PFI leader arrested in Kerala RSS activist Sreenivasan murder case remanded
Muhammadali K.P., PFI Palakkad district president, remanded after being produced at the residence of judge P.K. Mohandas, Special Judge, considering the cases booked by NIA in Kochi
The former Kerala Health Minister says the misinformation had caused serious damage to her reputation built over five decades of public life
Kerala govt forms high-level panel to draft Sidharthan Anti-Ragging andStudent Welfare Act
Kerala State Higher Education Council vice-chairperson Achuthsankar S. Nair to chair the committee constituted by Home Department
Sikkim Tunnel Collapse: Body of Kerala Geologist To Be Brought Back Soon
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday said that the government was making all efforts to bring back the body of a Kerala-based geologist who died in the NHPC hydropower project tunnel collapse in Sikkim on July 20.
Court observes that guidelines issued by SC requiring to provide written grounds of arrest was not given to Dr. Ram, which led to his release by Special Court. This was affirmed by a report from Additional Director General of Police
How Kerala keeps its Karkkadakam rituals alive
Even as times change and climate vagaries reshape Kerala, certain rituals that mark Karkkadakam continue to hold sway
Kerala: 76-yr-old Woman Goes On Thrilling Zipline Ride
Lakshmi said she is not afraid of taking part in adventurous activities and likes doing so, & her children & other family members told her not to undertake the zipline ride, but she insisted.
Kerala ADGP MR Ajithkumar Suspended For Interfering In Investigation
This is not the first time Ajithkumar has been courting controversy. Allegations were raised against him over the handling of an incident related to the disruption of Thrissur Pooram in 2024
Yuva Morcha protest march to Kerala CMs official residence over PSC exam anomalies turns violent
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha alleges double standards on the part of V.D. Satheesan in taking part in protest led by Rahul Gandhi outside PM Modi's residence in Delhi demanding action on NEET paper leaks
Education loan can be denied if parent as co-borrower has poor credit score, says Kerala HC
However, the application could be considered if there is an eligible co-borrower with sufficient credit score, says High Court
Major fire breaks out at plastic recycling factory in Keralas Kasaragod; none injured
GAIL natural gas pipeline runs beneath factory premises at a depth of about 2 m. After fire was extinguished, officials inspected the area above the underground pipeline and confirmed that it had not been affected
Govt holds that allegations against senior IPS officer are supported by statements of multiple investigating officers and that his continuance in service can affect fairness of inquiry
Kerala power crisis: State may face deficit in coming months too
According to Load Generation Balance Report of Central Electricity Authority, Kerala can expect gaps in peak demand and availability from August through October this year and January through March 2027
Why tribal communities in Kerala are at the receiving end of digital disconnect
Digital divide threatens their access to essential government services. Many tribal residents lack mobile phones or reliable network coverage, preventing them from obtaining crucial benefits like health cards and pensions. Activists warn that uniform digital policies overlook the unique challenges these communities face
CJP protest: Organiser of rapper Vedan event in Kerala booked
While Vedan has not been named in FIR, his manager, who was also the organiser of the event, is the main accused along with around 200 other 'identifiable persons' who were present
NIA arrests absconding PFI district chief in Kerala's Sreenivasan murder case
The National Investigation Agency arrested a key absconder in the Sreenivasan murder case. Muhammadali K.P, a PFI Palakkad district president, was apprehended upon arriving from Saudi Arabia. He was a prominent perpetrator and harbored assailants involved in the brutal killing of Sreenivasan. The PFI conspiracy aimed to establish Islamic Rule in India by 2047. Investigations revealed PFI imparted arms training and collected target information through its various wings.
CPI criticises Kerala Chief Minister on Waqf issue
The reconstitution of the Board by including two non-Muslims had grown into a conflict issue between the Kerala Waqf Board and the State government
Operation Southern Readiness maritime security training engagement concludes in Kochi
The four-day multinational maritime security training engagement was inaugurated on July 20, 2026
Protests over NEET paper leak intensify nationwide
Student outfits, civil society groups, and political parties hit the streets demanding resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan; protest marches turn confrontational in several districts of Kerala; police stop protesters in A.P.; security personnel resort to baton-charge in Bihar
Kerala, AP Discuss Rice Trade As State Unveils Subsidised Sale Plan
AP announced to sell quality rice at subsidised prices through Rythu Bazaars and special counters from August 1.
