity and was shouting. What he did was wrong, but just because he did it, the actions of the policemen do not become right. We believe everyone should respect and follow the rules and rituals of the temple. In the past, the Ayyapa Seva Sangham used to provide free food (annadanam) to pilgrims in many places. But that has now stopped... The High Court has said that only the annadanam of the devaswom is permitted because there is a wrong tendency in many places related to annadanam. Some are collecting funds in the name of providing food. There is also the quality of the food served, and the court ruled that only the devaswom can do it. There is a suggestion that the virtual queue system should be handled by the Devaswom Board and not the police... If we want to progress to the Tirupati model, our current virtual queue system must evolve to its full potential. In Tirupati, the system is very easy... all you need is an Aadhaar card. It will take us some more time to reach that status. The government has been cautious and prompt in providing facilities to Sabarimala pilgrims after 2018. Is it because of the backlash suffered due to the stand taken by the CPM in the womens entry issue? The party has always been consistent in its stand that the Sabarimala pilgrimage should be conducted adhering to the rituals and practices of the temple. That is not a new decision. The CPM always upholds secularism. The party will not take any step that will hurt the sentiments of devotees. In issues related to faith, the CPM upholds the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. We will not take a stand violating the rituals and practices of any religion. What is the current stand on womens entry to the Sabarimala temple? Our current stand is still very much in line with the Supreme Court order. We dont have any other opinion. The issue is still in front of the Supreme Court. Lets wait for the verdict. There is no decision by either the party or the government that women have to enter the shrine. You are one of the most silent but efficient ministers in the second Pinarayi government and you are handling some of the most sensitive departments. What is the reason for the chief ministers confidence in you? I always try to complete the task assigned to me diligently and take advice from the chief minister. Our captain is strong and very supportive. In my opinion, administration is an art and we have to study the issue and make timely decisions. We have to use the services of our subordinates, recognising their strengths and weaknesses. We should not take up a task that we cannot accomplish. It is said that you are one of the two troubleshooters of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in central Kerala. Is it true? (Laughs). I have always tried to rush to the spot and support rescue operations during disasters. From the Aimkombu bus tragedy in 1998 to the boat tragedies in Thekkady and Kumarakom, Changanassery tipper accident, and the Koottikkal and Wayanad landslides, I have always been at the forefront of rescue operations. Once actor Mammootty asked, How do you manage to reach accident spots before the Fire Force. Whenever I hear the siren of a fire tender, I contact the fire force and seek details about the accident. I feel it is the duty of a social worker to be at the forefront of rescue and relief work during disasters. Our intervention may help reduce the magnitude of the disaster and save precious lives. Coming to the cooperative sector, several scams have been unearthed in the sector. And some party leaders are also involved. Why is this happening? In general, the cooperative sector in Kerala is gaining strength. When we look at the credit sector, Kerala accounts for 71% of Indias credit in the cooperative sector. The sector here boasts an investment of Rs 2.60 lakh crore - a scale unmatched by any other state in India. This success has unfortunately attracted scrutiny from the central authorities. Whats the status of the Karuvannur cooperative bank issue? To date, around Rs 130 crore has been returned to the depositors. Even people who had to be paid Rs 1 lakh have been given their money back. Are people reinvesting in the bank? Yes. I have been told about instances where people who had to be returned amounts to the tune of Rs 10 lakh decided to withdraw only Rs 1 lakh, leaving the remaining Rs 9 lakh as deposit in the bank. The bank is back in business. It has begun granting gold loans. Dont you think there was a systemic failure in the Karuvannur bank? Complaints about the bank had surfaced in 2009, 2011 and 2019... Complaints regarding irregularities at the bank have been raised since 2009. It should be noted that these complaints highlighted the names of officials occupying top posts at the bank. Taking cognizance of the complaints, I suspended 16 of these officers. It was a first in the history of the cooperative sector. I was advised against it. However, I stood by my decision. Even the union representatives came to meet me. Have you felt that the way the CPM handled the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank issue was not right? No. We had taken the stand that everyone associated with the bank, including the board of directors, had failed in their duties. That was the reason why action was taken against each one of them. They were suspended. We had taken action against them within the party. But the delay in taking action had adversely affected CPMs credibility... Well, we cant act without receiving the report. We cant jump the gun. We constituted an investigation committee and took action based on its probe report. No other party will take such an action. Former KPCC secretary K K Abraham was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the Pulpally Service Cooperative Bank scam. Then there are the Puthur Cooperative Bank and the Thiruvithamcore Cooperative Bank scams. Both were UDF-governed banks. Did they take action against the culprits? No! Was the party leadership in Thrissur not aware of the issues with the cooperative bank scam? It proved crucial during the election in Thrissur... The Thrissur leadership did not spare anyone when the matter was presented before them with evidence. Strict action has been taken against those involved. The party hasnt taken measures anywhere in Thrissur, including in Karuvannur... What you said is absolutely