Page 7 - Kerala

FIR registered against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil for stalking women

A case was registered against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on Wednesday by the Kerala police for various offences, including stalking and harassing women on social media. The development came hours after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram that all possible legal steps would be taken in connection with the allegations against Mamkootathil. The Crime Branch wing of the police registered the case and launched an investigation on the instructions of state DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar, a statement issued by the State Police Media Centre said. The case was registered after it was found that complaints received by the DGP included commission of cognizable offences, it said. The FIR was registered under sections 78(2) (stalking) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 120 (o) (causing, through any means of communication, a nuisance of himself to any person by repeated or undesirable or anonymous call, letter,

Malayalam actress Lakshmi Menon named in abduction case of IT professional

According to Putta Wimaladitya, the commissioner of police in Kochi City, actress Lakshmi Menon is currently absconding. She is implicated in a kidnapping case related to an IT professional

Mollywood actor Rajesh Keshav critical after suffering cardiac arrest

Mollywood actor and TV presenter Rajesh Keshav was rushed to a Lakeshore Kochi hospital after he collapsed during a live event on Sunday night. He suffered a cardiac arrest

Happy Onam 2025: 30+ wishes and greetings to share with loved ones

Onam is one of Kerala's most beloved festivals, marking the beginning of the Malayali New Year and the homecoming of the king Mahabali. In 2025, the celebration will occur from Aug 26 to Sept 5

Congress suspends MLA Rahul Mamkootathil over sexual misconduct allegations

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was suspended from the primary membership of the party after it was satisfied that the information gathered about his "misconduct" towards women was correct. He also said that if Mamkootathil is innocent, he should prove it. A day after Mamkootathil, facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations, was suspended from the primary membership of the party on Monday, Chennithala said the Congress will not tolerate activities that hurt the dignity of women. "I don't know whether these allegations are correct or not, but the gathered information said this is correct. That is why we all advocated for strong action," Chennithala, who is abroad, told PTI in a telephonic interview. Describing the party's decision against Mamkootathil as "bold and idealistic", which will help uphold the dignity and rights of women, the senior leader said there was consensus among the party leaders on the necessity of stringent acti

SMA, rare disease treatment add to Kerala health model success story

SMA is a rare, inherited genetic disease that affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord, causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting

Kerala HC orders devaswom boards to keep temple premises free of politics

The Kerala High Court has directed three prominent devaswom boards in the state to ensure that premises of temples under their control are not used for any political activity. The direction to the Travancore, Cochin and Malabar Devaswom Boards was issued by a bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar on a plea by an Ernakulam resident N Prakash. In his plea, Prakash had claimed that various temple premises, like the Tali Temple at Kozhikode, Sree Indilayappan Temple at Attingal and Kadakkal Devi Temple in Kollam, were used for the promotion of political activities. "Such activities are inappropriate and hurt the feelings of the devotees," he said. The Malabar Devaswom Board had told the court that it was "not pragmatic" for the Devaswom Boards to issue directions regulating the selection of any forms of events or performing acts, other than those connected with the customary poojas, rites, and rituals of the temple. It also said that misuse of the temple and its ..

Kerala govt approves fresh DA, DR hike for state employees, pensioners

The Kerala government on Saturday approved another instalment of dearness allowance (DA) for state employees and teachers, and dearness relief (DR) for pensioners, Finance Minister K N Balagopal said on Saturday. The revised payments will take effect from salaries and pensions due on September 1. Staff covered under the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and medical services will also benefit, he said in a statement here. The move is expected to add about Rs 2000 crore to the state's annual spending. "This reflects the government's commitment to employees and pensioners," Balagopal said, noting that this was the second instalment cleared this year. Two instalments were also granted last year. He said the state had honoured pay revision promises despite financial strain during the Covid years, with benefits including DA paid in cash from the start of the 2021-22 financial year.

Kerala Cong leaders split in tone over allegations against MLA Mamkootathil

Senior Congress leaders in Kerala voiced differing tones on Saturday over allegations of misbehaviour against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who resigned this week as state Youth Congress president. Amid mounting protests from the BJP and the CPI(M) seeking Mamkootathil's resignation as Palakkad MLA, Opposition Leader V D Satheesan said the party was examining the issue "very seriously" and would act if required. "Within 24 hours of the allegation, Mamkootathil resigned from his post. There is a procedure, and the party will examine the matter thoroughly," Satheesan told reporters in Kochi. He also cautioned party workers against vilifying the complainants. "Strict action will be taken against anyone running campaigns against the women who raised allegations. That is not Kerala's culture," he said. On whether Mamkootathil had resigned as Youth Congress chief voluntarily or was asked to, Satheesan remarked: "That is a technical question. The result is the same. He has the right to prove h