A namesake creates trouble for former Kerala Minister P.K. Sreemathi
CPI(M) leader accused of drawing a pension claiming to be the wife of a former MLA. Allegation stems from confusion with another P.K. Sreemathi, widow of former Kunnamkulam MLA P.R. Krishnan, who received the pension till 2020
NIA arrests key PFI absconder in Kerala's Sreenivasan murder case
The National Investigation Agency has arrested a key absconder in the Sreenivasan murder case. Muhammadali KP, a Popular Front of India district president, was apprehended upon arriving from Saudi Arabia. This arrest brings the total number of accused in the case to sixty-seven individuals. The agency found the accused conspired to create communal division through violent extremism. Sreenivasan was killed by PFI cadres in pursuit of their agenda.
Kerala High Court quashes sexual harassment case against Boby Chemmanur
Court granted Chemmanurs plea to quash the proceedings after the actor expressed her willingness to resolve the matter amicably, citing his public apology.
Kerala government reconstitutes prison advisory committees
The panels will be chaired by the Director General of Prisons; it will also include non-official members nominated by the government
ENGLISH WITH INDIAN WINGS There was a time when many children entered an English classroom with quiet fear. They are worried about making mistakes. They feared speaking in front of others. They believed that English belonged only to books, examinations, or a few people who spoke it well. For many learners, the language became a wall rather than a bridge. Today, India stands at the edge of a different journey. Across the country, schools are slowly changing the way they think about English. The question is no longer, How many grammar rules can students remember? The more important question is, What can students do with the language? This small change carries a very large promise. English is becoming less about repeating correct answers and more about asking thoughtful questions. It is becoming less about copying sentences and more about sharing ideas. It is becoming less about fear and more about confidence. That is the journey India has begun. The National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 invite us to see language in a fresh light. English is not expected to replace our home languages. It is expected to grow beside them. A child who speaks Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Kannada, Marathi, Garo, Khasi, Mizo, or any other Indian language does not begin from zero. That child already carries stories, songs, ideas, feelings, and dreams. English becomes another window through which those ideas can travel. This is one of India's greatest strengths. Many countries teach children through one dominant language. India teaches children who often think in more than one language before they enter school. This is not a problem to be solved. It is a gift to be celebrated. When a learner compares words across languages, new understanding grows. When a child explains a local festival in English, both languages become richer. When students discuss village life, family traditions, rivers, forests, markets, music, or crafts in English, they discover that learning a new language does not mean leaving their own world behind. Instead, they carry that world with them. That is what makes learning English in India unique. The classroom itself must also change. Imagine entering a classroom where the first five minutes are filled with conversation instead of silence. The teacher smiles and asks, What surprised you this morning? Another day, the question is, If you could improve your village or your neighbourhood, what would you begin with? Students talk to one another. They laugh. They disagree politely. They listen. They build confidence before opening a textbook. Language begins to live. The lesson then moves towards a story, a poem, an article, or a speech. Students do not read only to answer questions at the end of the page. They read to understand people. They read to discover ideas. They read to compare one life with another. A poem becomes a conversation. A story becomes an experience. An article becomes an invitation to think. When students write, they do not simply fill pages with memorised sentences. They write letters to their grandparents. They prepare speeches about clean rivers. They write reviews of books they enjoyed. They create travel guides for visitors. They record family memories before they disappear. They describe the smell of rain on village roads. They write about friendship, hope, courage, and change. Language slowly becomes personal. Speaking also changes. Instead of repeating lines after the teacher, students interview local farmers, artists, doctors, shopkeepers, sports players, and grandparents. They ask questions. They collect stories. They return to school carrying real-life stories from their communities. Every conversation becomes a lesson. Listening changes too. Students learn to listen with respect. They listen not only for correct answers but also for different opinions. They discover that understanding another person is one of the deepest forms of learning. This simple act builds kindness. Many people still ask whether grammar is important. The answer is yes. Accuracy matters because language helps people understand one another clearly. Yet accuracy grows best when learners have something meaningful to say. Children who write about their own experiences care more about making their writing clear. Students who prepare speeches naturally revise their