Plaint against guv: Kolkata cops seek Raj Bhavan CCTV footage

Calcutta Police seeks CCTV footage over harassment claims against Bengal governor. Mamata Banerjee-led TMC probe criticized. Governor vows action against truth deviators, rejects defamation suit. TMC activists protest in Kerala city.

Rahul Gandhi's Entry Into Rae Bareli Poll Fray Violated His Sister's Rights: MP CM

Rahul Gandhi's Entry Into Rae Bareli Poll Fray Violated His Sister's Rights: MP CM Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's filing nomination from Rae Bareli constituency is akin to him snatching the rights of his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav alleged on Saturday. Addressing a rally in the Guna Lok Sabha constituency, Yadav claimed Rahul ran away to Kerala (Wayanad constituency) from Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) after facing defeat. ''There is the sea ahead (in Kerala), otherwise it is not clear where Rahul would have gone,'' Yadav quipped. Rahul Gandhi had said he would contest from Amethi while his sister will be in the fray from Rae Bareli, Yadav said. ''Smriti Irani (Union minister and BJP candidate) was sitting in Amethi and calling Rahul but he developed cold feet by the time he reached Uttar Pradesh,'' Yadav said, a day after Rahul filed his nomination from Rae Bareli seat, currently represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi. Yadav claimed Rahul's brother-in-law (Vadra) had put up posters in Uttar Pradesh that he was ready to contest. '''Ye Apne Jija Ke Nahi Huye'! He (Rahul) filed the nomination from Rae Bareli by snatching the rights of his sister,'' the chief minister said. In a veiled jibe at Madhya Pradesh Congress stalwarts Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, Yadav dubbed them ''Rahu and Ketu'' who are playing different roles. ''All problems are arising from these two planets. One of them is from Chhindwara and another is from your (Guna's) neighbour (Rajgarh LS seat),'' he said. Digvijaya Singh is contesting from the Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency. Guna constituency goes to polls on May 7.

Contested from South and North.... Sumitra Mahajan on Rahul Gandhi

Contested from South and North.... Sumitra Mahajan on Rahul Gandhi Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has the right to contest from any part of the country after he undertook the Bharat Jodo Yatra, adding that the elections seem to be one-sided. She also said that Narendra Modi is going to become the Prime Minister for the third time. He has contested from South (referring to Rahul Gandhi contesting from Wayanad in Kerala). Now he is contesting from North (Rahul Gandhi is also in the race from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh). He undertook a Bharat Yatra and therefore have the right to contest from any part of the Country, Mahajan told ANI here. She also expressed concern over the low voters turnout in the first and second phase of the elections. It is a matter of concern. That voting percentage....Temperatures are rising. I believe that voting is going in our favour. But the voting percentage should increase. It seems that the BJP is going to come to power, Mahajan added. Replying to a query, She added, The elections seem to be one-side to everyone. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji is doing a lot of work. On the '400 par slogan (NDA winning more than 400 Lok Sabha seats), She asked, Why do you get surprised (Media) with this slogan? When a person is out to get something done, he will do it with might. We will say, he needs it all. Modi ji is going to become the Prime Minister for the third time. Rahul Gandhi is seeking re-election from Wayanad in Kerala which went to polls in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. He is also in the race from Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency from Uttar Pradesh. The general elections are being held in seven phases in a six-week marathon running from April 19 to June 1. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 and the second phase on April 26. The next round of voting will be held on May 7.The counting of votes and results will be declared on June 4. (ANI)

Surge Swell: Coastal States on Orange Alert

In an absolute contrast to the soaring mercury levels, a yellow alert is on the cards for the state for the next two days as minimum temperatures are likely to be in the range of 11 to 15 C for most of the districts, and a further drop with orange alert at districts like Adilabad, Kumaram Bheem, Mancherial in the coming week. (Representational Image) In an absolute contrast to the soaring mercury levels, a yellow alert is on the cards for the state for the next two days as minimum temperatures are likely to be in the range of 11 to 15 C for most of the districts, and a further drop with orange alert at districts like Adilabad, Kumaram Bheem, Mancherial in the coming week. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: The swell surge that began in the Atlantic Ocean has begun interacting with the Indian coast and the swell is expected to move northward for another 24 hours or so, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (Incois) said on Saturday. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal on the eastern coast, and Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat on the west coast - were placed on an orange alert till the end of May 5 in view of the swell surge. Fishermen and coastal population were asked to be on the alert from Saturday evening to around Sunday midnight and be watchful for possible intermittent surging of waves in the nearshore/beach region, particularly in the low-lying areas and during high tide and spring tide phases. Incois said small boats and vessels may ply nearshore but with due caution. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as the Lakshadweep archipelago in southern Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, have already experienced the surge swell.

Swell surge warning for Kerala for second consecutive day

CEE revises syllabus for entrance exam

Lok Sabha Polls | BJP drawing a blank in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry: CPI

Lok Sabha Polls | BJP drawing a blank in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry: CPI - The Hindu

Lok Sabha Polls | BJP drawing a blank in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry: CPI The Hindu

Suresh Gopi anticipates double-digit voter percentage for BJP in Kerala

Calling on voters to BJP candidates in the State he hinted at their potential ministerial roles in the next Central government

Low production, falling price leave small-scale tea growers in Wayanad in a fix

Original Headline: HIGHLIGHTS Revised Headline: Match Highlights: Key Moments and Plays

Original Headline: HIGHLIGHTS Revised Headline: Match Highlights: Key Moments and Plays Following are the top stories at 9 pm NATION ELN92 ELECTIONS-BJP-LD LOVELY ****Former Delhi Cong leaders, including Arvinder Singh Lovely, join BJP New Delhi: Former Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the BJP on Saturday along with a few other leaders, including former MLAs Raj Kumar Chauhan, Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh.**** ELN91 ELECTIONS-BH-LD MODI ****At Bihar rally, Modi targets Lalu on Godhra incident, oppn parties on quotas Darbhanga (Bihar): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged RJD president Lalu Prasad, the BJPs principal opponent in Bihar, with having tried to ''shield'' those guilty in two-decade-old Godhra train burning incident and put blame on kar sevaks.**** ELN73 ELECTIONS-JH-MODI-LD CORRUPTION **** All those who indulged in corruption will face legal action in next five years: PM Modi Sisai (Jharkhand): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the NDA government has unmasked corrupt forces, and all those who indulged in corruption would face action under law in the next five years.**** DEL21 CBI-NUH GANGRAPE-SENTENCE ****Nuh gangrapes, double murder case: Four convicts sentenced to death by CBI court New Delhi: A special CBI court in Haryana's Panchkula awarded the death sentence to four convicts in the 2016 Nuh gangrapes and double murder case on Saturday, officials said.**** BOM7 MH-SITHARAMAN-ROHITH VEMULA ****Rahul Gandhi should apologise for `politicising' Rohith Vemula's suicide: Sitharaman Pune: Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday demanded that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should apologise for ''politicising'' the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the University of Hyderabad student who died in 2016, as police in a state ruled by his own party has now said that it was not a ''Dalit' issue''.**** DEL19 JK-LD FIRING ****Terrorists open fire on two security vehicles in J-K's Poonch, 5 soldiers injured Jammu: Five security personnel were injured after terrorists opened fire on two vehicles, including one belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF), in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday, officials said.**** MDS17 KA-LD REVANNA ****Karnataka MLA Revanna taken into custody in kidnap case Bengaluru: Karnataka JD(S) MLA H D Revanna was taken into custody on Saturday by sleuths of the Special Investigation Team, minutes after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a kidnapping case, officials said.**** ELN97 ELECTIONS-BJP-RAHUL ****Cong believes in 'beta bachao, beta badhao': BJP on Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli nomination New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, saying the opposition party seems to believe in ''beta bachao, beta badhao'' (save son, promote son).**** ELN57 ELECTIONS-OD-CONG-LD CANDIDATE ****Denied party funding, Congress Puri LS candidate Sucharita Mohanty returns ticket Bhubaneswar: Congress candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency Sucharita Mohanty has declined to contest the elections and returned the party ticket alleging lack of funding from the party.**** BOM5 GJ-RADICAL-ARRESTED ****Gujarat cops arrest maulvi; unearth plan to kill Hindu leader, threaten TV channel editor, MLA Surat: A man was arrested in Surat in Gujarat on Saturday for allegedly planning to murder the leader of a Hindu organisation and threatening the chief editor of Sudarshan television channel as well BJP's Telangana MLA Raja Singh and the party's former spokesperson Nupur Sharma in connivance with his handlers from Pakistan and Nepal, a senior police official said.**** CAL8 MG-LYNCHING ****Two lynched in Meghalaya after teen alleges rape attempt Shillong: Two persons were lynched in Meghalaya's Eastern West Khasi Hills district for allegedly trying to rape an 18-year-old woman, police said on Saturday.**** MDS18 KL-CUSTODIAL DEATH-CBI-LD ARRESTS ****Tanur custodial death case: CBI arrests four Kerala policemen Malappuram/Kochi: The CBI on Saturday arrested four civil police officers accused of torturing to death a man arrested for alleged possession of synthetic drugs in August last year near Tanur here, police sources said.**** LEGAL LGD5 SCBA-WOMEN'S RESERVATION ****SCBA raises concern over SC order to reserve posts for women in lawyers' body executive committee New Delhi: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has passed a resolution stating that the Supreme Court's directive to reserve posts for women in the executive committee of the lawyers' body ''impinged'' on its independence.**** LGD4 SC-NITHARI-KOLI ****Nithari killings: SC agrees to hear plea of victim's father against acquittal of Surendra Koli New Delhi: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea challenging Allahabad High Court's order acquitting Surendra Koli in the 2006 Nithari serial killings case.**** FOREIGN FGN32 LANKA-JAPAN-LD MOUS ****Japan insists Sri Lanka should sign MoUs early for debt restructuring Colombo: The restoration of stability and economic development of Sri Lanka, located strategically in the Indian Ocean, is essential for the stability and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region, the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said here on Saturday.**** FGN27 UK-MAYOR ****Sadiq Khan on course to be re-elected Mayor of London London: Sadiq Khan, the Pakistani-origin Labour Party candidate in the race to be re-elected London Mayor for a third term, looked set on Saturday to register a decisive victory, as the local election results from England and Wales continued to reflect a strong swing in favour of the Opposition party. By Aditi Khanna **** FGN23 PAK-ATC-WARRANTS ****Arrest warrants for 14 suspects in May 9 riots case, Imran Khans party leaders granted pre-arrest bail Lahore: A Pakistan court here has issued bailable arrest warrants for 14 suspects, who are on bail, for skipping trial proceedings of two cases related to the May 9 riots while granting pre-arrest bail to two former leaders of incarcerated former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khans party, a media report said on Saturday.****

Idukki reservoir keeps minimum storage to manage emergency power situation

Number of transgender voters meagre in Kerala; most vote under male or female category

Gunning for the Shariah

Reports say the Supreme Court sought the Union Governments response to a petition filed by a woman, born a Muslim, now a non-believer, wanting to be governed by secular statutes rather than Shariah, CJI Chandrachud, heading a 3-judge Bench, issued notices to the Union and State of Kerala, for hearing in July. It is considered Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Kerala to become first State where all teachers will get AI training: Minister

KSRTC driver Yadhu moves court against Mayor, MLA

8.44-cr. project for two-lane bridge at Mundakkal gets approval

The existing single-lane bridge is more than 50 years old and barely one vehicle can pass through it

Kerala issues new order on driving test format

Six months allotted for driving schools to replace vehicles used for test if they are more than 15 years old. Number of applicants taking the test increased from 30 to 40. Existing H tests will continue till the new tracks are arranged

DC Edit | Rahuls shift to Rae Bareli pragmatic move by Gandhis?

