Adani News

Tag: Kerala

  • Kerala Police releases photo of suspect who set passengers on fire on moving train

    Kerala Police releases photo of suspect who set passengers on fire on moving train

    Thiruvananthapuram (IANS)| The Kerala Police on Monday released a picture of a suspect who set ablaze his co-passengers on a moving Kannur-bound train. On Sunday night, a picture of the suspect was released from CCTV footage recorded at around 11.30 pm, two hours after the passengers were set ablaze on the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express. Apart from CCTV, information about the suspect was collected from eyewitnesses traveling in the coach.

    Earlier in the day, state police chief Anil Kant told the media that they have got vital leads and the case will be cracked soon.

    Similarly, national agencies like NIA have also started preliminary inquiry into the incident.

    On Sunday night, three passengers who jumped off the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express were found dead on the tracks. A two-year-old innocent and his aunt are also included in the dead.

    According to sources, when the train was about to cross the Korapuzha bridge between Kozhikode and Kannur at around 9.30 pm, a middle-aged man doused the passengers with petrol and set them on fire.

    Nine passengers injured in the fire are undergoing treatment at Kozhikode Hospital, where the condition of three is said to be critical.

    Meanwhile, police sources said that the mobile phone recovered from the railway track did not have a SIM, but the investigating officers have found that the phone was last used on March 30.

    The bag contained a piece of paper with a note in English and Hindi about places in nearby Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari. It also had a pair of clothes, spectacles and a bottle of petrol.

    State BJP President K. Surendran said the CCTV footage indicated that it was the handiwork of anti-national forces.

    Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the incident and said that the police would be able to nab the suspect and assured that the treatment of the injured would be taken care of.

    Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said that this is an untold incident and hence the state and central agencies should jointly investigate to instill confidence in the traveling public.

    –IANS

  • Kerala: Congress celebrates black day on second anniversary of LDF government

    Kerala: Congress celebrates black day on second anniversary of LDF government

    Thiruvananthapuram (IANS)| The ruling LDF in Kerala on Saturday celebrated the second anniversary of its return to power in the 2021 assembly elections. At the same time, the opposition protested celebrating it as Black Day. Leading the protest, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said Kerala has become the most indebted state because of Vijayan’s misrule.

    Despite the state government imposing a burden of Rs 5,000 crore on the people, Chief Minister Vijayan is celebrating with advertisements to mark the anniversary. People are being burdened with an additional two rupees on fuel products starting Saturday. This will lead to an all-round price hike, Satisan said.

    Petrol is cheaper by Rs 15 per liter in Mahe (part of Puducherry), located between Kannur and Kozhikode districts, while diesel is cheaper by Rs 13 compared to Kerala.

    Satheesan said, “The Vijayan government has failed dismally as it is unable to collect taxes. Vijayan should come clean on the role of his interference in aiding the chit fund business owned by Gokulam Gopalan. The state exchequer has dried up.” and no payment has been made above five lakh rupees. Things are completely messed up.”

    Meanwhile, Vijayan has come out with several advertisements in the media as part of the second anniversary celebrations, stating that his government has put its best foot forward in building a ‘new Kerala’.

    –IANS

  • 67 higher secondary teachers terminated for want of workload in Kerala

    67 higher secondary teachers terminated for want of workload in Kerala

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unprecedented move, the state government has sacked 67 junior higher secondary English teachers who did not have adequate workload following staff fixation. Ironically, the government school teachers who were “discharged for want of vacancies”, on Friday had received appointments through the state PSC.

    Though the government has assured that these teachers would be given appointments once regular higher secondary school teacher-junior (HSST-jr) vacancies arise, the teachers’ unions are not convinced. They contended that the issue could have been addressed by redeployment of teachers or deputation to other wings of the general education department.

    The terminated teachers’ posts were earlier treated as supernumerary till March 31, 2023. After their continuance in service beyond March 31 seemed doubtful, the teacher’s unions approached the government demanding an extension.

    Recently, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said the government was “considering the matter favourably”. He added that a case regarding the teaching posts was pending before the court, and a decision was awaited.

    Anil M George of the Higher Secondary School Teachers’ Association (HSSTA), said such a move was unheard of in the state’s education sector. “In 2018, when many higher secondary teaching posts became excess in aided schools following staff fixation, the government had treated these posts as supernumerary till their retirement. However, in the case of government school teachers, the posts were made supernumerary for a brief period and eventually terminated,” he said.