wrong. Weve taken action against a district secretariat member, and then area committee and LC members... But there is suspicion of the involvement of certain top party leaders... Its natural to put top leaders under the scanner. But, for instance, have they found A C Moideen, who had handled the department, guilty of any wrongdoing anywhere? He doesnt become guilty just because the media has written against him. Now, they have lifted the freeze on his account. One can raise allegations against anyone. But one becomes an accused only after the charge against him/her is proved. No such person (top leader) has become an accused anywhere in any such case. How do you evaluate the merger of district cooperative banks with the Kerala Bank? There are views that DCBs have lost their operational freedom and that the earlier system was better... These are false narratives. As a matter of fact, had Kerala Bank not been formed, several district cooperative banks including the Thiruvananthapuram Cooperative Bank could have been closed by now. Several district cooperative banks had high NPAs and their operations were on the verge of closure. However, after Kerala Bank was formed, all these banks turned profit-making entities in four years. The NPA of Kerala Bank is 18.01%, having come down from 38% when Kerala Bank was formed. At one stage, the NPA came down to 13%. In a recent meeting, I have directed that NPA be brought down to 7% and that it should not rise above 10%. Has Malappuram District Cooperative Bank merged with Kerala Bank? Yes, the merger is complete. We did it after getting a verdict from the court. Now, the case is with the Supreme Court. RBI has favoured us in the case as per the affidavit filed at the court. Have issues like the Karuvannur bank scam affected the deposits of cooperative banks? Are people, especially youngsters, hesitant to deposit money with the bank? In some places, there were large deposit withdrawals. Primarily, the credibility of the bank is a key factor. If a bank is performing well, people will not withdraw their deposits. In some places, people withdrew money after hearing news about scams. Later, they returned and deposited the money. It shows that people have confidence in the cooperative sector. Whats the politics behind the entry of the multi-state cooperatives? One aspect is the wealth itself. The Union government is attempting to control the cooperative sector, which has an investment of Rs 2.5 lakh crore. Secondly, Kerala has over 400 products in the cooperative sector, and now we have even started exporting some of them. There are attempts to divert these products to multi-state cooperative societies. Is the AR Nagar Cooperative Society in Malappuram another Karuvannur-like scam in the making? There is no scam in the AR Nagar Cooperative Society. The issue is that they received more deposits through benamis. According to the regulations, only members can deposit or avail loans from cooperative societies. Even those wishing to join a chit fund have to take a C-Class membership. Do you feel the changing governments werent giving the cooperation department the importance it deserved until the Karuvannur scam broke out? Not at all. The first cooperation minister in Kerala was Joseph Mundassery in 1957. Thereafter, P R Kurup, M V Raghavan, Pinarayi Vijayan and many other stalwarts have managed the cooperation department. Moving to Kottayam politics, speculation is that the Kerala Congress Mani Group is going back to the UDF That is totally baseless. Their chairman himself has clarified that theres no such agenda at all. Its just cooked up by the media. We have to believe his words for now. But there is some rift between the CPM and the Kerala Congress (M) in various local bodies... There are no such issues in any of the panchayats now. The only issue was in Pala municipality, which has already been sorted out and the person who created the issue has been ousted. We are on good terms with the KC(M) and are working together in all matters. Actually, the Congress and the Opposition didnt get the result they expected in the Chelakkara by-election. They are now finding ways to block a third term for the LDF by creating such false news. There is talk that Christian votes are going to the BJP. How do you see it? Not at all. I havent noticed any such shift in voting patterns in Kottayam. They invite union ministers and governors to their events. That does not mean they vote for the BJP. Christians have been watching the BJP governments stand on the Manipur issue. Has the PM visited the place? We cannot say the minorities trust the BJP. Manipur does not directly affect Christians here. But Munambam does... But they (BJP) need to make a decision that is convincing for them as well. LDF lost the sitting seat in Kottayam during the parliament elections... Not just Kottayam, right? They (KC-M) changed the front and came to the LDF. We know that the voting patterns in parliament and state elections are different. We saw the difference this time as well. In the recent election, how do you evaluate the performance of LDF in Palakkad? It was good, as we got 800 more votes. Sarin gave a good fight. He managed to put the UDF on the defensive. Had SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami not been there, what would have been their situation? The situation is that the CPM doesnt have a candidate in Palakkad... There is Lenins theory, which stresses on the use of the divisions on the side of the enemies for the growth of working-class politics. After the election, we saw that the candidate performed well. We also got one of the best workers in the Congress camp. Coming to the ports ministry, whats the status of the commissioning of the Vizhinjam port? Earlier, the decision was to commission it in December. Recently, we signed the supplementary agreement. The takeaway is that the four phases will be completed by 2028. Secondly, the return on investments was estimated to be received from 2039. Now, we will get it in 2034. Thirdly, the VGF (viability gap funding) we had to give was Rs 480 crore. It has come down to Rs 365 crore, and we had to give only half of it in the first phase. These achievements are significant. TNIE team: Kiran Prakash, Sasidharan Nair M K, Rajesh Abraham, Anil S, Rajesh Ravi, Shyam P V, Harikrishna B, A Sanesh (photos), Pranav V P (video)