On the last day of nominations, days after the polling got over in Kerala, including in the constituency of Wayanad, former Congress president and purported leader of the INDIA alliance Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination for Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. Accompanied by his mother Sonia Gandhi, who was the sitting Lok Sabha MP from the constituency till recently, one that has been held by the Gandhi family since 1951, and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mr Gandhi filed his papers to fight the battle to retain his family bastion. But in the process, against speculation to the contrary, he also rather pragmatically surrendered the Amethi constituency. With Rahul Gandhi stepping aside, the Congress Party selected family loyalist Kishorilal Sharma to contest from Amethi. With this nomination, the Congress has declared candidates for all the 17 seats it is fighting in the largest state of India. Uttar Pradesh elects 80 MPs to Parliaments Lower House. The choice has become contentious, ever since the constituency of Amethi was won by BJP candidate and Union minister Smriti Irani in the 2019 elections. The BJP hit a high with an absolute majority and a score of over 300 seats, as well as a record second consecutive sweep of a victory in UP in the last Assembly elections. The 2019 win also marked a second major thumping for the Congress, which could not even get enough seats to have a Leader of Opposition in the Lower House. The Rae Bareli seat is prestigious and the BJP is likely to go all out to try to defeat Rahul Gandhi in a seat that has been held by various members of the party across decades. It has been represented by family loyalists like Arun Nehru, Sheila Kaul and Satish Sharma, among others, besides being the parliamentary seat for Sonia Gandhi. This development also marks two other sub-plots, the culmination of Sonia Gandhis direct electoral career, having chosen to enter the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan earlier, and the decision of the party to not have Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enter the electoral fray. It was earlier speculated that both brother and sister could contest from the two seats, and a Priyanka face-off with Smriti Irani, or a rematch of the BJP leader with Rahul, would have shot the public interest in the political game in UP a notch or two higher. However, the Congress Party is playing its cards with pragmatic caution, and ensuring the narrative at the centre of the election remains issues and not personalities. The party has bitten the dust by making it a Rahul Gandhi versus Narendra Modi fight in the past, and paid a heavy price. This time, as reflected in the decisions not to project a PM face or candidate for the Opposition alliance, or make it about Mr Modis personality, the Congress and its partners are trying to both localise, and secularise, the electoral campaign. So far, no matter how much the BJP is talking about Muslim reservations, or a conspiracy to steal mangalsutras , the Congress is not going beyond the basic issues of farmer incomes, jobs, elections, caste census and inflation. The party would sure hope this pays better dividends.

Fuel surcharge on power bills in May also

TDB to wind up spot booking to Sabarimala

Officials say only those who have booked their spots for darshan through the virtual queue system will be permitted to trek up the hillock, while all spot booking facilities, including those at Nilackal and Pampa, will cease to operate

Covishield vaccine has had more benefits than risks, says study by Kozhikode doctors

AstraZeneca admitted in High Court of London, United Kingdom, that its vaccine had the potential to cause thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome

KPCC meeting attempts to read political tea leaves of low polling percentage

26 cows, three buffaloes die due to sunstroke in Kozhikode since January

One held with MDMA in Alappuzha

Amid intensifying heat, livestock farmers face unprecedented crisis

While dairy cow mortality has hit an all-time high with thermal stress killing around 500 cattle across the State in two-and-a-half months, poultry producers are also in distress.

Gurus words will help to live as independent individuals: Swami Subhangananda

He spoke after inaugurating a seminar organised by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi in connection with the 100th anniversary of the Aluva all-religion meet

CBI Arrests 4 Kerala Cops In Case Linked To 30-Year-Old Man's Custodial Death

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested four Kerala Police officials in connection with a custodial death case in Tanur.

Schools to reopen on June 3 with Pravesanotsavam

Chief Minister says maintenance should be completed in all school buildings and fitness certificate ensured

KAU invites application for course on Wealth from Waste

BJP criticizes Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli nomination, citing 'beta bachao, beta badhao' concerns

BJP criticizes Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli nomination, citing 'beta bachao, beta badhao' concerns The BJP on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, saying the opposition party seems to believe in ''beta bachao, beta badhao'' (save son, promote son). Speaking to reporters as five former Delhi Congress leaders, including Arvinder Singh Lovely, joined the BJP, the ruling party's national general secretary Vinod Tawde claimed that many Congress workers wanted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest from Rae Bareli but her brother took the plunge instead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan is 'beti bachao, beti padhao' (save daughter, educate daughter) but the Congress' slogan is ''beta bachao, beta badhao'', he said. Tawde said Gandhi had claimed that Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, from where he is seeking re-election, is his family and he will not go anywhere else. ''But he has now gone back on his assertion and filed the nomination from Rae Bareli,'' the BJP leader said. How can the people of the country trust him when there is such a mismatch between his words and actions, Tawde asked. BJP leaders, including Modi, have mocked Gandhi for contesting from Rae Bareli and not Amethi, another Uttar Pradesh seat which he represented in the Lok Sabha for three terms before losing it in 2019. Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam alleged that the ''Rahul camp'' has long been conspiring to scuttle Priyanka Gandhi's political career and claimed that the party will split after the poll results are announced on June 4. Krishnam, who has been vocal about his support for Priyanka Gandhi, was expelled from the Congress following his incessant criticism of the party leadership over a host of issues, including its recent decision to turn down the invite for the Ram temple consecration ceremony. He has been full of praise for Modi's leadership.

In a parched terrain, one borewell is playing the saviours role

The borewell at a farmers property at Koovakara in Kannur has been supplying pure spring water for the entire water scarce locality for the past eight years. Efforts to replicate its success in the vicinity have proved futile

Summer meet of Cardiological Society of India begins

Second-generation Chitra heart valve successfully implanted in 42 patients: SCTIMST

Death of woman puts spotlight on oleander

The woman had died reportedly after chewing the leaf and flower of Nerium oleander, though authorities are awaiting a viscera report for confirmation. The TDB is also contemplating a move to ban the flower in all its temples

BJP Accuses Karnataka Congress Government of Failing to Protect Women and Girls

BJP Accuses Karnataka Congress Government of Failing to Protect Women and Girls The BJP on Saturday slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over the law and order situation in Karnataka and alleged that young girls and women had no protection. State BJP President B Y Vijayendra condemned the incident and alleged that peace loving people of Karnataka are worried that ''the Congress government is encouraging criminals with Jihadi mentality.'' Sharing a news report where a minor Dalit girl was allegedly impregnated by a youth in Hubballi, the BJP took to a social media platform to condemn the incident. In a post on 'X', the BJP alleged that the minor girl was ''raped by a fanatic'' and that there is no ''protection for Hindu young women and girls in Hubballi.'' ''Hindu young women are today victims of the mistake of giving power to terrorists, rapists, fanatic Jhihadists called brothers @INCKarnataka like the Kerala files,'' the party alleged in the post. Meanwhile, a youth has been arrested for allegedly impregnating a minor girl in Hubballi, police said. Citing the recent murder of Congress Councillor Niranjan Hiremath's 23-year-old daughter Neha, who was stabbed to death inside her college campus in Hubballi, the BJP attacked the state government over the investigation in the case. The case is being probed by the State's Criminal Investigation Department. ''While Neha's murder case in Hubballi is still pending, another inhumane incident has made Kannadigas to lower their heads. If they @siddaramaiah and @Dr Parameshwara (Home Minister) do not crush the bigots immediately, the Hindus will destroy the government,'' the BJP said in the post. Taking to 'X', Vijayendra alleged in a post that ''Hindu girls are unprotected in the state. Even as the fundamentalist thugs continue to laugh in front of their eyes, the Congress government, which is indulging in politics of appeasement, seems to be purposefully inactive, following a soft attitude against those who are showing demonic tendencies.''

Court Orders 14-Day Judicial Custody for Mother in Kerala Newborn Death Case

Court Orders 14-Day Judicial Custody for Mother in Kerala Newborn Death Case A local court here on Saturday remanded the 23-year-old mother accused of killing her newborn child and throwing it on a street to 14 days judicial custody. Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate went to the hospital where she is undergoing treatment and remanded her to judicial custody till May 18, police said. They added that the custody application will be moved only after considering the medical report from the doctors. Earlier in the day, the police had said that as per the post-mortem report, the newborn, found dead on a street in Kochi after being allegedly thrown there by its mother post delivery, was strangulated. City police Commissioner S Syamsundar said the arrest of the 23-year-old woman was recorded on Friday and police were verifying her statements regarding a Thrissur friend. Quoting the post-mortem report, police said the child's skull had also suffered damage. The woman, suspected to be a victim of sexual assault, concealed her pregnancy and delivered a baby in the early hours of Friday in her apartment bathroom and later allegedly threw the newborn on the street in front of her flat complex in a posh residential area here. The woman had apparently mentioned about her friend from Thrissur prompting the police to suspect a coercion or a rape angle. The City police Commissioner today said they need to verify her claims. Hours after the newborn was found dead in an abandoned parcel cover on Friday, police took the woman into custody after tracing the address mentioned on the packet in which the child was wrapped and thrown. Conservancy workers of Kochi Corporation found the child's body near a street in posh Panampilly Nagar here and had alerted the police. Police had said the woman had confessed that she gave birth to the child in her bathroom at around 5-5.30 AM on Friday and later threw the baby as she panicked when her mother knocked on her bedroom door. It is said that the parents of the woman, with whom she was staying, were unaware of her pregnancy. They were also not aware of the delivery as it happened inside the bathroom which was locked by the woman, police had said.

Kerala Man Dies By Suicide After Bank Refuses To Return His Deposit: Cops

A 52-year-old man who consumed poison recently after a cooperative bank here allegedly refused to return his deposit has died, the police said here on Thursday.

Kerala CM Directs Safe and Drug-Free Schools Ahead of Reopening

Kerala CM Directs Safe and Drug-Free Schools Ahead of Reopening With the new academic year scheduled to begin on June 3 in Kerala schools, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday issued a slew of directions, which included anti-drug activities, to ensure educational institutions were safe for students when they reopen. Vijayan at a high-level meeting, also attended by ministers V Sivankutty, R Bindu, M B Rajesh, K Rajan and P Rajeev, ordered that the preparations should be completed in a timely manner, a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. Ensuring safety of the schools premises by carrying out requisite repairs, obtaining fitness certificates of the buildings, removing trees, boards, electric posts, power cables and hoardings that may pose a danger to students and cleaning the school campus were some of the directions issued by the CM, according to the statement. The CM further directed that schools need to ensure that use and sale of intoxicating substances does not take place in their premises and the Excise department was ordered to carry out regular inspections of shops around educational institutions, the statement said. Regular district-level public vigilance committee meetings to evaluate the anti-drug activities, strengthening awareness and enforcement measures as well as cooperation of children, parents and teachers should be ensured to make educational institutions free of narcotics, the CM said. The other anti-drug activities that were discussed in the meeting were, holding a children's parliament on June 26 on the occasion of Anti Narcotics Day, delivery of the CM's anti-drug message to homes on November 1, carrying out anti-drug seminars on December 10 and conducting class councils on January 30, 2025, to review all these activities, the CMO statement said. Besides that, all government, semi-government, public sector and co-operative institutions should put up anti-drug posters without any delay, the CM directed, according to the statement.

Unni Mukundan's Marco Goes On Floors In Keralas Munnar

Unni Mukundan revealed that Marco will be the most intense character ever seen in Malayalam cinema.