    HSSTA has urged the government to withdraw the order and to redeploy the 67 English teachers in various sections of the general education department. This would ensure that there is no break in service for the teachers, many of whom had received appointments through PSC after waiting for many years.

  • Man allegedly dies in Kerala police custody

    Man allegedly dies in Kerala police custody

    According to the police, P Manoharan, who was caught during a vehicle inspection, was transferred to the Hill Palace police station in Tripunithura, Ernakulam district, where he passed away en route to the hospital.

    However, witnesses and Manoharan’s family claim that the police physically attacked him before torturing him at the station. According to a senior police official, a police sub-inspector was suspended in connection with the incident, and the state government has mandated a crime branch enquiry.
    Eyewitnesses claim that Manoharan was detained by the police after failing to halt his scooter when told to do so by officers. He was allegedly attacked by the police, who then dragged him to the station. As Manoharan passed away, a mob of incensed protesters surrounded the police station where he had been detained.
    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress both organised protest marches to the police station in the meantime, calling for action against all police officers who were on duty when Manoharan was taken into prison.

  • Sub-inspector suspended after man’s death in police custody

    Sub-inspector suspended after man’s death in police custody

    Thiruvananthapuram (IANS) | A sub-inspector was on Sunday suspended following the death of a man in Kerala’s Ernakulam district after he was allegedly thrashed in police custody. Sub-inspector Jimmy Jose of Hill Palace police station in Thippunithura allegedly slapped Manoharan (51), who was caught for drunken driving during a routine vehicle inspection on Saturday night. Manohar was brought to the police station, where he fainted and was later declared brought dead by the doctors.

    In the wake of the incident, Ernakulam City Police Commissioner Sethuraman issued an order suspending the sub-inspector.

    Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the policeman should be charged with murder and mere suspension is not enough. He said that he himself has complained many times to the higher authorities against the functioning of the Hill Palace police station. He said that if the State Home Department does not take strict action, the Congress will launch a vigorous agitation against it.

    Local MLA and Kerala Congress leader Anoop Jacob said that the Hill Palace Police is not friendly to the people and there are many complaints against the functioning of the station. He also demanded the dismissal of the concerned officer from the police department.

    Meanwhile, the Youth Congress and the BJP took out a protest march towards the Hill Palace police station, demanding immediate action against all policemen involved in the alleged custodial torture and death of Manoharan.

    Ajayan, a local, told IANS that daily wage laborer Manoharan was someone who had never consumed alcohol in his life. He has a small family consisting of his wife and two children.

    –IANS

  • Special enforcement teams to prevent pollution of Ashtamudi lake in Kerala

    Special enforcement teams to prevent pollution of Ashtamudi lake in Kerala

    The Kollam district administration has formed special enforcement teams in collaboration with local self-governments to find waste management violations, a serious issue endangering the ecosystem of Ashtamudi Lake.

    The squad will take action against violations including poor waste treatment, uncontrolled garbage dumping and the storage and sale of banned plastic products.

    Meanwhile, local self-governments and the district administration’s fragile efforts were exposed when the principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, fined Kerala government Rs 10 crore for failing to stop indiscriminate pollution at the Ramsar sites of Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, said John C Mathew, environment programme manager at the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.

    ‘’The NGT’s order clearly shows that the areas surrounding the Ashtamudi and Vembanad lakes have an extremely poor waste management system. Our local governments and district administration have struggled to put in place an effective waste management system. It is obvious that untreated garbage from hospitals and homes is dumped directly into the lake. Furthermore, the district administration has not taken any concerted measures to prevent the dumping of untreated garbage into lakes,” John told TNIE.

    John said the district administration and the state government haven’t done anything to protect the Ashtamudi and Vembanad lakes other than occasionally holding seminars. “The state government will occasionally hold seminars about safeguarding Ashtamudi and other Ramsar sites. Rarely do officials visit these places. Despite spending huge amounts of money on seminars and research works, none of these has ever been implemented,” says Rahul I V, a lawyer and environmental activist.

  • Pamplany brings farmer politics to centre stage in Kerala

    Pamplany brings farmer politics to centre stage in Kerala

    KOCHI: Two decades after launching Infam, a platform dedicated to the welfare of the farming community, the Catholic Church in Kerala is once again placing the plight of farmers at the centre of the state’s political discourse. The majority of the 21 lakh Syrian Catholics in Kerala reside in the midlands and high ranges, with many of them engaged in rubber farming.

    Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany told TNIE that his statement was a desperate attempt to draw attention to the plight of farmers. “The price of rubber has plummeted to Rs 140 per kg, while the production cost, including labour charge, has increased to Rs 250 per kg. Hailing from a settler farmer family I know the problems faced by the farmers.”

    The farmers who availed of loans have been served property attachment notice and thousands will be thrown to the streets by March 31. The politicians have turned a blind eye towards them, he said, adding that since BJP is ruling the Centre, the party can ensure better prices to the farmers who will in turn help them get an MP from Kerala. “I didn’t say that the Church will support the BJP,” he clarified.

    However, the state BJP, which has been eager to gain the support of the Christian community, sees an opportunity in the statement and believes that winning the support of Syrian Christians and Jacobites could help break the Kerala jinx.

    The Syrian Christian community in Kerala comprises 21 lakh individuals, while the Jacobite population is 11 lakh. The death of K M Mani has left the Syrian Christians without a strong political leader in either the LDF or the UDF. Sources suggest that with the BJP appearing invincible at the Centre, there is a growing sentiment within the community to align with saffron forces.

    “There is no truth in the propaganda that the community is trying to align with the BJP,” said Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC) deputy secretary general Fr. Jacob Palackappilly. “Pamplany’s statement was not in support of the BJP. It is a call to all political parties. Tyre lobby is controlling the Union government and they want to import rubber from cheaper Malaysia,” he said.

    Responding to CPM state secretary M V Govindan’s statement regarding the attacks on Christians in north India, he said it is a reality. “The attacks are not a new development. It happened during Congress rule also. Now, most of the attacks are reported from Chhattisgarh which is ruled by Congress. I can list out the attacks made by CPM on our institutions in Kerala,” said Fr Palackappilly.

    Catholic Bishops’ Council of India Laity Council secretary V C Sebastian said the farm prices are an issue of livelihood of the farmers. “The paddy farmers are made to mortgage their property in banks for farming as procurement is delayed by the state government. The same people are protesting in New Delhi against the anti-farmer policies of Centre,” he alleged.

  • Padma Lakshmi becomes first transgender lawyer in Kerala

    Padma Lakshmi becomes first transgender lawyer in Kerala

    A physics graduate, an insurance agent-cum-law student and finally a full fledged lawyer, this is the journey of Kerala’s first transgender advocate who now aims to use her legal acumen to ensure justice for the poor and marginalised.

    The journey was not easy and there were obstacles, but her positive attitude and disregard for negativity propelled her forward to achieve the goal of becoming a lawyer — a noble profession according to Padma Lakshmi, Kerala’s first transgender advocate.

    “I ignore all forms of negativity, be it people or their comments. I focus on the positive. I believe that is one of my advantages.

    “If I focus on the negativity, I will have time only for that and will never move forward in life,” she told PTI.

    She also worked as an insurance agent for a private insurance company and LIC to meet her medical and education costs, which included the voluminous legal textbooks.

    However, she is also more than happy and eager to share these books and her knowledge with anyone who wants them.

    She slowly stopped working as an insurance agent after joining as a trainee with her senior — advocate K V Bhadrakumari — so that she could focus better on her legal career, Lakshmi said.

    Lakshmi, who was interning with advocate Bhadrakumari since last November, said that her senior helped create a space for her among the big-wigs of the legal profession in the Kerala High Court.

    “I am very grateful to her for that,” she said and added that her senior always tells her that the Constitution is our biggest weapon.

    Of the over 1,500 law graduates who got enrolled on Sunday, March 19, Lakshmi was the first one to get her enrollment certificate.

    “It was made possible by the members of the Kerala Bar Council. I am happy to be enrolled here as many big-wigs of the legal profession are part of this council and now so am I,” she said.

    On her plans for the future, she said that she neither intends to pursue masters in law nor try for the judicial service presently.

    “Taking up cases where there has been violation of fundamental rights and fighting to ensure justice for the marginalised, that is my plan and that is my desire right now,” she said.

    There are many like Vishwanathan from Wayanad or Madhu from Palakkad and I would like to fight for them, she said.

    Vishwanathan (46), a tribal, allegedly hung himself outside the Kozhikode medical college hospital, on February 11, where his wife was admitted for delivery.