Thrissur East becomes overall champions in Revenue District Art Festival

Thrissur East scores 851 points at the fete. Chavakkad comes second with 825 points, followed by Irinjalakuda in the third position with 823 points

Tight competitions at Thrissur Revenue District School Arts Festival

The four-day festival will conclude on Saturday

Puthur zoological park to be fully opened to public in June 2025

All civil works will be completed by March 2025 and animals from the Thrissur zoo will be shifted to the park

CPI calls for amendment to elephant parading guidelines to ensure smooth conduct of traditional festivals

Party Thrissur district executive committee calls for immediate intervention by State government to amend regulations in consultation with legal experts

Elephant dies after falling into septic tank in Kerala's Thrissur

Thrissur: A sub-adult male elephant which fell into an old unused septic tank in Palappilly village near Chalakudy here on Thursday morning died due to the injuries suffered in the incident, forest officials said. The incident occurred around 8.30 am and by around noon the elephant had died, a senior forest official said. The pachyderm is suspected to have died due to the injuries to its neck when it fell inside the septic tank, the official said. The exact cause of death can be confirmed only after a post mortem is carried out, the official said, adding that currently the forest officials were trying to pull out the carcass from the septic tank. The trapped elephant was part of a herd which was pushed back into the forest, the official said.

Elephant falls into septic tank in Kerala's Thrissur

Efforts on to rescue the male pachyderm

Rain causes widespread crop damage in Thrissur

Paddy fields submerged, low-lying areas flooded, bunds breached at Karyattukara

Kunnamkulam all set to host Thrissur Revenue District School Arts Festival from Tuesday

Heavy rain lashing across district poses threat to festival. Collector has announced holiday for educational institutions on Tuesday. However, festival will be conducted

Farmers, green activists converge in Thrissur against Genetically Modified crops

They met in the wake of the Supreme Court order directing the Centre to formulate a national policy on GM crops through public consultations

Bindu opens Buds School Festivalin Thrissur

Thrissur to host Kerala Science Congress in February

International science film festival begins in Thrissur on Friday

30 science films, sky watch, and lectures among the programmes

Kerala likely to receive intense spells of rain this weekend

An orange alert has been issued for Thrissur and Malappuram on Saturday

Logo unveiled for Thrissur Revenue District School Arts Festival

Womans death: lookout notice issued for suspected Thrissur native

Devotees were stopped at Thrissur Pooram, Thiruvambady Devaswom informs HC

Meet Divya Prabha whose intimate scenes from All We Imagine As Light leaked online

Born on 18 May 1991 in Kerala's Thrissur, Divya Prabha entered Malayalam cinema with the 2013 film Lokpal.

Five crushed to death after truck ploughs into tent in Kerala

Thrissur (Kerala): At least five people, including two children, were killed and as many persons injured when a truck ploughed into the roadside tent where they were sleeping in this central Kerala district early on Tuesday, police said. The victims, nomads living in tents set up along the highway, were struck by the truck on a national highway in Nattika, under the Valapad police station limits, at 4.30 am, they said. The injured have been admitted to Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital, with the condition of two individuals reported as serious, police said. Among the deceased are two children, aged one-and-a-half and four years. Two women were also killed. The driver and cleaner of the vehicle have been taken into custody, police added.

Lorry crashes into group sleeping by roadside in Thrissur; 5 killed, including 2 children

According to the police, the lorry, which hit the barricades, overturned and hit the victims. It is suspected that the driver fell asleep.

Chelakkara assembly by-poll: CPM defies anti-incumbency trend with remarkable victory

Thiruvanthapuram: CPM-led LDF candidate U R Pradeep achieved a remarkable victory in the Chelakkara assembly by-election, providing significant relief to the Pinarayi Vijayan government. U R Pradeep secured 64,259 votes, defeating his closest rival Remya Haridas of the Congress led UDF , by a margin of 12,201 votes. The Congress candidate garnered 52,137 votes. The BJP candidate, K Balakrishnan, also had a strong showing, securing 33,354 votes. The BJP increased its vote share by 9309 votes compared to 2021 assembly elections. Although the Left's victory margin decreased by 27,199 votes compared to the 2021 assembly elections, the Left leadership maintained that the victory confirmed the absence of any anti-incumbency sentiment. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the victory in Chelakkara will bolster the popular support and approval of the LDF government. The people have delivered a resounding victory to the Left Democratic Front in the Chelakkara constituency, disregarding the organized propaganda and attacks, he said. He said the LDF secured a secular vote against all forms of communalism. The election results send a clear message about the necessity to confront communalism and maintain secular politics uncompromisingly. Pinarayi indicated that the election outcomes demonstrate that the anti-incumbency campaign did not sway the electorate in the least. In Palakkad, the LDF garnered more votes than in previous elections. This mandate is expected to invigorate the continuation of development and welfare initiatives with greater vigor in the future, he said. The chief minister said although the UDF managed to hold onto Palakkad with the support of communal forces, the LDF candidate's vote count saw an increase from previous numbers. The BJP is unlikely to establish a lasting presence in Kerala. Barring temporary gains, as witnessed by their victory in Thrissur during the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has not been able to make strong inroads. CPM central committee member K Radhakrishnan remarked that the triumph in Chelakkara signifies the onset of the LDF's campaign to secure power for a third consecutive term in 2026. The electorate has endorsed their governance for another term. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal countered the chief ministers claim that there was no anti-incumbency in Chelakkara. The vote share of CPM has come down from 82,000 to 62,000 votes and they are saying there was no anti-incumbency factor, he said.