words. Grammar becomes a helpful guide instead of a frightening gatekeeper. Fluency and accuracy are not enemies. They walk together. India also has an opportunity that few countries possess. Its classrooms hold many cultures. A single classroom may include children from different religions, traditions, languages, and family backgrounds. If guided well, this diversity becomes one of the richest classrooms in the world. Students learn that another language is never a threat to their own identity. Instead, every new language opens another friendship. This understanding is deeply important in today's world. The future will belong to people who can work with others, even when they speak differently, think differently, or live differently. English therefore becomes much more than an academic subject. It becomes a meeting place. The world itself is changing quickly. Artificial intelligence is growing. Digital communication crosses continents every second. Climate change affects every nation. Health, science, trade, and technology connect people across borders. Young people will need to work with teams from many countries. They will need to solve problems together. They will need to explain ideas with clarity and respect. English can help them do this. But there is an important difference between speaking English and thinking wisely. Language alone does not make a responsible citizen. Character does. Schools therefore carry a larger responsibility. They must help students ask honest questions. They must encourage them to examine facts before accepting them. They must help them distinguish truth from falsehood. They must teach them to disagree without hatred and to express confidence without arrogance. Language becomes the path through which values find expression. This is perhaps the greatest purpose of education. Another powerful change is taking place in classrooms that encourage creation rather than repetition. A group of students designs a podcast about local history. Another group prepares a short play on water conservation. Others create posters encouraging kindness. Some prepare a digital story about traditional crafts. Others write a newspaper report about a community event. Learning begins to resemble real life. Students are no longer only consumers of information. They become creators. Creation naturally leads to collaboration. No important work in today's world is completed alone. Scientists work in teams. Doctors work in teams. Engineers work in teams. Artists work in teams. Teachers work in teams. Students must therefore learn how to listen, contribute, encourage, and share responsibility. These qualities are learned through practice rather than lectures. The English classroom offers many opportunities for this growth. One group writes together. Another debates respectfully. Another solves a problem. Another presents findings. Every activity teaches both language and life. As students grow, they also learn to bring ideas together. A poem reminds them of a newspaper article. A science lesson connects with an environmental campaign. A history lesson inspires a speech. A family story becomes a research project. This ability to connect ideas is one of the highest forms of learning. It allows knowledge to become wisdom. India's future classrooms should therefore be places where languages meet, ideas meet, people meet, and dreams meet. No child should feel that English belongs only to someone else. Every child should believe that English is another instrument through which their own voice can be heard. That voice may speak about the Himalayas. It may describe the deserts of Rajasthan. It may celebrate the boats of Kerala. It may explain the traditions of Nagaland. It may tell stories from Kashmir. It may carry songs from Assam. It may introduce the world to the colours of Gujarat. It may speak of the hopes of every village and every city. The language becomes richer because India is rich. The learner becomes stronger because the learner remains rooted. Perhaps this is the greatest lesson of all. The goal is not to produce children who sound alike. The goal is to help every learner speak with confidence, write with clarity, think with honesty, listen with respect, and act with responsibility. When this happens, English becomes far more than a classroom subject. It becomes a bridge between home and school. Between village and city. Between India and the world. Between knowledge and action. Between imagination and reality. The flight toward better English is therefore not a race. It is a journey. Each learner travels at a different pace. Each classroom discovers its own path. Each teacher lights another lamp. Each family encourages another dream. Together they create a generation that is fluent without losing humility, accurate without losing creativity, multilingual without losing identity, proudly Indian while remaining open to the world, and ready not only to succeed but also to serve. That is the promise before us. If our schools continue to nurture curiosity instead of fear, conversation instead of silence, understanding instead of memorisation, and purpose instead of mere performance, the English classroom will become one of the strongest spaces for building thoughtful citizens. In the end, the true measure of language learning will not be found only in examination marks or certificates. It will be found in young people who can comfort a friend, explain a new idea, solve a common problem, celebrate their culture, respect another culture, work with others, and speak for what is right. When English helps learners do these things, it has fulfilled its highest purpose. And when India achieves this vision, the world will not simply notice that Indian students speak English well. The world will notice that they use English with wisdom, compassion, confidence, and hope. (The author is an educator committed to reimagining education through thoughtful leadership, reflective practice, curriculum innovation, and transformative learning; bridging local wisdom with global perspectives to empower every learner for a changing world. Feedback at: sheikhgulzar1970@gmail.com )