Kerala: 'Kallakkadal' orange alert revised to yellow warning

Kerala: 'Kallakkadal' orange alert revised to yellow warning The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services on Saturday withdrew a 'red alert' issued for 'Kallakkadal' in the coastal areas of Kerala and the south Tamil Nadu coast and revised it to an 'orange alert'. 'Kallakkadal' is a phenomenon of sudden sea swells causing rough waves in coastal areas. As part of the phenomenon, the low-lying areas of the Kerala coast are likely to experience rough sea and sea surge due to extremely strong waves of 0.5 meters to 1.5 meters till 11.30 pm on Sunday, the INCOIS said. The low-lying coastal areas of south Tamil Nadu are also likely to experience a similar situation and high waves of 0.5 meters to 1.8 metres may cause sea surge there till tomorrow night, the agency warned. INCOIS, the central agency that issues weather warnings for fishermen in the country, advised people to safely moor their fishing vessels in the harbour. Authorities advised people to continue their caution and avoid trips to the beach and completely stay away from activities at sea. The term 'Kallakkadal' literally means a sea that comes suddenly like a thief. INCOIS has earlier said that the swells result from strong winds in the southern part of the Indian Ocean at certain times, and that they occur suddenly without any particular indications or warning which is why it is named 'Kallakkadal'.

Kerala Lottery Result, 4 May: Karunya KR 652 Winners Declared; How To Download

Kerala Lottery Result Today: Download Karunya KR 652 result from keralalotteries.com on 4 May 2024.

Rabies from stray dog bites claimed 47 lives in Kerala in last four years, shows RTI reply

This was in addition to 22 more lives probably lost to rabies, according to response received by RTI activist Raju Vazhakkala

Tanur custodial death case: CBI arrests four Kerala Police officials

Thamir Jiffri was allegedly subjected to custodial torture by members of District Anti Narcotics Special Action Force in 2023

Rahul Gandhis political chess, juggling between Wayanad and Rae Bareli, leaves Congress in a quandary in Kerala

If Rahul Gandhi relinquishes Wayanad seat, many Congress leaders believe that it will impact partys prospects in Kerala Assembly elections in 2026

Hot weather continues in Kerala: IMD issues yellow alert for 12 districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for 12 out of the 14 districts in Kerala, warning of high temperatures and humidity until May 6. The maximum temperatures are expected to be around 36-39 degrees Celsius in various districts. Hot and humid weather is expected over these districts, except in hilly areas. The state has been experiencing hot weather conditions for several days, leading to the closure of educational institutions. The government has advised people to avoid working under the sun from 11 am to 3 pm, stay hydrated, and avoid exposure to sunlight during these hours.

Kerala's Heatwave Intensifies: Yellow Alert Issued for 12 Districts by IMD

Kerala's Heatwave Intensifies: Yellow Alert Issued for 12 Districts by IMD The India Meteorological Department on Saturday issued a yellow alert for 12 out of the 14 districts in Kerala due to the likelihood of high temperature and humidity there till May 6. IMD said the maximum temperatures were very likely to be around 39 degrees Celsius in Palakkad, around 38 degrees Celsius in Kollam, Thrissur and Kozhikode, around 37 degrees Celsius in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Kannur districts and around 36 degrees Celsius in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts from May 4 to May 6. ''Hot and humid weather is very likely over these districts except in hilly areas during May 4 to May 6 due to high temperature and humidity. (YELLOW WARNING),'' it said. It also issued a yellow alert for Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts for today due to the possibility of warm night conditions there. The southern state has been reeling under hot weather conditions for several days leading to educational institutions being closed in Kerala till May 6. Additionally, the government has also issued a slew of directions which include avoiding working under the sun from 11 am to 3 pm by construction workers, farmers, hawkers, etc. It has also asked everyone to avoid exposure to sunlight during these hours of the day and remain hydrated.

Birth companion scheme at SAT hospital a success, says Kerala Health department

SAT hospital has been allowing a close family member or woman friend to accompany a pregnant woman to labour room and remain with her through birthing process under the scheme

Kerala startup inks MoU with IIT Bombay for surveillance technology

Kerala: CBI arrests four police officers in connection with custodial death of Thamir Jifri

Malappuram: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested four police officers in connection with the alleged custodial murder of Thamir Jifri, a 30-year-old resident of Tanur in Malappuram. Jifri died while in the custody of the Tanur police last year. The post-mortem examination of Jifri's body showed that he sustained injuries as a result of physical assault inflicted by members of the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) squad operating under the jurisdiction of the Tanur sub-division of the Malappuram police. The DANSAF team allegedly handed over the 30-year-old to the Tanur police after physically assaulting him. The arrested individuals are senior civil police officer Ginesh, 37, of Pallikkal, Malappuram; civil police officer (CPO) Alvin Augustine, 36, of Neendakara, Kollam; CPO Abhimanyu, 35, of Thamarakulam, Malappuram; and CPO Vipin, 38, of Vallikunnu, Malappuram. All of them were part of the DANSAF squad. Earlier, the FIR registered by the CBI accused the four DANSAF members of murder. The arrests were made after a detailed investigation into the matter. The CBI took over the case from the Kerala Crime Branch following a directive from the Kerala High Court. The High Court instructed the Crime Branch to hand over the case diary and other related records to the CBI after considering a petition from Jifri's family. The family members informed the court that they would not receive justice if the police department investigated the case against police involving police officials.

Karnataka BJP alleges lack of protection for girls, women under Congress government

Karnataka BJP alleges lack of protection for girls, women under Congress government The BJP on Saturday slammed the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over the law and order situation in Karnataka and alleged that young girls and women had no protection. Sharing a newsreport where a minor Dalit girl was allegedly impregnated by a youth in Hubballi, the BJP took to social media platform to condemn the incident. In a post on 'X', the BJP alleged that the minor girl was ''raped by a fanatic'' and that there is no ''protection for Hindu young women and girls in Hubballi.'' ''Hindu young women are today victims of the mistake of giving power to terrorists, rapists, fanatic Jhihadists called brothers @INCKarnataka like the Kerala files,'' the party alleged in the post. Meanwhile, a youth has been arrested for allegedly impregnating minor girl in Hubballi, police said. Citing the recent murder case of Congress Councillor Niranjan Hiremath's 23-year-old daughter Neha, who was stabbed to death inside her college campus in Hubballi, the BJP attacked the state government over the investigation in the case. The case is being probed by the State's Criminal Investigation Department. ''While Neha's murder case in Hubballi is still pending, another inhumane incident has made Kannadigas to lower their heads. If they @siddaramaiah and @Dr Parameshwara (Home Minister) do not crush the bigots immediately, the Hindus will destroy the government,'' the BJP said in the post.

Three, including woman and daughter, killed in accident in Keralas Idukki

Wild elephant wreaks havoc in Aralam farm rehabilitation area in Keralas Kannur; three injured

Irked over power cut, people vandalise electricity board office in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: Amidst complaints of undeclared load-shedding in many parts of the state, a group of persons allegedly vandalised a local unit of the Electricity Board citing power failure in their locality in this district, police said on Saturday. Employees of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) unit in Pantheeramkav lodged a complaint with the police alleging that a group of persons vandalised their office late Friday night. Pantheeramkavu police said they received a complaint in this regard from the KSEB staff and initiated an investigation. We visited the incident site and gathered details. We are trying to collect CCTV visuals. Action would be taken based on the evidence collected and as of now, no case has been registered, said a police officer. Kerala: KSEB to impose restrictions on daily power consumption during peak hours With the state grappling under scorching heat, power consumption has touched new heights in recent times. Enranged over the unexpected power failures, especially during night hours, local residents have staged protests in front of KSEB offices in many parts of the state in recent days. In response, the state government made it clear that power cuts at night was due to technical issues because of increased consumption. The authorities also urged consumers to exercise self-control while consuming electricity.

Kerala Conserves 200 MW Power on May 3, Attributing Savings to Public Discipline

Kerala Conserves 200 MW Power on May 3, Attributing Savings to Public Discipline In the wake of the Kerala government coming out with certain proposals to control power consumption during peak hours, the southern state saved around 200 megawatts of electricity on May 3. The achievement was highlighted by state Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty who on Saturday said the power saving was thanks to the cooperation of the consumers, especially the big industries, in Kerala. ''It is a big change. It happened thanks to the cooperation of the consumers,'' he said. The minister also said that the government was trying to ensure that restrictions proposed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) do not affect the domestic power consumers. ''Everyone has to cooperate and self-impose restrictions on their consumption. You (media) too should take it up as a campaign (to urge people to reduce power consumption). Otherwise, all of us will have to suffer,'' he told reporters. At the same time, he said there was no load shedding or power cuts. ''If a transformer trips due to overload, that is not a power cut. Also, it is only for a few minutes -- the time taken to resume the supply,'' he said. The minister said that a couple of days ago, the peak demand in the state was close to 6,000 MW. ''If it crosses that, we will not get any power supply as the electricity cables will not be able to carry that load,'' he said. As the mercury rose in the state during the last fews days, there were reports of frequent power cuts from various parts of Kerala. Following that, the minister on April 30 said power cuts were occurring more often at night in the state due to technical issues arising in the substations as a result of the increased consumption. He had urged consumers to exercise control when using electricity. He had also said that if people exercise restraint, then there will be no need for the KSEB to go for load shedding. Thereafter, KSEB came out with its proposed restrictions during the 10 pm to 2 am peak hours and it included switching off lights in commercial establishments after 9 pm, setting the air-conditioner temperature at 26 degrees Celsius or more, big industries bringing in curbs on power consumption during this period, etc, according to the minister.

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Rebellious Indulekha on Ravi Varmas canvas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rebellious she was and beautifully talented. She was barely a woman, or on the verges of it, as she courted Madhavan, whose persona was progressive yet not as captivating as hers. Indulekha, the heroine of the 1889 classic by Oyyarathu Chandu Menon, was more than just a well-bred woman of the late 19th century Kerala she represented the spirit of women, albeit privileged, who could take on regressive and male-centric feudal social structures. Her portrait by the legendary Raja Ravi Varma, however, reveals a more sober, almost coy form of her, clutching a letter that she has written for her beloved. In it, she seems a playful teenager, slightly built, the child in her yet to give way to the subtly sensual women that Raja Ravi Varma otherwise painted. The painting that was unveiled at the Kilimanoor palace on the occasion of Raja Ravi Varmas 176th birth anniversary on April 29 is, in fact, a replica of the original now in the possession of Sasikala Parackal. Her father was gifted the original by the palace around 80 years ago. It was kept in Sasikalas house in Irinjalakuda as a valuable piece of art, which was handed over to her after her father passed away in 1978. He told me it was a gift from Kilimanoor palace and I should take care of it, says Sasikala. Beyond this, I did not know much till the time historian M G Sasibooshan came to our house as part of a litigation my advocate husband was handling. Sasibooshan sensed the hand of Ravi Varma in the painting, which wore some weary marks of time but not enough to camouflage the poise and elegance of Chandu Menons heroine. I then took the painting to the Archeological department and to experts on Raja Ravi Varma, all of whom corroborated Sasibooshans view. Then we got help from Madhan S of Heritage Conservation and Research Academy who studied the painting and restored it to its current glow. I then visited the Kilimanoor palace and informed them of this prized possession. The whole story became public in 2022, says Sasikala. It was the copy of this painting that now finds space in the palace. It is one of the two Indulekha paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. One was in a reclining pose, which is already in the public sphere. The one recently unveiled has Indulekha as a lovelorn girl sitting with a letter in hand that has the year 1892 written on it that can be read with a microscopic lens, says Rama Varma of Kilimanoor palace. According to him, there is a high likelihood that the heroine is real and belonged to the Kilimanoor palace as said in the novel. The character was inspired by Chandu Menons wife Lakshmikutty Amma. He and Raja Ravi Varma were contemporaries and possibly the writer requested the legend to paint his heroine. Also, the lady in the reclining Indulekha painting and the sitting one are the same. So, in all likelihood, and also considering the social milieu of the late 19th century, Indulekha could be real though by a different name. There are several such Ravi Varma paintings in personal collection of people, which is yet to come to light, Rama Varma says. Ravi Varma had the habit of making prints of his works and gifting them to keen people. This is why there are different versions of some of his paintings such as Damayanti, Jatayu Vadham, the Parsi lady, etc. The unfinished Parsi lady is with us whereas the two finished versions were given out, he says. With the penchant to possess a Ravi Varma on the rise and with love for his aesthetics seeing a surge in recent times, the rare paintings of his in personal possessions must be documented well to avoid fakes. Also, the prints go at exorbitant rates in the auctions held across the country. All these make the rare prints in personal possession susceptible to manipulations and hence proper documentation and carbon dating is a must, Rama Varma says, adding he has been getting calls from across India from people who claim to possess a rare Ravi Varma. We are in the process of procuring such paintings and exhibiting them in Kilimanoor Palace. Phased work has begun for that. Not just Ravi Varma, the works of other proteges such as the legends sister Mangala Bayi Thampuratti and brother Raja Raja Varma also have to be presented and preserved, Rama Varma says. Regarding the original painting, Sasikala says she will hand it over to her next in line. How they take care of it is not my headache, she says, agreeing such artworks require dedicated handling because a thing of beauty needs care to remain a joy for a long time if not forever.