SYS human caravan to arrive in Thrissur on November 24

Kuruva terror stories fuel fear in Thrissur

WhatsApp rumours spread panic; police intensify patrolling

Four arrested in Keralas Thrissur for gold heist after attacking jewellery shop owners

Kerala: Bail denied to police officer accused of raping minor Dalit girl

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has denied bail to a police officer accused of raping a 14-year-old school girl belonging to Dalit community two years ago on Childrens Day in a house in Thrissur district of the state. Justice K Babu denied the relief to the officer, who was a Student Police Cadet (SPC) instructor 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 .

Will protest if Cochin Devaswom Board continues efforts to take control of Thrissur Pooram: BJP

Response after Cochin Devaswom Board submits report in HC pointing out Thiruvambadi Devaswoms role in Thrissur Pooram disruption

Kerala Driver Fined Rs 2.5 Lakh For Blocking Ambulance, Licence Revoked

The incident reportedly happened on Nov. 7 in the Chalakudy area of Thrissur district.

Thiruvambadi Devaswom aided in Pooram disruption, Cochin Devaswom Board tells HC

Cochin Devaswom Board submits its suspicions in a report in response to a batch of petitions in the HC on Thrissur Pooram disruption

Pinarayi's remarks against IUML supremo evokes sharp reactions

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's remarks against Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) supremo Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal evoked sharp reactions from the Congress and the League on Monday. The leadership of the Congress and the League alleged that the statements of the CPI(M) veteran were a reflection of his and his party's close nexus with communal forces. While addressing a bypoll campaign meeting of LDF candidate P Sarin in Pallakad on Sunday, the CM criticised IUML supremo Thangal, saying he was acting like a worker of Jamaat-e-Islami. The IUML, the second-largest coalition partner in the Congress-led UDF, made a strongly worded attack against the Left veteran through an editorial in the party mouthpiece Chandrika. In the editorial, the IUML said the people of Kerala fondly call Panakkad Thangal as the brand ambassador of communal harmony, and CM Vijayan should not come to assess his qualifications. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's attempt to evaluate Thangal's qualifications reflects his and his party's close ties with communal forces, the mouthpiece alleged. At a time when the Sangh Parivar forces are making all attempts to destroy the communal harmony of the state and try to create communal polarisation by raising various issues, CM Vijayan and the Left government have been constantly doing things that support them, it claimed. The attitude towards top police officers who were facing allegations in the disruption of Thrissur Pooram and the stand in the waqf land issue in Munambam were examples of this collaboration, it further alleged. By targeting Panakkad Thangal and his Kodappanakkal family, who have played a key role in fostering the communal harmony of the state, Vijayan has given strong support to the interests of Sangh Parivar forces, the editorial said. The IUML mouthpiece also sought to know why the chief minister had become disturbed and intolerant when a former leader of the BJP came to the secular fold without any conditions and sought the blessings of Thangal. If it is not the reflection of Sangh Parivar connections, what else? it asked. The editorial also said it could not be viewed as a coincidence that the Babri Masjid demolition issue was used by Vijayan to criticise Thangal. When IUML leader K M Shaji asked Pinarayi Vijayan not to assess the qualifications of Panakkad Thangal, Congress leader and Palakkad bypoll candidate Rahul Mamkootathil said the remarks were part of his Sanghi nature. The CM's remarks against Thangal were not a political attack. It was the exposition of his (CM's) Sanghi nature, Mamkootathil said. He alleged that Vijayan's Sanghi nature, hidden by public relations agencies, would come out at times. Mamkootathil also said that such a statement was expected from BJP state chief K Surendran, but here, the CM is making such remarks. Vijayan on Sunday criticised the meeting of former BJP leader Sandeep G Varier and the top leaders of Indian Union Muslim League, a day after he joined the Congress party, saying the workers and supporters of the IUML won't accept this. Varier was received by IUML chief Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, veteran party leader P K Kunhalikutty and other party leaders. Vijayan said the news of Varier's paying visit to IUML leaders brought back memories of an election held in Ottapalam in this district soon after the demolition of the Babri Masjid many years ago. The CM alleged that though the masjid was demolished by the RSS-led Sangh Parivar, it was the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and the Congress-led Central government that had extended all support for that. He further charged that the then IUML leadership was not willing to question the Congress party in Kerala over this out of fear of losing the ministership in the UDF government in the state at that time. The IUML leadership had to face the ire of the party workers then, as they had failed to oppose the wrong stand adopted by the Congress party, he alleged. Referring to the present developments, the CM said the people of the state were aware of all these facts and would realise the opportunistic stand. PTI LGK KH 11181232 NNNN