Literary critic M. Leelavathy chosen for Prof. M.K. Sanoo award
Kerala University Syndicate scraps 2-crore sculpture park project
The sculpture park, proposed in the universitys 2025-26 budgetby the previous Left-dominant Syndicate, was expected tofeature statues of eminent personalities including Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Socrates,and Rabindranath Tagore
Probe launched into fire at Shrimp farm shed at Payyannur in Kerala
Kerala Tourism to set apart 20% of marketing funds to woo Arab tourists, says Tourism Minister
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to inaugurate Indo-Arab Connect 2026 tourism summit on August 31
Sirajudheen Ellathodi to represent Kerala on Centres MSME policy panel
He will be one of the seven experts from across the country in the committee, which will focus on strengthening financial support systems for small traders, traditional traders and MSME entrepreneurs
Canolly Plot in Keralas Nilambur to get integrated eco-tourism makeover
Renovation work on the suspension bridge across the Chaliyar, connecting the two parts of the Canolly Plot, to be expedited
Yuva Morcha to take out protest march to Kerala CMs residence on July 24
It will raise various issues including the PSC examination irregularities and the Congress-led agitation to the Prime Ministers official residence
220 teachers in Kerala promoted as high school head teacher or AEO
Schools and teachers organisations had been raising concerns over the delay in effecting head teacher promotion as around 250 posts were lying vacant
Bharatiya Janata Party leader says her viral Instagram post mainly stemmed from compassion rather than politics and she does not have much political education
Child rights panel talks to children assaulted by teacher in Kerala
Alleged assault on students by a physical education teacher at Government Higher Secondary School, Kanjikode, in Palakkad, Kerala
SFI stages Statewide protests in Kerala over NEET-UG exam irregularities
Demonstrations in several districts turn confrontational as the police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters who attemptto march to Union government offices and post offices
Railway officials assure that all feasible proposals will be pursued at the divisional level and policy matters will be forwarded to the competent authorities for consideration
Aadhar verification for Tatkal bookings not violative of privacy rights: Kerala High Court
Court notes that the requirement for authentication for Tatkal tickets was justified based on experiences of alleged deceit, manipulation and bulk booking, which denied access to the ticketing system for genuine users
Move follows submission of a detailed inquiry report by State Police ChiefRavada A. Chandrasekhar to the Home department, which indicates officers involvement in attempts to influence the course of the investigation
Hundreds gather in Keralas Kochi to express solidarity with Delhi student protest
Participants express solidarity with the ongoing student protests in New Delhi over the alleged NEET question paper leak and condemn police action against the protesters
Mundathikode fireworks accident: Thrissur police chief proposes stronger regulations, safety norms
Officer files statement in High Court in a suo motu petition based on news reports of the fireworks accident that claimed 17 lives
Kerala anganwadis to get new curriculum after more than a decade
Revised curriculum for anganwadi children in the three-to-six age group will be implemented in the 2027-28 academic year
Child rights panel orders Malampuzha ropeway safety review
End politically motivated transfers in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, says KSRTEA
The employees association affiliated with CITU demands that transfer of all eligible employees should be made on a merit basis
Universities should focus on research, not politics, says Kerala Agriculture Minister
The Minister says universities should not become factories producing certificates but develop into centres that churn out graduates who are knowledge carriers
Kerala Forest dept. rolls out Oorunarvu for tribal welfare, forest conservation
The initiative aims to improve the living conditions of tribal communities in forest areas while drawing on their traditional knowledge for forest conservation and mitigating human-wildlife conflict
Jerry Amaldev to inaugurate creative collective
Pension hiked for cancer, TB, leprosy patients in Kerala
Detailed inquiry needed into Kalladi debris slip in Keralas Wayanad, says expert
The panel to examine if unscientific construction works had been taken up in Kalladi
Kerala High Court asks State government to give instructions on appointment of Sabarimala Tantri
Distribution of welfare pensions to begin on July 24
Boost for road connectivity in Edamalakkudy tribal area in Kerala
The Forest and Tribal Development departments have signed an agreement to construct a new road linking Edaliparakkudy to Societykudy, further enhancing access to the states first tribal panchayat.
