Kerala

Crime

BA Aloor made news in 2016 after he represented Govindachamy alias Charlie, who raped Soumya - a 23-year old Kerala woman - and got his sentence commuted.

Sreedevi Jayarajan

In a latest development in the Jolly Joseph case, high profile criminal lawyer BA Aloor has confirmed that he will be representing the 47-year-old woman who is the prime suspect in the deaths of 6 people in her family. Mumbai based Aloor made news in 2016, when he represented ‘beggar’ Govindachamy alias Charly who sexually assaulted Soumya, a 23-year old woman in Kerala and left her dead in the forests near Vallathol railway station. Aloor was among the 4 lawyers who argued the case in the Supreme Court and succeeded in commuting Govindachamy’s death sentence to a 7-year-jail term after the court dismissed murder charges against him. “I treat every case as the same. If clients come to me asking for help, as a criminal lawyer I offer them service. I have seen worse cases than this Jolly Joseph’s. I have defended people who have been charged with 4-10 murders, rape and sexual assault. This is not a special case for me,” Aloor told TNM when asked about why he accepted the case. Aloor also said that investigations in the case were going on in a serious manner, but believed that it would be difficult for the case to stand in court. “I strongly believe that the police will not be able to offer sufficient evidence for the case to hold in court. These deaths happened many years ago. There might not be eye-witnesses and I believe it will be very hard to establish scientific or medical evidence of poisoning,” he added. Jolly Joseph, who is currently housed in the Kozhikode sub jail, will most likely be handed over to the crime branch for questioning on the deaths. The crime branch has requested for Jolly’s custody for 11 days and a court in Thamarassery will hear this petition on Thursday. The 47-year-old mother of two is the prime suspect in the murders of 6 members of her family including her mother-in-law Annamma, father-in-law Tom Thomas, husband Roy Thomas and uncle Mathew Manjadiyil. Jolly is believed to have murdered them by feeding them cyanide. Apart from these 4 people, the deaths of Cily - Jolly’s current husband Shaju’s first wife and Alphine - their 2 year old daughter are also believed to have seen Jolly‘s involvement. The police have registered a case against Jolly and two others for the death of Roy Thomas. Roy's post mortem showed traces of cyanide in his body along with undigested food. The bodies of all 6 victims have been exhumed and will be subjected to medical tests to find traces of cyanide. The police are yet to register cases in the deaths of the 5 other members of the family. Also read: Jolly's web of deception: Alleged Kerala serial killer faked a job for 14 yrs

Body 2:

Crime

A 10-member team headed by Kozhikode rural SP KG Simon was investigating the case.

TNM Staff

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the serial murders of Koodathayi in Kozhikode, allegedly carried out by a woman named Jolly Amma Joseph, has been expanded, with 25 more members being added to the existing 10-member team. A 10-member team headed by Kozhikode Rural SP KG Simon was investigating the case. North Zone IG Ashok Yadav will monitor the investigation by the expanded team. The new team has two Assistant Superintendents of Police and two DySPs. Jolly, the prime accused in the case, is in judicial custody. She will be presented before the court on Thursday. Kannur ASP Shilpa, Nadapuram ASP Ankit Asokan, Thamarasseey DySP KP Abdul Razak and Thalassery DySP Venugopal KV have been included in the expanded team, while a special team headed by IT cell police superintendent Dr Divya V Gopinath has been included in the team for providing technical help. The expanded team also has the Forensic Science Laboratory director, Finger Print Bureau director, Kannur Regional Forensic Science Laboratory director and heads of biology department of regional Forensic Science Laboratory Kannur, Serology department of Forensic Science Laboratory Thiruvananthapuram and Forensic department of Kerala police academy Thrissur as its members. An IPS officer with the CBI remarked that this big a team was unheard of and perhaps not necessary. However, former state police chief Jacob Punnose told TNM that it's usual to form massive teams in crime cases similar to this, where there would be multiple crimes or crimes that happened in the past in which there are too many links to examine. A DGP also echoed the opinion: "Massive teams have been formed in the past too where the gravity of the crime was severe, the nature was rare, and the investigation becomes a big task," he told TNM. Also read: Jolly's web of deception: Alleged Kerala serial killer faked a job for 14 yrs Criminal lawyer BA Aloor to represent alleged serial killer Jolly Joseph in court

Body 2:

Crime

IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman was suspended from service in August after the car allegedly driven by him, rammed into journalist KM Basheer’s bike and killed him.