Kerala Police revokes license, fines Ciaz owner Rs 2.5 lakh for obstructing Ambulance; Watch viral video

A driver from Thrissur, Kerala, lost his licence and paid a Rs. 2.5 lakh fine. He blocked an ambulance on November 7 in Chalakudy. The ambulance was going to Thrissur Medical College. Paramedics' dashcam footage showed the driver blocking the ambulance for over two minutes. The video went viral on social media. People praised the police for taking action.

Kerala: Car driver fined for Rs 2.5 lakh for blocking ambulance

Kerala police imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on a car driver for refusing to give way to an ambulance. The emergency vehicle was heading from Ponnani to Thrissur Medical College. Kerala police imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on a car driver for refusing to give way to an ambulance. The emergency 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 .

Viral Video: Scammer posing as Mumbai Police calls real cop by mistake, gets a shocking surprise on Zoom

A scammer impersonating a Mumbai police officer accidentally targeted a real officer from the Thrissur cyber cell. The scammer alleged the officer's Aadhaar number was linked to dark net activities. The quick-thinking officer played along, gathering evidence and even engaging the scammer in a Zoom call.

Pooram lovers feel HC restrictions on parading elephants will cast shadow over festivities

Symbolic Pooram held in Thrissur demanding revision of rules

Watch: Fraudster impersonating Mumbai Police cop calls real police officer

A fraudster impersonating a Mumbai police officer in Kerala accidentally video-called a Thrissur Police Cyber Cell officer. The officer, initially pretending to have a faulty camera, eventually revealed his identity, stunning the scammer. The incident, shared by Thrissur City Police, went viral, drawing amusement and praise for the officer's quick thinking.

Varnolsavam celebrated in Thrissur

After Thrissur, Can BJP Make History In Palakkad?

Temple sets example by introducing mechanical elephant to honour tradition and preserve wildlife

Inspired by the Irinjadappilly Sri Krishna Temple in Thrissur, the temple trustees collaborated with PETA to bring Sankaranarayan to Kannur

Brisk polling in first 3 hrs of LS polls in Wayanad; 20.54 per cent turnout till 10.30 am

Wayanad/Thrissur(Kerala), Nov 13 (PTI) Brisk polling was seen in the Wayanad Lok Sabha and the Chelakkara assembly seats in Kerala as they witnessed a turnout of 20.54 and 19.08 per cent, respectively, after the first three hours of voting on Wednesday. The election process, held amidst tight security arrangements, was primarily incident-free except for electronic voting machine (EVM) breakdowns reported in some booths of Wayanad and Chelakkara. The EVM breakdowns were reportedly quickly addressed by the election officials. The voter turnout in Wayanad LS constituency was 13.7 per cent at 9.30 am, barely rose to 13.91 per cent at 10

Bypoll: Wayanad witnesses brisk polling

Wayanad/Thrissur(Kerala), Nov 13 (PTI) During the first hour of voting, Wayanad Lok Sabha and the Chelakkara assembly seats in Kerala witnessed a turnout of 6.96 and 7.2 per cent, respectively on Wednesday. People started arriving early in the morning at the 1,354 polling booths in the hill constituency of Wayanad where there are over 14 lakh registered voters, according to the Election Commission figures. Some arrived early, while others wanted to get it over with quickly before more people started reaching the polling stations, they told reporters. It is a holiday in Wayanad LS and Chelakkara assembly constituencies on account

Kerala: Polling begins in Wayanad LS seat

Wayanad/Thrissur: Voting in the bypolls for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat and the Chelakkara assembly constituency in Kerala commenced at 7am on Wednesday People started arriving early in the morning at the 1,354 polling booths in the hill constituency of Wayanad where there are over 14 lakh registered voters, according to the Election Commission figures. #WATCH | Kerala: People queue up at a polling station in Wayanad to vote for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-polls pic.twitter.com/lBF0ykyJNn ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024 The Wayanad constituency comprises seven assembly segments of Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district. A bypoll was necessitated in the hill constituency after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Wayanad LS seat in the general elections held earlier this year, vacated it after he also won from the Rae Bareli constituency. There are 16 candidates in the fray for the seat with Congress-led UDF's candidate and Rahul's sister Priyanka, who is making her electoral debut, CPI(M)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri and BJP-led NDA's Navya Haridas being the top contenders. Polling in Wayanad commenced amidst tight security arrangements which included deployment of over 2,500 security personnel and live monitoring of the by-election process by an extensive webcasting system. Voting for the Chelakkara assembly seat in Thrissur district of the state also saw people turning up early at the 177 polling stations in the constituency. There are six candidates in the fray for the assembly seat, where a bypoll was necessitated after LDF's K Radhakrishnan -- who won from there in 2021 -- was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Alathur constituency by defeating UDF's Ramya Haridas who had won from there in 2019. Haridas is now contesting from the Chelakkara assembly seat and is pitted against LDF's U R Pradeep and NDA's K Balakrishnan. There were close to two lakh voters in the constituency during the 2021 assembly election in the state. Voting began in Wayanad and Chelakkara after a mock poll was carried out by casting votes in favour of all candidates, including NOTA, whose names are there on an EVM.