Shehzada has fled Amethi, fears defeat in Wayanad too, says PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday predicted a tally fewer than 2019's for the Congress, citing party leader Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from a second seat Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh, after also contesting Wayanad in Kerala which he represents in the outgoing Lok Sabha. The Congress had won 44 seats in [] The post Shehzada has fled Amethi, fears defeat in Wayanad too, says PM Modi appeared first on Northlines .

Heatline

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Kerala is experiencing one of its worst summers ever with the mercury soaring to unprecedented levels. This has had the India Meteorological Department to sound a heatwave alert in the state. While global warming is indeed cited as the primary reason for daytime temperatures remaining unusually high, one cant discount factors like the urban heat island effect or the coastal states maritime climate where average humidity is relatively higher. These mean that when the temperature increases, the heat you feel is also significantly higher. Women carry cans to collect water from tanker lorries arranged by the municipality in Koyilandy

Mambazhakaalam

KOCHI: As I eyed the golden Alphonso in the market, I was taken back to my home where in the backyard mango trees would start blooming way before the summer holidays set in. Come the holidays, my house would have a daily feast with mango mojitos, curries, pickles, and desserts for every meal. It was only as I grew older did I realise the different names of the variants. The golden mangoes were Alphonso or Aapus as my grandmother would say, and the long raw mangoes, I used to have with salt and chilli powder, were Totapuri or Kilimooku. Sometimes, identifying mangoes is something you can do but not explain, says Ranganathan, a vendor in the market as he explain the history of certain mangoes. This was a common statement I heard during my quest to learn how to identify different mangoes. Baiju S Chittilappilly, who owns a farm in Kerala, explains that mango cultivators can often identify, through experience, the different mango trees based on the shape of their leaves. Alphonsos leaves are longer than a lot of other varieties, he says. Alphonso, especially the one from Maharashtra, holds tightly to its title of King of Mangoes and sustains the publics choice award. With a slight sparkle, it stands out in a cart due to its almost perfect roundness and clean golden-yellow skin. A good Alphonso mango will weigh up to 250 grams and will not have any blemishes or spots on its smooth skin, points out Baiju as he speaks of this variants high demand. With dark yellow flesh almost comparable to turmeric, Alphonso is widely available in nearly every market. And another one known for its hue is Sinshoora. Being one of the firstborns of the mango season, it is Sindhoora that often welcomes the public to a very sweet and fruitful season. While comparatively easier to identify, with its reddish shade, the fruit weighs nearly 250 grams per mango. There are not a lot of distinct reddish mangoes I have seen, and Sindhoora is a combination of red, green, and a bit of yellow, says Sameer, a fruit seller from Bihar. As I walked more into the lanes of markets, I stumbled upon a public favourite Imam Pasand. With its origin in Urdu stories to the possibility of it having been Emperor Humayuns favourite, it is one of the sweetest mangoes available. Very much in competition with Alphonso for the grand title, Imam Pasand has thin, tasty skin and is being bought a lot this season. On the other hand, Banganapalli is the middle child of the season and is a bit more pale than others. Often distinctly larger than many varieties, Banganapalli is one of the most affordable lots in the family. Another variety, Jawaad can be sweeter than Banganapalli sometimes. However, most people cannot afford those, so Banganapalli is bought a lot, Sameer adds. Malgoa, with a smaller seed and more flesh, will be available well into May. With a thick skin, it is seen and described as being more round and curvy with a dip near its stem. With a pale flesh, Malgoa is sweet even before ripening, unlike mangoes like Sindhoora or even Neelam, says Baiju. Neelam, a latecomer to the mango season, mainly comes from Andhra Pradesh. With a particularly small round shape, it can be seen when the monsoon rains start, he adds. While the markets are full of different variants, isnt it a wonder that our states can grow so many of them right in time for the season? Baiju tells me that with various grafting and budding techniques becoming popular among mango cultivators, growing multiple varieties of mangoes together is a cakewalk. Grafting is a practical method. Multi-budding, where you can grow multiple mango types on one tree, is very useful. The only main factor that affects is the climate, and some trees have close to 25 mango types growing together, says Baiju. And thats how our markets get filled with mangoes from all over the country. Though the season of varieties like Moovandan and other umpteen local variants are almost over, the mango season is not close to an end as more and more varieties from other states enter the market. Aam Dal/Toker Dal by Joyadrita Ragavendran Chatterjee Ingredients Red masoor dal: 1.5 cups Raw mango (cut into long, thick strips): 1 Salt and sugar to taste Turmeric powder Mustard oil Mustard seeds for tempering Red chilli: 1 Method Boil the red masoor dal with a couple of pieces of mango, salt, and turmeric powder. Keep the other mango slices aside. Heat mustard oil with the mustard seeds and red chilli in a wok temper. Add the remaining mango slices and let it soften. Next, pour the boiled dal. Adjust salt. Add sugar. The final dal should taste sweet and sour. Prawns Raw Mango Curry by Sheeba La Fleur Ingredients Prawns: half cup Green chillies: 4 nos Ginger paste: 1/4 tsp Garlic paste: 1/4 tsp Salt to taste Raw mango: 1 diced Tomato: 1 small Section 2 Grated coconut: 1cup Shallots: 6 nos Tamarind a small ball Red chilly powder: 2tbsp Corriander powder: 2tsp Fennel powder: 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp Ginger a small piece Garlic: 2 nos Water: 1/4 cup For tadka Coconut oil: 2tbsp Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp Sliced Shallots: 2 nos Curry leaves: few Dried red chilli: 3 Method Add prawns, green chilly, ginger and garlic paste with half a cup of water and cook for two minutes. Now add diced tomatoes and raw mangoes to it and cook for another two minutes. Make a fine paste with ingredients from section two. Add the paste to the prawns and cook for another 3 minutes. Heat oil add mustard and other tadka ingredients and pour it into the curry. You can serve it with rice or puttu. MANGO CHEESECAKE by Arun Vijayan, consultant chef Ingredients Crushed biscuits: 500gm Melted butter : 150gm Cream cheese : 350gm Whipping cream : 250gm Cornflour : 50gm Mango puree : 250gm Condensed milk: 300gm Method In a blender, add biscuits and process them until fully crushed. Now add melted butter and blend again. Transfer the biscuit crumbs into a 7-inch springform pan and press down evenly. Set it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. In another bowl, add cream cheese, heavy cream, condensed milk, mango pureeand cornflour. Mix until the batter is fully combined. Now transfer this on top of the biscuit base. Seal the bottom of the springform pan with two layers of aluminium foil so nothing leaks out. Now add the batter to a cheesecake tin and place it in a preheated oven at 160 Celsius for about 40-45 mins. Once baked fully run a knife around the edges while the cheesecake is still warm. Transfer the cheesecake to the fridge to cool for about 7-8hours. Garnish it with mango puree. Sticky Mango Rice by Sheeba La Fleur Ingredients Uncooked sticky rice: 1 cup Full-fat coconut milk: 1 can (13.5 oz / 400 g) Sugar: 1/4 cup Salt: 1/2 tsp Cornstarch (Optional): 2 tsp Mangoes (peeled and sliced): 3 ripe Toasted sesame seeds for garnish (Optional) Method Rinse the sticky rice with water and gently stir it with your hands. Drain the water to remove the excess starch. Then add cold water. Soak the sticky rice for a minimum of 1 hour, or up to overnight in the fridge. Once soaked, rinse again and drain the water. Transfer the rice to a heatproof bowl, add about 2.5 cups of water to your steamer (not into the rice), place the heatproof rice bowl on the steaming rack placed in the steamer, and cover the steamer. Turn to medium-high heat to bring the water to a boil. When the steam starts to come out of the pot, turn to medium heat. Steam for 20 to 25 minutes, until the rice is cooked through, with no hard raw bits in the middle. Remove the pot from the stove. Let sit, covered, while you prepare the other ingredients. Make the sauce when the rice is cooking. Combine the coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat or medium-low heat until the sugar is melted. Do not bring the coconut sauce to a boil. Carefully remove the bowl of sticky rice from the steamer. Pour 1 cup of the sauce into the bowl. Stir to mix well until the sauce is fully absorbed. The mango sticky rice is ready to serve when the rice mixture and the sauce cool to room temperature or lukewarm. For that extra garnish, you can also pour a few spoonfuls of extra coconut sauce on top of the rice or also top with some toasted sesame seeds. Creamy Mango Curry by Arun Vijayan, Consultant chef Ingredients Tender mango wedges: 300gm Finely chopped onions: 30gm Finely chopped garlic : 10gm Finely chopped ginger: 10gm Tomato pure : 20gm Cumin powder: 5gm Salt to taste Turmeric powder: 8gm Fresh cream : 30ml Butter : 10gm Sunflower oil : 50ml Method Heat oil in a pan and add onion, ginger and garlic. Saut it until brown. Add the seasonings and tomato pure. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes in slow heat until the tomato gets mashed. Then add little hot water and mango wedges to it. Reduce the flame and finish with fresh cream and butter. The curry can be served with bread or white rice. Mango margarita by BLND Restobar, Thiruvananthapuram Ingredients Fresh mango: 75 gm Lime juice: 30ml Chilli: 1/2 chilli Ice cube: one big scoop Method Blend all the above ingredients in a blender and serve it in a margarita glass with chilli salt on its rim. Garnish with a chilli. Mango Rasam by Mala Sekar Ingredients Raw mango: 1, medium size Toor dal: 1 small cup Tomato: 1 Pepper: 1 spoon Cumin seeds: 1 spoon Green or red chillies: 2 Crushed ginger: a small piece Coriander leaves Method Pressure cook toor dal and raw mango with a pinch of turmeric on medium flame until two whistles. Once its done, blend it into a smooth paste and add water if its too thick. Add oil to a pan and add mustard, chilies, ginger, a pinch of asafoetida, and turmeric for tadka. Chop the tomato and add it to the tadka along with salt. After this is done, add the toor dal and raw mango paste. Once it comes to a boil, add pepper and cumin powder Garnish with coriander generously.