TNM Staff

The suspension of IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, who is accused in the killing of Kerala journalist KM Basheer, has been extended by two more months. The IAS officer was suspended from service in August after the car which has been allegedly driven by him, rammed into KM Basheer’s bike and killed him. In another development in the case, the IAS officer, in an explanation letter written to the state Chief Secretary has reportedly stated that he was not driving the car during the time of the accident and that it was Wafa Firoz, the lady who was with him in the car, who drove the vehicle. Chief Secretary Tom Jose has confirmed to TNM that Sriram has submitted an explanation report in this regard. According to a report by Mathrubhumi, Sriram has also stated to the Chief Secretary that he was not drunk during the incident as has been alleged. He has also requested the Chief Secretary to hear his side of the case. “Wafa was driving the car during the time of the accident. It was not an intentional accident. We tried to take Basheer to the hospital after the accident,” Sriram is reported to have stated, according to the Mathrubhumi report. Reportedly, he also stated that the statement of some witnesses that he was drunk during the time of accident, was false. Sriram is also reported to have said in the letter that alcohol traces in his blood have not been found. As per reports, there will be a chance for Sriram to directly explain his side of things to the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary. Sriram was holding the position of Survey Director at the time of the incident. The incident, which happened in the wee hours of August 3, had become a huge controversy, particularly with regard to delay in checking blood samples of Sriram to find out whether he was drunk during the time of the accident as witnesses claim. Also read: What happened the night a journalist was mowed down by a car driven by an IAS officer

Body 2:

Crime

According to local councillor Smitha Sunny, the stalker Mithun, was a distant relative of the victim’s mother.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

A 17-year-old girl was set ablaze by a man in Kerala’s Kakkanad in Ernakulam district, allegedly for refusing to marry him, according to reports. This is the fourth such incident of stalker resorting to violence, which the state has witnessed this year. The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday. The stalker has been identified as Mithun. Both he and the girl died in the incident. "Mithun came on a two-wheeler. He barged into the house, poured petrol over [the teen] and set her on fire. Hearing her cries, the neighbours rushed to the house, but by then she had died. They immediately informed the police," local councillor Smitha Sunny told Asianet. According to reports from eyewitnesses, Mithun had already poured petrol on himself before breaking into the house and setting the teen and himself on fire. The local councillor said Mithun was a distant relative of the girl’s mother. On seeing his daughter on fire, her father rushed to rescue her and suffered burn injuries himself. The girl’s mother, who witnessed the incident unfolding before her, fell unconscious and was rushed to a private hospital, reports say. The bodies of the girl and Mithun have been taken to a hospital in Ernakulam. According to reports, Mithun was stalking the girl since she was in class 8, and had expressed his love for her. However, she turned down his requests. Mithun even had an argument with the girl’s mother recently. Two days ago, the mother had reportedly filed a complaint with the Kakkanad police against Mithun. However, Mithun was called to the police station and the two parties compromised the matter between themselves. In March this year, Kavitha Vijaykumar was set on fire by her stalker, 18-year-old Ajin Reji, in broad daylight, in Pathanamthitta district. Kavitha succumbed to her injuries and died a week later. She was on her way to college when the incident took place. In April, Neethu, a 22-year-old engineering student from Thrissur, was stabbed 12 times and set ablaze by her stalker, 27-year-old Nidheesh. He broke into the victim’s house, carrying petrol and a knife to kill her. Neethu died on the spot. In June, Soumya Pushpakaran, a Civil Police Officer (COP) of Vallikunnam police station in Alappuzha, was stabbed and set on fire by a fellow police officer, in broad daylight. She was attacked when she was returning home from duty. In all these incidents, the women had rejected the marriage proposal and romantic advances from the stalkers, who disregarded their consent and chose to resort to violence. Also read: Jolly's web of deception: Alleged Kerala serial killer faked a job for 14 yrs

Body 2:

Environment

The officers, who opposed the non-forest activities, claim that some of their seniors and persons with political backing are out to take revenge on them.