Jharkhand Assembly polls live updates: First phase of voting begins across 43 seats, bypolls including Wayanad starts

Polling for the Jharkhand Assembly elections has begun, with 43 of its 81 seats going to vote in Phase 1 today. The 43 constituencies include 17 general seats, 20 reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and six for Scheduled Castes. The remaining 38 seats will vote in phase two polling on November 20. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made elaborate security arrangements as 950 polling booths have been identified as sensitive across 31 constituencies. The mock poll began at 5.30 am and regular poll begun at 7am and will continue till 5pm. The voting will end at 4pm at sensitive booths. The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a member of the opposition's INDIA bloc, will face off against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The NDA allies in Jharkhand Assembly polls are All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and Janata Dal (United), while the INDIA bloc is represented by JMM, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Left parties. In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly election, Hemant Soren-led JMM won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 and Congress won 16 seats. A coalition of the JMM, Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal formed the governmen, with Soren assuming the role of Chief Minister. Polling begins in Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha seat,Chelakkara assembly constituency Voting in the bypolls for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat and the Chelakkara assembly constituency in Kerala commenced at 7am. People started arriving early in the morning at the 1,354 polling booths in the hill constituency of Wayanad where there are over 14 lakh registered voters, according to the Election Commission figures. The Wayanad constituency comprises seven assembly segments of Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district. A bypoll was necessitated in the hill constituency after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Wayanad LS seat in the general elections held earlier this year, vacated it after he also won from the Rae Bareli constituency. There are 16 candidates in the fray for the seat with Congress-led UDF's candidate and Rahul's sister Priyanka, who is making her electoral debut, CPI(M)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri and BJP-led NDA's Navya Haridas being the top contenders. Voting for the Chelakkara assembly seat in Thrissur district of the state also saw people turning up early at the 177 polling stations in the constituency. There are six candidates in the fray for the assembly seat, where a bypoll was necessitated after LDF's K Radhakrishnan -- who won from there in 2021 -- was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Alathur constituency by defeating UDF's Ramya Haridas who had won from there in 2019. Haridas is now contesting from the Chelakkara assembly seat and is pitted against LDF's U R Pradeep and NDA's K Balakrishnan. There were close to two lakh voters in the constituency during the 2021 assembly election in the state. Voting for six assembly bypolls seats begin in Bengal Polling for by-elections to six assembly seats in West Bengal started at 7 AM on Wednesday, amid tight security arrangements, an official said. Voting will continue till 5 PM, he added. The by-polls are being held in Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur and Taldangra assembly constituencies in West Bengal. Notably, five of these constituencies are in the TMC strongholds of south Bengal, while Madarihat remains a BJP bastion in the northern part of the state. Altogether 108 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed for the by-elections. The bypolls were necessitated following the resignations of MLAs who were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections this year. Both the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP have fielded candidates for all six seats. The CPI (M)-led Left Front and the Congress are contesting the by-elections separately for the first time since 2021, following a recent change in the Bengal Congress leadership. The Left Front has announced candidates for five of the six seats, including one CPI(ML) nominee. The Congress has fielded candidates in all six assembly segments. Voting begins for bypolls to seven assembly seats in Rajasthan Voting for by-elections on seven assembly constituencies of Rajasthan began at 7 am on Wednesday morning under tight security arrangements, officials said. Polling began at 7 am, an official of the election department said. The seven seats going to the polls are: Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Chorasi, Salumber and Ramgarh. The results will be declared on November 23. As many as 69 candidates -- 10 female and 59 male -- are in the fray in the seven constituencies which have a total of 19.37 lakh voters. More than 9,000 security personnel have been deployed across 1,914 polling stations to ensure a smooth voting process. Currently, the 200-seat state assembly has 114 MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, 65 of the Congress, three of the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), two of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and eight Independent MLAs.