Kerala: Study to make mosquito eradicating peptide begins

MALAPPURAM : Researchers at Calicut University have initiated a study to produce a functionally modified protein, called peptide, in a cost-effective and large-scale manner, aimed at eradicating mosquito larvae in stagnant water. The research is based on a modified peptide produced by Prof Kannan and his PhD scholar, M Deepthi, from the department of zoology. This peptide, which poses no harm to other aquatic organisms, humans, or the environment, can be converted into a liquid form and applied to stagnant water bodies to eradicate mosquito larvae. Currently, chemical agents are employed to eradicate mosquito larvae, but they can be detrimental to other aquatic organisms and the environment. If our research objectives are met, we will have a low-cost and environment-friendly solution for mosquito larvae control. This would be a boon for nations grappling with mosquito-borne diseases, said Kannan. The peptide in question was functionally modified to interact with trypsin present in the gut of mosquito larvae, leading to their destruction. The peptide hampers trypsin synthesis, an enzyme essential for protein digestion, in the gut of mosquito larvae. When protein digestion is inhibited, the larvae perish within 48 hours. We modified the peptide to only be active in the gut of mosquito larvae. Also, this peptide will not cause any issues in the intestines of humans and other vertebrates, explained Kannan, who conducted post-doctoral research in molecular biology in the University of Michigan in the US. The researchers plan to utilise gene cloning techniques to produce this peptide in cost-effective and large-scale manner. A paper elucidating the peptides role and mechanism of action has been published in the International Journal of Mosquito Research. Effective method Peptide poses no harm to other aquatic organisms, humans, or the environment It can be converted into a liquid form and applied to stagnant water bodies to eradicate mosquito larvae

Kerala: Promote local varieties of Islam to resist Arabisation says Egyptian scholar

KOZHIKODE: An Islamic scholar from Egypt has called for the promotion of indigenous varieties of Islam prevailing in non-Arabic countries to resist the process of Arabisation that seeks to impose a monolithic form of the religion, destroying all its pluralities. In an interview to the TNIE , Dr Nasr Muhammad Arif, Professor at Cairo University, Egypt, said the Arabs carried Islam to various communities more than one thousand years ago in a peaceful and non-confrontationist way. But in the last century it was replaced by Saudi Salafism, which was aggressive and disrespectful of local traditions. The scholar believes that the change occurred due to the influence of western or colonial ideology that divided human beings into superiors and inferiors. He said the Salafi creed propagated by Saudi Arabia was completely insensitive to local culture and traditions. Islam only prescribes that the body should be properly covered. But the Saudi Salafis insist that Muslims should wear their dress. People in South East Asia like colourful things but Salafis want black abaya, he said. I am coming from a society which follows the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence. There, women need not cover their breasts when they are feeding babies. This is unimaginable in Saudi Arabia, Arif said. The Saudi Salafis looked down on the Muslims in traditional communities and thought that they should be re-introduced to Islam again. This is equivalent to the process of Westernisation, Arif said. When Muslims came to South East Asia, they adopted an architectural philosophy that was eco-friendly. They constructed the ceiling of mosques like a pyramid taking into consideration the rainy season, but later it was replaced by the Arabian style of flat roof. Thus, the local culture and tradition were completely sidelined and an Arabian culture was imposed, Arif said. The only way out is to de-Arabise society and return to traditional Islam. I am told that there are several Islamic scholars in Kerala whose books are taught in Al Azhar University. I found a book where details of 6,149 Islamic scholars in Central Asia are given. There are places where there is a rich intellectual tradition but people are inclined to look at Arabs as the representatives of Islam, he said. India used to teach the whole world. The Darul Uloom in Lucknow was the publishing house for Muslims all over the world. You are looking down on you with a belief that others are superior, he said. Arif said the practice of seeking fatwas from scholars outside the country is totally wrong because any fatwa is conditional. Fatwa is a personalised one and cannot be generalised. Importing fatwas can be dangerous, he said. Arif was impressed by the interaction among various communities in Kerala. I went to a Muslim educational institution in Malappuram and I was glad to see that seventy per cent of the teachers are non-Muslims. There is a mosque in every half-a-kilometre, which is a rarity even in the Middle East. We need to promote this kind of plural culture, he said.

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Wayanad tourisms unsung Nepali hero retires after 3 decades of service

KALPETTA: After an illustrious career spanning 33 years with the Kerala tourism department, Sona Lama, a native of Nepal, has retired, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and memorable experiences for tourists who visited Pookode Lake in Wayanad. Lama, who reached Kozhikode in 1989 in search of a job, moved to Wayanad in 1991, where he began working as a security guard at the scenic Pookode Lake at a modest daily wage of Rs 20. Over the years, his presence became an integral part of the Pookode Lake experience, contributing significantly to its popularity and enhancement of tourist services. Remarkably, Lama, 58, who retired on April 30 was the first foreign national to be employed by the state tourism department, setting a precedent for inclusivity and diversity within the industry. His journey from a security guard under the Wayanad District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) to a key personality at Pookode Lake is not just a tale of personal achievement but also a significant chapter in the history of the states tourism sector. I had a long and eventful career in Wayanad, spanning over three decades. My experience reflects a deep connection with the region and its people, a connection that has been both a source of inspiration and a support system throughout my years away from my native place, Lama told TNIE . During my early days in Wayanad, I sometimes felt the strong urge to move back to my hometown since it was difficult to stay away from my family. However, the people here and the love they showed me motivated me to stay, he said. Lama said though retired, he doesnt feel like quitting work as it is the only thing that would help him move on in life. I have asked my family, comprising wife and three sons, to visit Wayanad one last time before I make any decision on returning to Nepal, he said. During my years at Pookode Lake, the worst time indeed was the pandemic period when the entire tourism sector was shut down due to Covid outbreak, he said. Tourism dept lauds Lamas contributions I hope such circumstances never occur again because tourism is the bread and butter of the people in Wayanad, he added. Lama was felicitated at a recent tourism-related event at the district collectorate. At the event, his contributions were highlighted as pivotal in fostering a welcoming and safe environment for visitors. District Collector Renu Raja appreciated the service rendered by Lama for more than 30 years. As Lama steps into retirement, the tourism department bid him a heartfelt farewell, acknowledging his invaluable contributions in promoting Pookode Lake as one of the top tourist destinations. The local government and tourism officials expressed their gratitude, wishing him the best for his future endeavours and hoping that his story inspires others in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Traffic curbs in Kochi on May 4 due to feast in St George church

KOCHI: The city traffic police on Friday said that vehicular movement between Edappally bypass Junction and Palarivattom would be restricted from 4 pm on Saturday in connection with the annual feast at St Georges Forane Church, Edappally. The following directions have been issued:- Believers proceeding to the church to offer prayers and make offering of fowls should park their vehicles at the designated parking facilities arranged by the Church authorities. Under no circumstances should they park the vehicles along the main roads and roads near the church. Strict action will be taken against the violators, including the towing away of their vehicles using police recovery vehicle. The devotees should try to make use of the public transport systems including Kochi Metro. They can utilise the parking facilities including those at metro stations. Vehicles coming from Kalamassery side and proceeding to Palarivattom should take free left at Edappally bypass Junction and proceed to Palarivattom side via NH 66, from 4 pm onward. Similarly, vehicles coming from Palarivattom and proceeding to Kalamassery and Aluva sides should take deviation from Palarivattom SN Junction to reach Palarivattom Bypass junction. They should then take free left to reach Edapally Junction via NH 66 before proceeding to Kalamassery side. Vehicles coming from Paravoor, Cheranalloor and Aluva sides and proceeding to Ernakulam should take the Container Road to enter the city. Vehicles coming from Aluva side and proceeding to Kakkanad and Palarivattom and back should take the Seaport-Airport Road.

Seven children to be adopted from Kerala Child Welfare committee on May 4

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a first, the state welfare committee has decided to entrust seven couples with children they have been taking care of, on the same day. Seven babies will be taken home by these parents on Saturday morning. Kids will be adopted from the committees adoption centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Seven children, all between five and seven months old, are starting off their new journey with their new parents. Six of them will be in Kerala one in Thiruvananthapuram, two in Alappuzha, two in Kottayam, and one in Kozhikode. Meanwhile, one of them will travel to Tamil Nadu with the parents. All parents are professionals such as doctors, assistant directors, university employees, police officers, and entrepreneurs. The new ruling committee has so far given 76 children for adoption to families over a period of 14 months. Twelve of them have gone abroad. According to priority, deserving couples who registered through the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) to various adoptions centres across India got clearance from state children welfare committee. The process of giving up children for adoption was made efficient by providing adequate care and security at various Child Welfare Committee centres,said general Secretary G L Arungopi. Starting a new life The committee has given 76 children for adoption to families over a period of 14 months. Twelve of them have gone abroad Deserving couples who registered through CARA to various adoptions centres across India got clearance from state CWC.

Thiruvananthapuram-based architect wins HUDCO award for flood-relief initiative

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) design award in the category of cost effective rural/urban housing deploying innovative/emerging & disaster resistant technology has been awarded to architect N S Abhayakumar. Abhayakumar won the award for Project Bhoomika, a flood-relief housing initiative, as part of which 10 houses were built for people in Cheruthana village of Alappuzha who lost their houses in the 2018 floods. The design scheme of the project was based on a cost-effective and disaster-resistant technology. The highlight of Project Bhoomika was the partial inclusion of its beneficiaries in the design process. Unlike other housing projects in which a row of cookie-cutter houses is made, Project Bhoomika gave its beneficiaries the option to choose the design without affecting the cost. The project also saw the involvement of young students of architecture and civil engineering in the implementation of a socially relevant human settlement project. Cheruthana is a village that experiences flooding at least three times a year during the monsoons. Project Bhoomika was conceived after the flood relief work was finished. It was found that houses with strong and sustainable construction withstood the flood. So, as an architect, I wanted to do something for the affected to help them resist adversities in the future. Around 100 houses were scouted to find the needy with the help of local youngsters for the project, said Abhayakumar, who is a member of the Trivandrum runners club, a registered charitable organisation that actively worked during the 2018 floods. A mix of precast concrete elements was used for the foundation, and pre-fabricated galvanised pipes and ferro-cement technology for the superstructure to minimise the site work, which is usually the reason for the higher cost of construction in Kerala. The cost for construction of the 400 sqft two-bedroom houses, erected on nine pillars of 1m each, was kept below Rs 6 lakh each. The best part is that beneficiaries were not relocated from their native places for the purpose. Considering the topography of the region, which is surrounded by water with limited road access, the houses were conceived in such a way that different parts such as the well rings, pillars, and wall panels could be pre-fabricated and transported by boat and then erected at site. I hope that local bodies in other flood-prone areas replicate this model, said Abhayakumar. Project Bhoomika The highlight of the project was partial inclusion of its beneficiaries in the design process. They were given the option to choose the design without affecting the cost Also ensured the involvement of young students of architecture and civil engineering in the implementation of the project

Kerala: MLA entered bus, but did not force people out says bus conductor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cantonment police on Thursday recorded the statement of the conductor, who was on duty when the road rage incident involving Mayor Arya Raveendran and the KSRTC driver took place. The police said conductor Subin claimed he had no knowledge of whether driver H L Yadhu had shown lewd gestures at the mayor. He also denied knowing about the chase between the KSRTC bus and the private car in which the mayor and her family were travelling. The conductor said he was sitting in the rear side of the bus and did not know anything about the road race or the drivers lewd gesture, said an officer. The conductor, meanwhile, testified that the mayors husband K M Sachin Dev MLA had entered the bus when it was stopped at Palayam but did not use any bad language or force the passengers out of the bus. His statement was that the MLA did not force anybody to get out of the bus. Neither did he see the MLA shouting at the passengers. He said he had an interaction with the MLA, the officer added. The officer said they have identified some of the passengers, who were travelling in the bus, and their statements would be recorded in the coming days. Its a tedious job, but we will record their statements soon, the officer added. Meanwhile, actress Roshna R Roy has come out against the driver alleging that he had behaved rudely and used loaded language at her when there was a traffic issue at Kunnamkulam a few months ago.