Kerala government launches women-only pink bus service
The project, which has been launched in Thiruvananthapuram, will be extended to other districts soon, and the routes and timings will be determined after assessing the requirements of the passengers
Arab tourists to drive Kerala tourism growth: Minister Vishnunath
Kerala welcomed more than one lakh Arab tourists in 2025
Congress of using students protest to unleash anarchy and violence: Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Violence and anarchy being encouraged by the Congress is part of the politics of desperation to garner attention as the INDIA alliance continues to erode, says the BJP State president
Mundathikode fireworks blast victims compensated, Kerala govt. informs HC
Kerala Academy of Skills Excellence enters into partnership with Germanys Deutsche Bahn
It aims to establish world-class training standards and structured migration pathways for skilled technical professionals from the State seeking employment in Germanys railway and allied technical sectors
KS DAT 2026 round 1 seat allotment result out at lbsapplications.kerala.gov.in; direct link here
The LBS Centre has announced the Kerala Design Aptitude Test 2026 first round seat allotment results. Candidates can check their allotment status on the official website after logging in. Those allotted seats must pay the token fee and rearrange options by July 26. The provisional allotment is based on counselling choices and seat availability. Further updates on the admission process will be available on the official website.
Kottayam pitches rural employment scheme as answer to shortage of rubber tappers
District panchayat president says the proposal could enhance livelihoods for many families dependent on rubber cultivation, as it seeks to provide training and support for tappers, including women, to secure up to 125 days of work annually at a daily wage of 401.
SFI Organises Protests Across Kerala Demanding Dharmenra Pradhans Resignation
SFI activists clashed with police in multiple districts as students marched to central government offices and staged demonstrations against the Centre. Similar scenes unfolded in Kochi, Thrissur, and Alappuzha, where students stood their ground despite repeated use of water cannons
More cases against MBBS student for morphing images of female students in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram
Fresh legal action comes in the wake of intense student protests outside the Medical College police station late on July 22
P K Kalan Housing Scheme Irregularities: Minister Shaji Orders High-Level Probe
Kerala Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji directed the constitution of an inquiry committee to review all stages of the project, from the tender process to the execution of construction works.
Student organisations have called a bandh on Friday, July 24, over the alleged NEET paper leak, which may disrupt schools and colleges in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast heavy rain in several states. However, no state government has announced a statewide school holiday for July 24 as of now.
Hyderabad Police Bust QNET-linked Pyramid Fraud; 5 Held from Goa Resort
EOW nabs Kerala-based accused at Candolim event; luxury cars, digital evidence seized in 7.5 lakh cheating case
Defunct street lights along Chettuva bridge in Thrissur, Kerala, raise safety concerns
Residents have been urging the authorities to make the street lights functional and carry out permanent repairs to the bridges damaged surface. Accidents have become common on the damaged bridge
From Kerala to the USA: Who is anonymously ordering food at CJP's Jantar Mantar protest?
Students Federation of India takes out a Charter of Rights march to Kerala Lok Bhavan in solidarity with the youth protest spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party in New Delhi
Violations of mandatory provisions and fundamental rights prescribed by the Constitution in the case came to light on an interaction of the sessions judge with the accused
Body of Keralas Kottayam native missing in Sikkim tunnel accident recovered
The deceased, Aneesh Mohan, 43, was a native of Pathazhakkuzhy, Velloor, near Pampady, in Kottayam
Kerala actor rape case: HC refuses relief to 2 accused
The Kerala High Court has refused to suspend the sentences of two accused in the 2017 actor assault case.
Kerala actor assault case: HC declines to suspend sentence of two more convicts
Division Bench holds that there is sufficient evidence on record to prove the alleged conspiracy and that they had 'executed their plan with precision
Prasanth says TDB will transfer the warranty from Unnikrishnan Potty to the boards name, with High Courts permission
School student seriously injured in wild gaur attack in Keralas Idukki
Boy was waiting for an autorickshaw to take him to school when a wild gaur suddenly emerged and attacked him
Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT arrests former TDB president P.S. Prasanth
Former Travancore Devaswom Board member A. Ajikumar too arrested. Both being interrogated at Kollam Police Club
Kerala HC Declines Plea Of Two Other Accused In 2017 Actress Assault Case
Kerala HC declined to suspend sentence of two other accused in 2017 actress assault case.