Munambam issue animates politics in the waning hours of bypoll campaign

Opposition is mindful that a rightward drift in traditionally pro-UDF Christian votes catalysed BJPs win in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency. CPI(M) reckons that splitting minority votes on religious lines may benefit BJP

Campaign ends for phase I of Jharkhand polls

New Delhi: Campaign ended on Monday for the first phase of assembly polls in Jharkhand and bypolls in Wayanad parliamentary seat and assembly seats across several states with leaders making strong efforts to woo the electorate. Priyanka Gandhi is making her electoral debut from Wayanad, the Lok Sabha seat won her brother Rahul Gandhi, who decided to retain the party's traditional seat of Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. Jharkhand will go to the polls on two phases on November 13 and 20. Forty-three seats will go the polls in the first phase. Campaigning in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and accused him of humiliating Champai Soren. Champai Soren has been loyal for so many years, standing with Hemantji, but how he was humiliated and removed is not just an insult to Champai Soren but an insult to the entire tribal community. The main issue was that Champai Soren stated that corruption should stop, but the JMM was not willing to end it, he alleged. The Union Minister further said that if BJP is voted into power in Jharkhand, a law would be brought to prevent the transfer of land to infiltrators, even if they marry tribal women. The illegal immigrants are taking up the jobs meant for tribals of the state... The infiltrators are dangerous for our daughters, our resources, and our land... When we form the government, we will bring a law that will prohibit the immigrant from registering tribal land in his name, even if he marries a tribal girl. We will make the immigrant give back the acquired land. Shah also accused Hemant Soren of vote bank politics and said Bangladeshi infiltrators were coming to the state. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also alleged that mafias are rapidly growing in Jharkhand and claimed that only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can ensure both security and governance in the state. Adityanath cited the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and highlighted how the authorities were strictly dealing with the miscreants. Mafias are flourishing in Jharkhand. Uttar Pradesh is right next to you. Go and see; no one will play with the law and order because if someone does so or tries to disrupt a festival, then the ticket to Yamraj is booked. (The accused are dealt with very strictly). Whether it is security or good governance, only the BJP can provide it, CM Yogi said while addressing a gathering in Bhawanathpur. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also took a dig at the Congress Hemant Soren. He addressed a public gathering in Chinia in Garhwa district. Even during the difficult times of British rule, Birsa Munda did a great job from the land of Jharkhand but it is unfortunate to say that Congress and Hemant Soren are hungry for power..., he said. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a road show in Ranchi and two rallies--one in Bokaro and another in Gumla--where he slammed Congress and its allies for attempting to create a divide between SCs, STs, and OBCs. Congress leaders including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi also campaigned in Jharkhand in the run-up to the first phase of polling. Congress on Sunday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the BJP, accusing the party of posting a misleading advertisement on social media that contained false information about the leaders of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Indian National Congress (INC), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Following the complaint, a FIR has been registered at the cybercrime police station in Ranchi for violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines over a video posted on a social media handle of the BJP's Jharkhand wing. Sources said FIR no 176/24 dated 10.11.2024 has been filed at the Ranchi cybercrime police station for violation of MCC guidelines and extant legal provisions. Additionally, the cybercrime police station Ranchi, in a letter dated 10.11.2024, requested social media platforms to remove the objectionable posts under Section 69(A) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at BJP, saying that the party's campaign is devoid of issues and focused solely on communal polarization. The INDIA coalition's campaign in Jharkhand is centred around our government's achievements in the last five years and our seven guarantees - ranging from enhanced food rations to honorariums for women and new degree colleges in each block. We are focused on our governance and our vision for a just, inclusive, and prosperous Jharkhand, he wrote on X. The BJP's campaign is devoid of issues and focuses solely on communal polarisation. It is an indictment of the Union Government's performance that after ten years in power, the BJP is seeking votes only on religious polarisation. The non-biological PM has failed miserably to fulfil the promises he made to the state over the past ten years. Worse, he has denied almost Rs 1.4 lakh crore, which is legitimately due to Jharkhand on account of coal royalty, the Congress leader added. Jairam Ramesh said the people will reject BJP in the assembly polls. On November 13th and 20th, the people of Jharkhand will vote decisively for continuity, communal harmony, social justice, and self-dignity. They will reject the wholly negative and disgusting campaign of the BJP, he said. Meanwhile, a roadshow was held in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad that included Priyanka Gandhi Rahul Gandhi, who is Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, was also present. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting against Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate Satyan Mokeri and BJP's Navya Haridas in the by-polls. Chelakkara Assembly seat in Thrissur district is also going to the polls on November 13. A total of 34 seats will see bypolls on November 13. Bypolls will also be held for West Bengal's six assembly seats--Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai and Madarihat Earlier, 48 constituencies were scheduled to go to for bypolls on November 13, but the Election Commission of India rescheduled the poll date in 14 Assembly constituencies in three states -- Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh -- to November 20 following large-scale social, cultural and religious engagements of people from various communities

Bengal cultural festival kicks off in Thrissur

Thrissur Sahodaya takes home overall trophy in CBSE State Kalotsav

Malabar Sahodaya and Kochi Sahodaya come in second and third positions, respectively. Among schools, Silver Hills Public School, Kozhikode, became the overall champions

Thrissur Sahodaya surges ahead in CBSE State arts festival

Kochi Sahodaya is in the second position with 481 points and Malabar Sahodaya with 478 points is in the third position. Among schools, Silver Hills Public School, Kozhikode, is leading with 72 points