Swell waves: Red alert along Kerala coast

THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a red alert along Kerala and south Tamil Nadu coast owing to swell waves till Sunday night. During the period, the coast will experience strong waves from 2.30 pm on Saturday to 11.30 pm on Sunday. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority had already directed that people should be moved away from beaches from 10 pm on Friday. They have alerted fishermen living in vulnerable locations to shift to safer locations based on the directives of the authorities. They have advised the public to avoid trips to beaches and venturing into the sea. Swell waves cause panic along Kerala coast Fishermen have also been advised to move fishing nets and boats to safer locations, preferably in harbours. Swell waves lashed the Kerala coast causing panic in coastal communities on April 31. The sea attack caused damage to roads and fishing equipment, and also necessitated the rehabilitation of people in some locations. The severity was high in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Thrissur. IMD maintained a yellow alert in Palakkad and Kozhikode considering the heatwave alert on Friday. However, it did not issue any fresh heatwave alerts for any districts for Saturday.

Kerala: 816g MDMA seized in 48 hours; surge in drug haul anticipated after LS poll

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The enforcement agencies have seized a large quantity of synthetic drugs from two locations in the state within a span of 48 hours, indicating that the drug menace is going to intensify further in the state after the Lok Sabha polls. About 616g of MDMA was seized by the excise from Kozhikode rural on Thursday, while 200g were seized from Angamaly by the police on Friday. The seized contraband could fetch more than Rs 25 lakh in the open market, said an excise source. As per the excise sources, the smuggling of narcotics to the state had reduced since March third week due to the heavy deployment of police, excise and other paramilitary forces in the inter-state borders owing to the Lok Sabha polls. Since the poll date was announced on March 16, the state and central agencies had intensified the scrutiny of vehicles on the inter-state borders of Kerala. Apart from the police and excise, officers from the Income Tax department, SGST division, Directorate of Enforcement, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and the Narcotics Control Bureau were involved in inspections at the state border and within the state. A senior excise officer told TNIE that seizure of commercial quantity of MDMA rarely happened in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. MDMA weighing more than 10g is considered as a commercial quantity, as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). Because of the strict surveillance on border points and multi-layered screening of vehicles done within the state and outside, it was almost impossible to smuggle in contraband during the Lok Sabha poll campaign period. Now, that the polls are over in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, we are expecting a surge in smuggling attempts. More seizures are also expected in the coming days, he said. The synthetic drugs reach Kerala from Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Goa, while cannabis is sourced from plantations located in the hinterlands in Andhra-Odisha border. Since the Lok Sabha poll date was announced, heavy deployment of law enforcement officers made movement of the narcotics a risky affair. Now that the vigilance has been scaled down, the rackets having inter-state connections would be eying to push in the drugs, the excise officer added.

Kerala: KSEB to impose restrictions on daily power consumption during peak hours

KOCHI: The rising demand for power has forced the KSEB to impose restrictions on power consumption during peak hours. Meanwhile, the states daily power consumption scaled to new heights on Thursday, recording 114.18 million units. The state set another record in peak load at 10.48pm on Thursday as the demand touched 5,854 MW. Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty urged consumers to reduce the use of power between 10pm and 2am and cooperate with the board to manage the crisis. We were forced to overdraw from the national grid due to high demand on Thursday night. We got only 80 MW from the real time market on Thursday due to high demand in the national grid. We are getting 450 MW from the grid under a monthly contract. Around 5.48 million units of power was purchased additionally on Thursday to meet the demand, said a KSEB official. We have touched the maximum import capacity and if the power demand continues to soar, it will be difficult to manage. The present level of consumption is beyond the level we anticipated for 2026. As the regular demand is much below, we cannot improve capacity as it will be a dead investment, the officer said. As part of the restrictions, the KSEB has directed big industries to reschedule power consumption avoiding work between 10pm and 1am. The board has requested the water authority and the irrigation department to reschedule operation of motor pumps and lift irrigation pumps without affecting water distribution. Commercial institutions and shops have been directed to stitch off power connection to hoardings, decorative lights and sign boards. The board also requested families to set temperature of air conditioners at 26 degree Celsius. Instructions have been issued to deputy chief engineers to make field arrangements to reduce consumption. The public should cooperate to tide over the crisis and reduce consumption between 10pm and 2am. Power failures are caused by technical issues and consumers should stop creating ruckus at KSEB offices, Minister K Krishnan Kutty said in a release. On power saving mode : A day after the Kerala government decided against load shedding, the state electricity board (KSEB) has come out with a slew of proposals on Power saving mechanisms Power should be used scarcely, only if required, during 10pm - 2am Avoid using illumination lights in commercial establishments and lamps in advertisement hoardings after 9pm Ideal to set the air-conditioner temperature at 26 degrees and above High Tension establishments should reorganise their schedule during 10pm-2 am Water pumping should be reorganised and pumps for lift irrigation should not be used during peak hours 114.18 million units - Power consumption on May 2 Peak load: 5,854 MW at 10.48pm

Kerala High Court declines to stay new format for driving tests

KOCHI: Kerala High Court declined to stay the implementation of the circular issued by the state government to revamp the driving test format. The instructions in the circular were issued considering the innovational improvements in vehicular mechanism and engineering, traffic conditions prevailing in the state, increasing number of road accidents in the state and to impart instructions in driving as per the syllabus prescribed in Rule 31 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, said Justice Kauser Edappagath. The court said that the instructions in the circular do not run counter to the provisions of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and it appears to be harmonious with the central rules. Talks fail, driving schools in Kerala plan to move court against new licence test provisions The rules were issued to bring standard to driving tests in the light of the increasing number of road accidents, considering public safety which is the prime object of the Motor Vehicles Act. I see no reason to grant a stay on the implementation of the circular, said the single judge. The transport commissioner being the head of the motor vehicles department is competent to issue instructions which are not in violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules.

Kerala: Barcode on plastic cover helps cops nab accused

KOCHI: Thanks to the barcode on the plastic cover of the online shopping platform Amazon, police managed to zero in on the accused persons within hours after the body of the newborn was found lying on the road in Vidhya Nagar on Friday. Newborn's body found wrapped in cover in Kochi; CCTV footage shows body being thrown out of apartment Police suspect that the victim had made all preparations for giving birth in the bathroom of the house. After the police got information that the body of a newborn was found on the road at Vidhya Nagar, they reached the place around 8.30 am. There were CCTV cameras installed outside the apartment. When we checked the footage, it was found that around 8- 8.15 am, a cover landed on the road from the top floors of the building. Thus we confirmed that someone living in the apartment had thrown out the body, a police officer. However, a breakthrough came when police checked the plastic cover near the body. The plastic cover was that of Amazon and there was an address on it. We managed to find a barcode on the plastic cover. After scanning the bar code, we found the address of the accused who was living in a flat on the fifth floor of the apartment. We interrogated the accused and she confessed to the crime, an officer said.

Case against Kerala man for creating fake video on Rahul Gandhi

KOCHI: A case has been registered against a resident of Muvattupuzha who allegedly circulated a video against Rahul Gandhi claiming that the Congress leader is seeking votes in Wayanad to reinstate the mosque in Ayodhya. Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police registered a case following a complaint filed by Muvattupuzha MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan recently. The case was registered against Rajesh G Nair, Thrikkalathur, Muvattupuzha, who allegedly circulated the video on a WhatsApp group. The video has a duration of 30 seconds starting with a song depicting Ram temple in Ayodhya. Later, it was seen that the temple was destroyed and replaced by a mosque. The video ends with a picture of Rahul Gandhi seeking votes for Congress. A description along with the video claims that it was circulated among the Muslim community and the Hindu community came to know about it only after the poll day. Mathew Kuzhalnadan, in a complaint filed before Ernakulam Rural Police Chief Vaibhav Saxena, stated that it is a hate-mongering video to disrupt communal harmony and peace among the general public aside from the other apparent ulterior motive of gaining undue advantage in election prospects in the ongoing election.

Kerala: 497 cows died of intense heat in past two months

KOCHI: The sweltering heatwave sweeping across Kerala has made life tough for not just humans but animals too. According to the animal husbandry department, 497 cows died due to stress caused by extreme heat and humidity during the past two months. Kollam district tops the list with 105 cow deaths, followed by Palakkad where 67 cows died due to heat stress. An emergency meeting convened by Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying J Chinchurani on Friday directed the department officials to conduct field visits and submit a report on the death of domestic animals due to heat stress within two days. A map of Kerala showing the district-wise deaths of cows in the past two months - 497 Total This is the first time Kerala is witnessing such huge number of cow deaths due to heat stress. We have taken this seriously and directed staff to create awareness among farmers on ensuring proper care to cows. Not just cows, but goats, buffalo, poultry and pigs are also dying due to intense heat, Chinchurani told TNIE . Farmers should not leave cows in open field for grazing, say officials The minister said immediate steps will be taken to provide compensation from the Disaster Management Fund to the farmers who lost their cows. All district officers have been directed to forward reports on cow deaths on a daily basis to the directorate. We have instructed the officers to meet farmers and give them tips on protecting cows. We should ensure the availability of fresh grass and water to the milch cows. Farmers should not leave the cows in open field for grazing. They should fix sprinklers or spread wet sacks on the roof of cow sheds to reduce the heat and provide more water. Sprinkling water on their body will help reduce heat stress. We have provided funds to panchayats for the distribution of water. Shortage of funds will not affect the steps to ensure protection of cows, she added. The minister said steps will be taken to compile report on cow deaths due to heat stress this month itself. Compensation will be provided to farmers in June. According to AHD officials, fresh grass is scarce in the state which has affected dairy farmers. Around 44 panchayats are facing water scarcity. In some areas, cow sheds have asbestos and metal roofing which heat up under scorching sun. The farmers will be told to shift the cows from such sheds to shades of trees. Fixing electric fans in the cow sheds will also help to reduce heat stress. Leaving the cows in open fields for grazing is one reason for heat stress deaths. A cow which gives around 10 litres of milk needs around 100 litres of water a day and if the quantity of water is not sufficient it can add to the stress. The reflected heat in the cow sheds without proper air circulation is also a reason, said a veterinary officer. The department can provide Rs 16,400 as compensation for cow deaths. The minister has directed officials to complete procedures to ensure the release of fund from the finance department. The state government can provide Rs 37,500 as compensation from the disaster management fund. Cow deaths due to heat stress A map of Kerala showing the district-wise deaths of cows in the past two months - 497 Total

Kerala: Post-poll developments likely to alter equations in Congress leadership

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the Lok Sabha election, the A group which has been at loggerheads with the Congress state leadership has cosied up to it indicating a change in power equations within the party. If earlier, Congress state president K Sudhakaran and Opposition Leader V D Satheesan worked as a team, party insiders reveal that fissures have developed in their rapport. The A group which was once led by former CM Oommen Chandy did not share excellent camaraderie with the current leadership. A day after the Lok Sabha poll, rumours were rife that Satheesan is eager to see Congress state president in-charge M M Hassan, who belongs to the A group, continuing in office. This move has antagonised the Sudhakaran camp which led him to advance his duties as party chief from last Monday onward. But he later postponed his trip to Thiruvananthapuram after reports emerged that Hassan, who led the Lok Sabha campaign of the Congress, will chair the meeting on reporting of poll prospects at Indira Bhavan on Saturday. A leader close to Sudhakaran told TNIE that since the tenure of Satheesan has reached the second half, he has been trying to garner maximum support from the A group so as to have a tie-up with it. Satheesans diplomatic move is to garner the support of as many legislators as possible keeping in mind the 2026 assembly elections. Apart from senior A group leaders, youth leaders like Palakkad MLA Shafi Parambil and Rahul Mamkootathil have the backing of Satheesan. Circulation of fake reports that Sudhakaran is likely to be defeated in Kannur has led him to return to the seat of party chief at the earliest before the poll outcome is known, said a leader close to Sudhakaran. Satheesan camp has vehemently denied the allegations that he had tried to derail Sudhakarans return to the KPCC president post. The Leader of Opposition is currently on voice rest and his office informed that there is a standing directive from AICC that Hassan will hold charges until the Lok Sabha poll is over. K C Venugopal, All India general secretary (organisation), in a letter dated March 21 had conveyed to Deepa Das Munshi, AICC general secretary in charge of the state, that Hassan is being given charge of state party chief until the conclusion of Parliament elections, given the current PCC presidents involvement in the ongoing elections.