    He took the extreme step after he was accused of theft and roughed up by some persons, his relatives alleged in their complaint to police.

    Similar was the case of Madhu, another tribal man, who was beaten to death in 2018 by some persons for allegedly stealing food articles.

    Moreover, as a budding lawyer there is a lot for her to learn about court proceedings and she intends to imbibe all that knowledge, work hard and thereafter, fight to ensure justice for those who are poor and voiceless, she said.

    “I have a lot to learn about managing clients and about the law. I have a lot of responsibilities. Also, I need to prove myself through my actions. For that hardwork and honesty are the tools that I need to hone.” Her family — a mother who is an advocate’s clerk and a father who used to work at Cochin Shipyard Ltd — has been a great source of support in her journey.

    “They always encouraged me to pursue my dreams with courage. So why should I fear anything?” she asked.

    Meanwhile, state Law Minister P Rajeev and Higher Education Minister R Bindu congratulated Lakshmi on social media for her achievement.

    “Congratulations to Padma Lakshmi who overcame all the difficulties in her life and enrolled as the first transgender lawyer in Kerala. May advocate Padma Lakshmi’s life inspire more people from the transgender community to enter the legal profession,” Rajeev said in a Facebook post.

    Bindu took to Twitter to convey her best wishes to the budding lawyer.

    “It is a matter of immense pride that Padma Lakshmi’s name will now be etched into the history of Kerala, as the state’s first transgender lawyer.

    “No doubt she has faced obstacles galore in this journey. But she persevered, never letting any naysayer deter or weigh her down,” she tweeted.

    She too expressed hope that Padma Lakshmi’s success would inspire many more trans persons in the state to enter the legal profession.

    While Padma Lakshmi is the first transgender lawyer from Kerala, the first trans advocate in the country was Satyashri Sharmila from Tamil Nadu who got enrolled in 2018.

  • Gold rates today slashes in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kerala…

    Gold rates today slashes in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kerala…

    Gold rates today, 21 March 2023: Gold rates today in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kerala and Visakhapatnam surged. Going by the rates of yellow metal in major cities, the Gold rates in Bangalore city for 10 grams of 22-carat is at Rs. 54,800 with a fall of Rs. 500 and the gold rate of 10 grams of 24-carat is at Rs. 59,780 with a fall of Rs. 540. The gold rates in Hyderabad are holding at Rs. 54,800 per 10 gram of 22 carat with a fall of Rs. 500 and 10 grams of 24-carat gold is at Rs. 59,780 with a fall of Rs. 540.

    Gold rates in Kerala per 10 gram of 22-carat are at Rs. 54,800 and the gold rate of 10 grams of 24 carats is at Rs. 59,780. The gold rates in Visakhapatnam are at Rs. 54,800 per 10 gram of 22 carat and 10 grams of 24 carat gold is at Rs. 59,780.
    On the other hand, silver rates in Hyderabad, Kerala, Bangalore and Visakhapatnam per one kilogram have been at Rs. 74,600.
    Gold rates across the major cities Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kerala, and Visakhapatnam
    City 22 carat gold 10 gms 24 carat 10gms gold silver per 1 kg
    Hyderabad Rs. 54,800 Rs. 59,780 Rs. 74,600
    Bangalore Rs. 54,800 Rs. 59,780 Rs. 74,600
    Kerala Rs. 54,800 Rs. 59,780 Rs. 74,600
    Visakhapatnam Rs. 54,800 Rs. 59,780 Rs. 74,600
    Investment in gold in Hyderabad
    While investing in gold in Hyderabad, there is a slight hesitation about buying gold, pearls, or precious jewellery. However, the people of Hyderabad can opt for the jewellery of various designs in myriad colours, followed by Bars and coins where there could be a good margin. On the other hand, the people who have budget constraints can opt for periodic investments by going on an installment basis for 11 months.

  • Padma Lakshmi became the first transgender advocate of Kerala

    Padma Lakshmi became the first transgender advocate of Kerala

    Kochi, (IANS) | Kerala got its first transgender lawyer as Padma Lakshmi enrolled as an advocate at a function organized by the Bar Council of Kerala on Sunday. Transgender woman Lakshmi, who did her law graduation from Government Law College-Ernakulam, has now written her name in the record books by becoming the first transgender in the state to wear black.

    Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev congratulated him on his social media account. Her achievement and her success will be a morale booster for the entire transgender community, he added.

    –IANS