Haritha John

Forest officials who did their duty, and opposed the dumping of soil inside a reserve forest for the shooting of the Mammootty film Unda, allege that they still face harassment, months after the incident took place. The soil was dumped inside the reserve forest in Karadukka of Mulleria, Kasaragod district, to create an easy access road for the vehicles involved in the shoot. The shoot took place in the months of April and May this year, following which environmental activist Angels Nair filed a complaint in the Kerala High Court, citing the alleged damage caused during the shoot. The film's producer Moviee Mill was given permission to dump gravel and construct a road by the then District Forest Officer M Rajeevan. According to the sources in the department, about 27 tipper lorries went inside the forest to deposit the gravel. Apart from this, the use of bulldozers also raised concerns among environmentalists and some of the officers. Kasaragod Range Forest Officer (RFO) N Anil Kumar had opposed these activities in the forest from the beginning, following which there was a move to transfer him to Attapady, in Palakkad. Later the officer got a stay from the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. Sources from the department say that though DFO M Rajeevan was transferred, some of the officials who opposed the activities still face harassment."A number of RTI queries are filed just to trouble us. Some of the files were taken from a junior officer's office without his permission, and now some of the seniors use that to threaten him. This particular junior officer was with the RFO in opposing the shooting," claims an officer from the Forest Department who did not want to be named. The officer also alleged that some of their seniors and persons with political backing are out to take revenge on them, and that this has created a stressful working environment."I was doing my duty. I noticed the dumping of the gravel even before I received the permission letter from the DFO. As per the rules, non-forest activities are not permitted inside the reserve forest. We don't even allow the dumping of soil on the roads leading to tribal hamlets. A stretch of laterite rockway was filled with outside soil without any concerns about the environment," Anil Kumar told TNM. He also said that he's ready to move to Attapady as he's worked there for years, but that he's not ready to be transferred for this reason. He added that efforts are still being made to get him transferred. The Kerala High Court had ordered an enquiry by the Central government in the issue. HC judge Shaji P Chalihad had observed in the order that the dumping of gravel in the forest area and making the road and the area more marshy "has interfered substantially with the natural environment and the bio-diversity in the area." In the counter affidavit, the DFO had argued that the Forest Department was planning for a coup road through the area and that the dumping of the soil has helped them. However, the HC had criticised the argument and said, " I do not think, the forest officials, after granting permission, were careful enough to undertake frequent inspections in the area for eliminating unnecessary interferences so as to materially affect the ecosystem." The court had also ordered the forest officials to repair all the damages caused within four months. Speaking to TNM, Angels Nair, the petitioner, said that the damage caused cannot be corrected. "The soil was dumped on top of the laterite rocky area. The pores in such rocks are helpful in absorbing the water. The soil that has covered the rocks cannot be taken back, it's mixed with the forest soil," he said. A committee appointed by the Centre had visited the area for investigation in August. Some officers alleged that they were under pressure to give statements in favour of the DFO to the Central committee. An officer also alleged that in a report submitted to the Central committee, some of the details were intentionally omitted by senior officers. Lashing out at the officers who granted permission for the shoot, Angels Nair said that this road now enables miscreants to enter the forest easily and use it as a hangout place for drinking alcohol."There are a lot of broken alcohol bottles now in the area. Miscreants are easily coming in their vehicles to the forest," he said. There was also controversy over the plastic waste dumped inside the forest by the shooting team."A lot of plastic waste was dumped in the area. When the controversy erupted, one day, the DFO along with some workers came here and cleaned it up ," an officer said. The Central committee has submitted the report to the Union ministry and the report will be produced before the Kerala HC by the end of October. The Khalid Rahman directorial Unda was released on June 14. Also Read Makers of Mammootty-starrer ‘Unda’ face legal action for causing environmental damage

Body 2:

Protest

The Uber drivers in the city have long been complaining about the attacks by members of Self-Employed Drivers Union (SEDU) against the usage of the cab aggregator service.