Rahul Gandhis move to contest in Rae Bareli disappoints Wayanad

KOCHI: The Congress decision to field Rahul Gandhi in the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh has elicited mixed feelings within the partys state unit. There is uncertainty among party leaders regarding whether he will step down from the Wayanad LS seat if he is elected from Rae Bareli, considered a stronghold of the Gandhi family. This has led to heated debates, with the BJP and LDF accusing Rahul of betraying the people of Wayanad. There is a prevailing belief within the Congress party that if he wins both seats, he is likely to vacate the Wayanad seat. However, there is also optimism that his contest in the Hindi heartland will bolster the partys prospects in North India. While party leaders feel it is premature to discuss which seat he would retain, the lingering question is whether he will vacate Wayanad and who will be his successor in Wayanad. The name of AICC general secretary and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, is being reported as a possible successor if Rahul abandons the seat. However, senior party leaders are reluctant to comment on the matter. Congress national general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal stated that the party will decide which seat Rahul Gandhi will retain at the appropriate time. The party requested Rahul Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli and he agreed. For us, Rae Bareli, Amethi, and Wayanad are all important. Rae Bareli is the seat which was held by Indira Gandhi and till recently by Sonia Gandhi. At the appropriate time, the party will decide which seat he will retain. The decision will not affect anyone, Venugopal told mediapersons. Political observers believe that Rahul Gandhis decision to contest in UP will boost the morale of the party as Left leaders argue that he will focus on fighting the BJP in North India rather than contesting against INDIA bloc allies in Kerala. According to K Baburaj, a senior journalist and political observer, Congress activists in UP and other North Indian states are expecting Rahuls presence, which will boost their morale. However, the decision has left his supporters in Kerala, especially in Wayanad, unhappy as they worked hard for his victory in 2019. They also supported him when his MP post was suspended, he said. If Rahul wins, he is likely to retain Raebareli due to its historical connection with the Gandhi family, it is learned. Feroze Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi: Rae Bareli's tryst with Congress Wayanad is considered a safe seat of UDF. So the front can win if a re-election happens. Abandoning Raebareli would be seen as suicidal to Congress, according to Baburaj. A senior Congress leader told TNIE that there were speculations during the 2019 campaign that Rahul would abandon Wayanad if elected from Amethi. However, he won with a huge margin of more than 4 lakh votes, a record in the states election history. This time, Wayanad recorded a lower voter turnout compared to 2019, which might lead to a slight decline in his majority, but the voters are expected to stand by him. The party will take an appropriate decision at the right time and commenting on the issue at this stage will be too early, he added. Chances of Rahul Gandhi contesting from the second seat was the topic of a heated campaign in Wayanad this time too. Fight against BJP Chances of Rahul contesting from second seat was the topic of a heated campaign in Wayanad. Political observers believe that his decision to contest in UP will boost the morale of the party as Left leaders argue that he will focus on fighting the BJP in North India.

Kerala: Organ donation unfolds a tale of human bonding and hope

KOZHIKODE: In Kannur, a touching tale of gratitude and deep human bonding unfolded, highlighting the transformative power of organ donation. The story serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact that organ donation can have, not just on the lives of recipients but on an entire community. Ashok V Nair, a 44-year-old resident of Kurungazha Chalungal house in Pathanamthitta, owes his life to the generosity of a family in Kannur. Six months ago, Ashok received the heart of Vishnu, a young man from Kannur who lost his life in a motorcycle accident in Kozhikode. Despite their deep sorrow, Vishnus parents, Shaji and Sajana, along with their daughter Nandana, decided to donate Vishnus organs. The decision was facilitated under the governments Mritha Sanjeevani scheme, which promotes organ donations at no cost with the stipulation that the donors and recipients have the opportunity to meet. The relationship between Ashok and Vishnus family deepened over the years, marked by regular visits and shared memories of Vishnu. Sajana, who was battling cancer, found in Ashok a surrogate son. Their bond was strengthened through their shared connection to Vishnu and the heart that now beats in Ashoks body. When Sajana succumbed to cancer, it was Ashok who stepped forward to perform her last rites. This profound act of respect and gratitude took place in the presence of grieving family members and neighbours, deeply moved by the symbolic gesture of life continuing to give even after passing. For my wife, Ashok was no less than our son, said Shaji. There is no one in the world to replace his position in our lives right now. Both of us call him Vishnu and not Ashok. Even during her last stage of life battling cancer, Ashoks presence was a great relief for Sajana. She always kept her hands close to Ashoks heart to feel Vishnu. Not just Ashok, Vishnus kidneys, heart, and liver were given to three people in Kerala. Vishnu Sajana and I had realised that nothing could bring our son back to life, but the only way we could get him back was through giving life to other people through our sons organ, he added. The only demand we had while giving consent for organ donation was to know the details about the organ recipients because they wanted to see their son again and again through them, Shaji added. I considered performing the last rites for Vishnus mother as my responsibility and I was mentally and physically ready to perform any duties for the family, said Ashok. Every conversation I had with her after the transplant is a great memory for me. Every time I called her amma (mother), she looked back at me profoundly. Every month when I visited Kannur for a routine health check-up after the transplantation, I made sure to visit her and spend some quality time with the family, Ashok added. The scene at the funeral was emotionally charged, as onlookers witnessed the cycle of life, loss, and continuing legacy. Ashok, with Vishnus heart beating within him, lit Sajanas pyre as a reminder for everyone to understand the importance of the selfless act of organ donation.

Controversy brews over mysterious crack on Akkulam glass bridge in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tourism department has landed in a tight spot with the police nearly ruling out vandalism as the cause of the mysterious cracks at the recently constructed glass bridge at Akkulam, Thiruvananthapuram. It has also raised serious concerns regarding the bridges construction and safety measures taken by the agencies involved including the tourism department, District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Council (KATPC) and the Vattiyoorkavu Youth Brigade Entrepreneur Cooperative Society (VYBECOS) the agency roped in by the tourism department to execute the project. On Friday, the forensic team carried out an investigation on the bridge to probe the cause of the crack. VYBECOS had filed a complaint with the Sreekaryam police alleging vandalism being the cause of damage. A police officer investigating the case said that vandalism was highly unlikely. The cracks occurred on the surface under the bridge, not on the top. Its humanly impossible to reach out beneath the bridge and inflict such damage. More scientific investigation is required to find out other potential causes, said the officer. The Sreekaryam police have registered a case under IPC Sections 447 and 427, indicating possible trespassing and damage of property. We have summoned the manufacturer of the glass to conduct another round of inspection in their presence, the officer added. Meanwhile, Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth had a different take on the issue, claiming that it could be a gunshot that caused the damage on the bridge. He alleged that the damage was done intentionally to sabotage the operations of VYBECOS. We are not happy with the security at Akkulam Tourist Village and we suspect that the damage was inflicted intentionally to sabotage the project. It could be a gunshot but there are not enough CCTVs installed at the village to confirm this. Since the introduction of adventure tourism at the village, the staff here have been upset as they were forced to work more efficiently. The revenue generation has multiplied at the village because of our involvement. We have pointed out these things to the government and the police, said the MLA. Recently, the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT-C) had inspected the glass bridge. Prof T M Madhavan Pillai of the Department of Civil Engineering, who led the safety inspection of the glass bridge, told TNIE that they found nothing wrong with the bridge. We assessed the safety and structural stability of the glass bridge and found it to be intact. The glass used for the construction of the bridge already had the safety clearance and is of good grades. Hence, we didnt check the quality of the glass, said Madhavan. Sanjeev S J of Environment Protection Research Council, who filed several RTIs regarding the glass bridge, said that he has not received any reply from the DTPC regarding the agency that constructed the bridge. Its a high security zone because of the presence of the Southern Air Command. Hence, there is no possibility of vandalism. It is shady as the construction and the execution of the project has not been done in a transparent manner, he alleged. Built at a cost of Rs 12 crore The glass used for the glass bridge was bought from Saint-Gobain a global glass manufacturing company. Each glass panel weighs around 1 tonne and is constituted of three layers with a total thickness of 36 mm. The 52-metre-long bridge with a height of 75 feet was constructed at a cost of Rs 1.2 crore using private investment.

Kerala: Jain, a relentless crusader of deprived childrens rights

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keeping child as an exclusive subject, artist C D Jain has been creating art works for the past 27 years. At his 21st solo exhibition, being held at Lalitha Kala Akademi Art Gallery, Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan, he has showcased 21 of his works which have never been exhibited before. Out of this, 16 works were done on canvas and five on paper. The exhibition, which was started on April 27, will conclude on May 3. A social activist for predominantly childrens rights, his art voices issues of the marginalised. Born in Parassala, Jain is a 1988 BFA graduate from College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum. He also worked as a guest lecturer at the college for a short period. From his college time, he has conducted art workshops for rural children in different parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. He is an artist, activist, and child educator, but his passion is teaching. I will never claim myself as one of the finest artists but definitely as a teacher, said Jain. Since 1996, he has been a relentless crusader of deprived childrens rights by fighting against issues of child labour, child abuse, pain and destitute, missing and cheerful children series through his works. Vignettes of his Madurai life have packed his 27 years per se. The world is unfair for many, my travel to Madurai has taught me that. To not confine the viewers in the title, the paintings of the series are not named, said Jain. The intensity of first-hand experiences saturates his canvases. He has a clarity of the shades to choose and the way to present perhaps makes up the major reason for taking a year to complete two paintings. Some are created with zero pencils on acrylic, it takes time to deliver, said Jain. Benign Forest, a collection on display was done in acrylic and speaks of the mans communion with nature while the five paintings of his series Destitute Child were done with charcoal on paper. The eyes of the children in his pictures are dark, just like how their view of the world is. Though his earlier works were rich in hues and detailing, Destitute Child with minimal elements speak a hundred times louder than the vibrant shades of nature paintings. Jain was also a recipient of the State Forest Department Award in 1986 and the Lalitha Kala Akademi Award in 1987. He was an art consultant of Unicef World Vision and Save the Children India from 2005-2006. Destitute Child The eyes of the children in his pictures are dark, just like how their view of the world is. Though his earlier works were rich in hues and detailing, Destitute Child with minimal elements speak a hundred times louder than the vibrant shades of nature paintings

Chennai man without hands gets licence to drive car with legs

CHENNAI: In a possible first in Tamil Nadu, a 31-year-old Chennai man who had lost both his arms from below the elbow in an electric accident during childhood, has been given a special driving licence by the North Chennai regional transport office. K Thansean of Vyasarpadi was given the licence based on a fitness certificate issued by government doctors. A visibly happy Thansean, who is pursuing Master of Laws at Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, said disabled people like him who love driving should be encouraged and given licence without much hassle. Immediately after getting the licence last week, I drove my family in a car to a temple in Perambur. Of course, people on the road were surprised. Many came and appreciated me for driving the car with legs without any difficulty, Thansean said. His longest drive so far was to a temple in Tiruttani. The vehicles are modified to my convenience. Horn, indicator, wiper, and light switches are placed near the hand brake, he said. My next goal is to ride a bike: Thansean Since I drive a fully automatic car, I dont have any difficulty. I handle steering with one leg and operate accelerator and brake with the other leg. Occasionally, I use my upper limbs as well, Thansean said. Thansean says driving a car was his dream for a long time. He finally joined a driving school and learned to drive with legs. My next target is bike. I am currently practising to ride a bike. Yet to get the licence, Thansean said. Thansean says he wanted to be independent, have his own vehicle, and drive with his family without depending on public and private transport, and even to work. Many who saw me practising car driving discouraged me, but I didnt give up, he said. Thansean further added that he carried the paper clipping of a woman without hands driving a car in Kerala and showed it to RTO officers and doctors. He then went to the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K K Nagar, where the doctors team led by Dr P Thirunavukkarasu, director of the institute, Dr A Rajakumar, associate professor, and Dr Kris Chitrarasu, assistant professor, assessed him and gave the fitness certificate. We assessed him. First we saw if he was physically fit and whether he could operate all keys. We then assessed his ability to respond to a situation while driving. We checked if he could apply the brakes immediately. He performed all the functions well, Dr Thirunavukkarasu said. An official in the North Chennai RTO office said as per the Motor Vehicle Act and state and central motor vehicles rules, persons with disability (PwDs) can be given driving licence. The medical board will give a medical fitness certificate, and suggest modifications in the vehicle. The RTO will see if the candidate has modified the vehicle as per the suggestions and is able to operate the vehicles like a normal person and issue a licence.