Political Turmoil in Kannur: Attack on Rebel MLA Supporter Sparks Controversy
Mumbai, July 23: A new political controversy has erupted in Kannur, Kerala. The supporter of rebel MLA V. Kunjikrishnan, T. Purushottaman, a former member of CPI(M), was targeted in an arson attack at his shrimp farm. This incident has intensified the internal crisis within the party following the assembly elections. The attack occurred as CPI(M)s ... Read more Political Turmoil in Kannur: Attack on Rebel MLA Supporter Sparks Controversy
Distribution of title deeds in February 2026 has stalled due to a conflict between Revenue and Forest Departments
Fresh Cases Filed Against Kerala MBBS Student Over Morphed Images
Police register new FIRs after student protests; accused to be re-arrested as probe widens.
What is Kerala's anti-ragging prevention app? Everything to know as state plans new law
The Kerala Cabinet approved the Sidharthan Distress App to combat educational institution ragging. This new app will facilitate prompt reporting of all ragging-related complaints. An anti-ragging law will also be enacted in Sidharthan's name. The government noticed an increase in ragging incidents on college campuses. This initiative aims to ensure student welfare and prevent future occurrences.
VACBs Operation Parpidam exposes widespread municipal corruption in Keralas construction sector
Statewide inspections also point to how local networks of corrupt officials and their agents have significantly escalated the cost of construction for ordinary families
Rift in AMMA triggers fresh row over power group in Malayalam cinema
Allegation by Shwetha Menon that the power group named in Hema Committee report is working against her has triggered a fresh bout of infighting within AMMA even as her rival camp has asked her to divulge the names of those named in the controversial report
Sabarimala gold theft case: SIT detains former TDB president P.S. Prasanth for questioning
Prasanths detention comes nearly three weeks after SIT questioned Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the case. The move comes hours after Prasanth posted on Facebook that his arrest in the case was imminent
As his three-year posting ended, Israeli diplomat and former Israel in India spokesperson Guy Nir shared an emotional farewell on X, saying he was leaving with a heart full of memories. He recalled missing Indian friends, Delhi Metro rides, Blinkit, UPI, momos, jalebi, kaju katli, Holi and Diwali. From Delhi to Kerala, with Akshardham as his favourite, Nir thanked Indians for making him feel at home and supporting Israel during difficult times.
Amid power crisis, workplace accidents pose stiff challenge to Kerala State Electricity Board
Accidents have claimed the lives of 8 KSEB staff and 10 contract staff so far this year, notes KSEB. Primary causes include safety rule violations and carelessness.
Kerala eyes global agri market through value addition, export-oriented startups: Minister Siddique
Minister disburses first instalment under PM RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme to 10 agri-startups
TC Rajesh Addresses Controversy Over Article Non-Publication in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, July 23: Writer and journalist TC Rajesh Sindhu provided clarification on Wednesday regarding a controversy surrounding a non-published article. He expressed full agreement with CPI(M) state secretariat member M. Swaraj, stating that the decision to publish an article rests entirely with the editorial board of the newspaper. The controversy began when a weekly supplement ... Read more TC Rajesh Addresses Controversy Over Article Non-Publication in Kerala
Tribal held for possession of country made guns, explosives in Vellore
Forest officials said that Swaminathan procured country made guns from his acquaintances in Kerala
SHITIJ 2.0: nationwide start-up incubation programme inaugurated at ICAR-CPCRI
The second edition of SHITIJ is being implemented through a nationwide network of seven hub institutes and their associated spoke institutes
Activists, celebrities join Kochi protests in solidarity with Delhi students
Writers, filmmakers, actors and activists back agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak and police action in Delhi; solidarity protests held across Kochi, with marches, public meetings and a candlelight vigil drawing students and youngsters; speakers criticise alleged police excesses and call for wider public support for the student movement