KIMS Hospitals expands into Kerala with plan for 3,000 new beds in five years

The initial steps include taking over Sreechand Hospital in Kannur and entering into an operations & management contract with Westfort Hospital in Thrissur

Thrissur MP Seat was presented to BJP by CPI(M) on a platter: K. Muraleedharan

Kerala Police register FIR against Union Minister Suresh Gopi for allegedly misusing an ambulance

Kerala Police has registered an FIR against Union Minister Suresh Gopi for allegedly misusing an ambulance by traveling on it to reach the Thrissur Pooram venue.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi booked for 'misusing' ambulance on Thrissur Pooram day

Union Minister Suresh Gopi and two others face charges for misusing an ambulance during the Thrissur Pooram festivities in April. Police allege they violated restrictions and used the ambulance for election campaign purposes. Gopi denies the accusations, claiming he was rescued by locals in the ambulance after his car was attacked.

Kerala CM orders re-probe into 2021 Kodakara Hawala case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The Kerala government on Friday decided to re-investigate the 2021 Kodakara hawala case, placing the BJP in a precarious position amidst the by-elections. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan instructed the state DGP Shaikh Darvesh to initiate the reinvestigation promptly. In response, the BJP alleged that the recent disclosures in the Kodakara hawala case are concocted narratives orchestrated at the CPM's AKG Centre headquarters. Former BJP office secretary's revelations The probe comes in the wake of the disclosure by Thiroor Satheesh, the former BJP office secretary in Thrissur, that the funds confiscated during the 2021 Kodakara heist were hawala money intended for the BJP. His revelation has triggered a political uproar in Kerala just before the critical by-elections. Thiroor Satheesh has alleged that bags filled with cash and labeled as election campaign materials arrived at the party's district office at 11 pm on April 2, 2021. The transportation of the money was done with the knowledge of BJP district president Aneesh Kumar. Satheesh stated that Dharmarajan, a businessman and party supporter, had brought the funds and had also instructed to rent out a room for Dharmarajan. Although party leaders usually provided him with details of the person in such cases, Satheesh said no details were provided on this occasion. He admitted that he assisted in moving the bags into the office where the cash was stored in a room generally used by the party's general secretaries. He recounted feeling uneasy after realizing that the bags contained cash and took steps to secure the room. The money was later stolen during transport, a theft Satheesh only learned of the next day. Being the office secretary, he did not disclose the details to the police. On April 4, 2021, just three days before the Kerala assembly elections, a staged accident at 4:40 am in Kodakara led to the hijacking of a vehicle carrying Rs 3.5 crore. The SIT later found that the money was BJP funds transported from Karnataka to the BJP district secretary in Alappuzha. The first charge sheet submitted in the case before the Irinjalakuda First Class Magistrate Court listed 23 arrests and 19 witnesses, including BJP leaders. Of the money looted after the accident, Rs 1.4 crore remains unaccounted for. CPM state secretary M V Govindan alleges Rs 41.6 crore sent for distribution during elections CPI(M) State Secretary M. V. Govindan on Friday called for an investigation into the allegations that Thiruvathoor Sathessh's recent revelations indicate that crores were funnelled into the BJP office during the election period. He alleged that similar instances of money distribution have also occurred during by-elections, adding that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has shown no interest in probing the case. Govindan claimed that reports now suggest that a total of Rs 41.6 crore was funneled for election distribution and alleged that the BJP national leadership was aware of this cash inflow meant for influencing the elections. The CPM leader criticized the ED for only pursuing cases involving opposition leaders and urged an impartial probe. The Kerala police have submitted a detailed report, but the ED has yet to act on the matter. Meanwhile CPM Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim has written to union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman demanding a probe by ED into the BJP-hawala link in Kerala. BJP state president refutes allegations BJP State President K. Surendran dismissed the allegations, labelling them as baseless charges lacking any evidence. He asserted that there is no connection between the BJP and the Hawala case and that there is no evidence against him in any of these cases, deeming it a political manipulation ahead of the critical by-elections. BJP district president K.K. Aneesh Kumar dismissed Thiroor Satheesh's allegations as politically motivated. He stated that Satheesh had been dismissed from the party for financial irregularities and accused him of accepting money from the CPM to make false allegations against the BJP. Congress alleges CPM-BJP unholy nexus Opposition leader Satheesan alleged that the Kodakara hawala case has exposed an unholy alliance between the CPM and BJP. He alleged that the Kerala Police were aware of these details but chose not to disclose them. UDF candidate for Palakkad bypoll, Rahul Mankootathil, claimed that the Enforcement Directorate and Kerala Police were competing to protect Surendran in the Kodakara hawala case.

New revelations validate LDFs allegations in Kodakara scam: LDF Thrissur district committee

Political pressure prevented the ED from taking any action in Kodakara scam, says LDF district committee

Suresh Gopi admits that he used ambulance to reach Thrissur Pooram venue

Mr. Gopi had denied arriving at the venue in an ambulance and even challenged a CBI investigation into the matter