Time for course correction in Kerala

KOCHI: Romal S grimaces as he recalls uncertain times he and his 300-odd college-mates encountered when the management of the Cochin Institute of Science and Technology (CISAT), a private engineering institute in Muvattupuzha, suddenly decided to close the campus down one fine day in 2019. The teachers had launched a strike as their salaries were not paid, says the youngster in his mind-20s, who was then pursuing a mechanical engineering course at CISAT. And then came the bolt from the blue the college was shut down. Aromal later joined a private engineering college under Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation, a private deemed-to-be-university, in Salem. Meanwhile, CISATs second campus at Valanchery in Malappuram was also shut down due to financial issues. The private engineering college sector in Kerala seems to have come full circle more than two decades after the A K Antonty government opened it up for the private players amid much brouhaha in 2001. Over the years, the sector has been on a decline. So much so that today the number of institutions that have managed to survive the onslaught of time, lack of finances, and the stranglehold of outdated regulations has been reduced from 167 in the heydays to about 90. Many of the institutions are struggling to pay back the bank loans. In the academic year 2015-16, Ernakulam topped the list with 33 self-financing colleges (as per the economic review of 2017). However, by 202324, the number dropped to 21. In Thiruvananthapuram, the number came down from 28 to 17. The numbers are likely to drop further, says A N Kareem, general secretary of the All-Kerala Self-Financing Engineering College Management Association (AKSFECMA). About 10 to 15 colleges are on the verge of closure in the coming academic year. The future of the sector, he adds, hinges on the outcome of the Kerala Engineering, Architecture, Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM). Last year, there were about 96,000 applications for KEAM. This year, only 62,000 applications have been received, Kareem explains. Only about 70% of the applicants eventually sit for the examinations. From that, only about 50% clear the test. A majority of the eligible students make a beeline for the government and aided colleges. Thus, last year, we could fill only 40 per cent of our approved intake. This year, things look bleaker. Ravi Kumar (name changed on request), an AKSFECMA member who had to shut his engineering college down owing to financial struggles, echoes the sentiment. There is no future for this sector, he sighs. He adds that the drastic drop in the student intake at his college forced him to liquidate property worth Rs 18 crore over the past six years for paying salaries and day-to-day running of the college. I waited till the final batch of students graduated; I did not want to be the villain who spoiled their futures, says Kumar, adding that the government policies are to blame for the mess. The rigid rules make it impossible for us to improvise. Sources in the sector say fear of financial loss has made many people shelve their plans to start colleges despite receiving necessary approvals. Govt the sole villain? There are other factors in play, says D Dhanuraj, chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research. One is the high cost. I narrowed on this reason while doing some studies related to the sector. Education cost is very high in Kerala when compared with the other states. So when they can get quality education at a lower cost in another state or even in foreign countries, and an opportunity to experience different cultures and places, the children will surely opt to go out. Another reason is that, unlike in the past, the youth today are not obsessed with engineering, Dhanuraj highlights. Engineering has lost its glow. Also, it should be noted that the children today are very well-informed. So, when it comes to their higher education prospects, they do thorough research before arriving at a decision, he says. So, in an era that has opened up a wide array of new-gen courses and opportunities, why would the children settle for the traditional streams? Dhanuraj also points out the relatively poor STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) capacity of the students in the state. Why would students struggling with subjects such as physics, chemistry and mathematics take up a course that is based purely on these three? he asks. An increasing number of students are taking up the humanities stream, as new job opportunities are opening up. Why slog it out at something that they are not cut out for? P R Shamshudeen, owner of CISAT that shut down in 2019, concurs, but has not lost all hope. I had to close my colleges due to dismal fee revenue. The number of admissions for mechanical, electronics and civil engineering was very poor. I had no other choice, he says. However, in 2022, I reopened CISAT. The realisation that the new-gen courses in AI, machine learning and data science is the in-thing made me get approval for the same from the All India Council for Technical Education. To survive in this sector, self-financing colleges need to upgrade their courses and standards. Kareem agrees, insisting that the state government should frame policies that are more congenial with current times. The rigidity has to go. There should be more freedom to start new-gen, innovative courses. It is high time the government stepped in to stem the flow of students to outside states and foreign countries, he says.

Kerala: Sacrificed centuries ago, Perumparayan gets an abode in Pulinkunnu

ALAPPUZHA: The stone idol of Perumparayan a lower-caste labourer who is said to have been killed by feudal landlords over 300 years ago as part of human sacrifice finally got a permanent mandapam (abode) in Pulinkunnu panchayat in Kuttanad on Thursday. The abode was set up by local residents of Thoppilchira in Kuttanad. It is said that after killing Perumparayan, the landlords constructed and installed his stone idol on a ground in Thoppilchira to cast away bad omens. Perumparayan is still being worshipped by many. V K Venugopal, a native of Kuttanad, said the idol was set up on a ground on the outer bund of the Ayyanad paddy field. Before cultivating crops, we used to perform special poojas in front of the idol. Now the poojas will be performed in front of the mandapam on all Thursdays, Venugopal said. According to myth, the stone idol of Perumparayan stands as a testimony to the suppression of tenants by landlords during the kingly rule. The incident related to Perumparayans murder happened around 300 years ago. Ayyanad paddy polder is a 1,100-acre paddy field bordering Vembanad Lake. The cultivation here is carried out after constructing strong outer bunds and de-watering polders. When the incident happened, Kuttanad was under the rule of Thekkumkoor and Vadakkumkoor kings. Kuttupuram Kaimal and his brother Elamkuttu Kaimal of a landlord family used to carry out the administration in the region. Kuttupuram Kaimal managed agriculture matters, while Elamkuttu Kaimal looked after administration. When breaching of the bund on the north side of the polder, destroying the paddy cultivation, became a regular incident, Kaimal, who was fascinated by superstitious beliefs, brought an astrologer to find a solution. The astrologer suggested human sacrifice for the strengthening of the bund and Perumparayan became the scapegoat, said Venugopal. The statue of Perumparayan On the fateful day, Perumparayan along with other workers were ready to construct the outerbund and Kaimal supervised the work, says Venugopal. According to myth, Kaimal ordered other labourers to fill the bund by putting a large quantity of clay on Perumparayan, burying him alive inside the bund. Later, Kaimals family started facing problems. He again sought the help of an astrologer, who then said that the curse of Perumparayan was the reason for the sad plight of his family. The astrologer said that constructing an idol for Perumparayan and performing poojas in front of it were the only way to solve the issue. This led to the construction of the idol, he said.

Kerala down Gujarat - The Times of India

Kerala down Gujarat The Times of India

Cong will struggle to cross 50 seats; Rahul fighting from Rae Bareli sensing Wayanad defeat: PM

AHAMADPUR, May 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that Congress tally in the Lok Sabha polls will be an all-time low, as the grand old party would struggle to cross even the half-century mark in the hustings. Modi also mocked Rahul Gandhis decision to contest from Uttar Pradeshs Rae Bareli seat, and said the Congress leader did so after sensing defeat in Keralas Wayanad, where he is a sitting MP. Addressing back-to-back rallies in the Bardhaman-Durgapur, Krishnanagar [] The post Cong will struggle to cross 50 seats; Rahul fighting from Rae Bareli sensing Wayanad defeat: PM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

DNA TV Show: Why Rahul Gandhi chose Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat over Amethi

Rahul Gandhi had lost from Amethi constituency to BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019 but won Wayanad in Kerala.

Kerala LDFS EP Jayarajandismisses fiasco as malicious propaganda

After BJP leader Shobha Surendran and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran had alleged that Left Democratic Front (LDF) convenor E.P. Jayarajan had discussions with Prakash Javadekar regarding joining the saffron party, the Left cadres have shown their strange reactions mix with shock. Meanwhile, a political middleman, TG Nandakumar has claimed that Javadekar [] The post Kerala LDFS EP Jayarajandismisses fiasco as malicious propaganda appeared first on Northlines .

Muslims, Christians, Hindus moving forward with feeling of brotherhood: BRS's Nama Nageswara Rao on Owaisi's remark

Muslims, Christians, Hindus moving forward with feeling of brotherhood: BRS's Nama Nageswara Rao on Owaisi's remark In reaction to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi's remarks to ANI comparing the situation of Muslims in today's India to that of Jews in Germany during dictator Adolf Hitler's era, Bharat Rashta Samithi (BRS) candidate from Khammam, Nama Nageswara Rao said that all religious communities in the country are moving forward with the feeling of brotherhood. The BRS leader however said that some people are trying to create a divide between people in the society which should not happen. In India, Muslims, Christians and Hindus are moving forward with the feeling of brotherhood. Some people try to create rivalry between Hindus and Muslims, Hindus and Christians. This is not good for the country. We governed Hyderabad very peacefully. The way some people are dividing the society is not right, Rao said speaking to ANI on Friday. Objecting to the recent practice of raising Jai Shree Ram slogans in Parliament, Rao said, Even in Parliament Jai Shree Ram slogans are raised. This was not the culture earlier. This should not happen. Everyone should protect democracy. Speaking about the developmental works undertaken by the BRS government when it was in power in Telangana and comparing that to the Congress government in the state, Rao said, KCR used to give gifts to Muslims in Ramzan. Congress used Muslims for vote bank. KCR has protected Muslims and undertook development works for them when the BRS was in power. They (Congress) did not give Ramzan gifts to Muslims this time. The BRS leader said that Muslims are ready to support his party even today. I went to some mosques recently. Till today they are ready to help me and our party. The BRS takes all Hindus, Christians and Muslims together, Rao said. On Rahul Gandhi filing his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, besides contesting from Kerala's Wayanad, Rao quipped saying that he must have thought Wayanad to be a safe seat in case he loses from Raebareli. If he does not contest from there, people might criticize saying that he has run away and gone south. If he loses, they will say that he has lost. Since he thought that it (Wayanad) is a safe seat, he is contested from the south, Rao said. Speaking on some reports in the past that Rahul Gandhi would be contesting from Khammam, the BRS leader said, For one month, all papers and TVs reported that he will be contesting from here. It would have been nice. I wanted to fight against him. Polling for all 17 seats in Telangana will take place on May 13, in the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The BRS, which was then the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), claimed the lion's share of the electoral spoils in the 2019 polls, winning 9 seats while the BJP secured 4 seats. The Congress and the AIMIM brought up the rear, winning 3 and 1 seats respectively. (ANI)

Newborn Found In Plastic Bag In Kerala, Child Rights Body Registers Case

The Kerala State Child Rights Commission registered a case on Friday into the incident where a newborn was found dead, covered in a plastic bag on the street of a posh residential area in Kochi.

Kerala down Gujarat 3-1 in U-20 national football - The Times of India

Kerala down Gujarat 3-1 in U-20 national football The Times of India