Kerala's 'Cancer free Kannapuram' programme gets recognised by WHO

From house-to-house drives to women-led navigation teams, this Kerala panchayat's model has transforming, with 96 percent women participation

MLA Rahul Mamkootathil quits as IYC Kerala president amid misconduct probe

Congress MLA from Kerala, Rahul Mamkootathil, who faces an internal party inquiry over a misbehaviour allegation by an actress, on Thursday announced his resignation as state Youth Congress president. He announced this while speaking to reporters at his residence in Adoor near here. After actress Rini Ann George accused "a young leader" of a well-known political party of misbehaviour, BJP and CPI(M) affiliated youth organisation DYFI were protesting against Mamkootathil and demanding his resignation as MLA. His decision to resign from the party post came soon after Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan asserted that nobody found guilty will be spared. The MLA began the press conference by saying that he had spoken to the opposition leader, as well as KPCC and AICC leaders, on Thursday morning. "They did not demand my resignation. The actress is my friend, and I don't believe the person she mentioned was me. She is my good friend and will rema

Brain-eating amoeba cases in Kerala: How it spreads and prevention

From how the amoeba enters the body to expert advice on safety, here's what you should know to reduce your risk

PM Modi praising RSS in Independence Day speech insults the day: Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "glorifying" the RSS in his Independence Day speech, saying it was "tantamount to insulting the day itself" and the freedom struggle. In a statement issued by his office, Vijayan said the PM's praise for the RSS was an attempt to "attribute fatherhood of the independence" to the right wing organisation which was banned after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Terming Modi's action as a "denial of history", the CM said such "ridiculous measures cannot whitewash" the RSS which has a "poisonous history" of divisive politics. "The Prime Minister's use of the Independence Day speech to glorify the RSS is tantamount to insulting the day itself," he said in the statement. Modi on Friday hailed 100 years of RSS as a "very proud and glorious" journey of the "world's biggest NGO" and lauded all its volunteers for their dedicated service to the nation. "Today I want to mention one thing with great pri

Trafficking-conversion case: Chhattisgarh court grants bail to Kerala nuns

A special court in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district on Saturday granted bail to three persons, including two nuns from Kerala, arrested on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, lawyers said. Principal District and Sessions Judge (NIA court) Sirajuddin Qureshi had reserved the order on their bail pleas after a hearing on Friday. The court has granted conditional bail to the trio, defence lawyer Amrito Das said. Catholic nuns Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, both from Kerala, along with Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested at the Durg railway station on July 25, following a complaint from a local Bajrang Dal functionary, who accused them of forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur and trafficking them, a railway police official had said. Following the bail hearing on Friday, Das had said that the prosecution had not asked for the trio's custody for interrogation, and the alleged victims had been sent back to their homes.

Has Yemen cancelled Nimisha Priya's death sentence? Here's what we know

After years in prison and last-minute interventions, Nimisha Priya's execution originally scheduled for July 16 was stayed just a day prior

Nimisha Priya's death sentence overturned: Grand Mufti Muslaiyar's office

According to a statement issued by the Grand Mufti's office, the decision was made after a high-level meeting held in Yemen's capital

Agitating ASHA workers in Kerala welcome Centre's reported incentive hike

The ASHA workers in Kerala who have been agitating for the last several months against the state government demanding a hike and post-retirement benefits, on Saturday welcomed the Centre's reported decision to increase their fixed monthly incentive. They said the union government's decision would be beneficial for over 10 lakh ASHA workers in the country. There are media reports that the Centre approved a proposal to hike the fixed monthly incentive of ASHAs from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 during the recent 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG). The media also reported that the retirement benefits of the ASHA workers would be increased by the Centre, too. S Mini, state vice president of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA) whose members are carrying out the indefinite agitation in front of the Secretariat here, said they had already carried out two Parliament marches raising the same demand. "We welcome the union government's decision to increase the fixed monthl

Watch: British F-35 jet finally takes off from Kerala after 5 weeks

The $115-million stealth jet had diverted to Kerala after bad weather and a technical snag cut short its return to HMS Prince of Wales during a routine sortie

Former Kerala CM, CPI-M leader V S Achuthanandan died at the age of 101

Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s official X handle confirmed Achuthanandan's demise

Execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen stayed: Centre tells SC

The Supreme Court was on Friday informed that the execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row for murder in Yemen, has been stayed. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that "efforts are on" in the matter. The top law officer said the government wants Priya to come back safely. "They (government) are taking good care of whatever is possible," the bench observed. The counsel appearing for the petitioner said they have to first get pardon and then the issue of "blood money" would come. The petitioner informed the court that the execution has been postponed. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 14. The apex court was hearing a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save Priya, 38, facing execution in Yemen. The execution was earlier scheduled for July 16. Priya, a nurse from Palakkad district of Kerala, was convicted of murdering her Ye