TNM Staff

Providing relief to Uber drivers and users in Kochi, the Kerala High Court has ordered city police commissioner Vijay Sakhare to take action against the Self-Employed Drivers Union – the trade union which damaged property and obstructed passengers and drivers from using the aggregator service. Uber drivers in the city have been complaining for a long time about attacks on them by members of the Self-Employed Drivers Union (SEDU). The union is affiliated to the All India Trade Union Congress. Multiple Uber drivers said that the members of SEDU, who wanted to ban Uber, damaged the cars of drivers and even attacked those who didn't take part in the protest. The court, in its order dated October 4, directed the city police to take "appropriate measures to prevent members and associates of SEDU from causing obstruction to the commuters and service providers of Uber application, or causing any injury or damage to their assets and vehicles." The order by Justice Suresh Kumar also stated that the police should give ‘meaningful aid’ in a way the users will not have any interruption of service. “What is expected from the police in a case of this nature, is to take effective and sincere efforts to see that no person using the app is obstructed or injured or the property of such a person is damaged. It is trite that acts of violence under the guise of protests, affecting the rights of citizens to move freely or to carry on their avocation and affecting their right to life are liable to be treated not only as mere criminal acts against the individuals, but also as serious offences against the society,” the order stated. SEDU's protest to demand a ban on Uber in Kochi began on September 5. According to Uber drivers, SEDU was forcing them not to use Uber and shift to other online cab platforms. In an earlier report regarding the allegation, SEDU officials had told TNM that they will obstruct even the passengers who use Uber. The passengers and drivers can now breathe a sigh of relief with the High Court’s order. The court has also directed the police officials to invoke provisions of Kerala Prevention of Damage to Private Property and Payment of Compensation Ordinance 2019 norms against those who damage property in the guise of protest against Uber and those who call for a protest. Also read: Jolly's web of deception: Alleged Kerala serial killer faked a job for 14 yrs Stalker burns to death Kerala girl and himself after she allegedly refused marriage

Body 2:

Jolly murders

Jolly Joseph, the prime suspect in the alleged murders of six family members, was produced before the Thamarassery Judicial First Class Magistrate court on Thursday.

Sreedevi Jayarajan

In the latest update in the alleged serial murder case in Kerala, the Crime Branch got the custody of the prime suspect, Jolly Joseph, for seven days. Jolly was handed over to the Crime Branch on Thursday afternoon. She was produced before the Thamarassery Judicial First Class Magistrate court, which granted the transfer of custody. Jolly was brought to the court on Thursday morning from the Kozhikode district jail, where she was housed. The alleged serial killer will be questioned by the investigating officers on her involvement in the six mysterious deaths in her family that began in 2002. The 47-year-old mother of two from Koodathayi in Kozhikode is the prime suspect in the murders and is believed to have killed six family members by allegedly lacing their food or water with cyanide. So far, the police have registered an FIR (first information report) against her in the death of her first husband, Roy Thomas. The post mortem report of Roy Thomas, who died in September 2011, confirmed traces of cyanide in his body along with undigested food. The police are waiting to register cases for the five other deaths that Jolly is believed to have had a hand in. The six bodies, which were exhumed on October 4, will be sent to the best laboratories in the country to check for traces of poison. Meanwhile, the existing 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Ashok Yadav Range IG, has been expanded, as 25 more members were added to the team. The sensational serial murder case involves the mysterious deaths of six family members between 2002 and 2016. Jolly’s mother-in-law, Annamma died in 2002, and her father-in-law, Tom Thomas died in 2008, although nobody suspected any foul play. It was after Jolly’s first husband, Roy Thomas’s death in 2011 that a post-mortem was conducted, after which, traces of cyanide was found in his body. The deaths in the family continued: Annamma’s brother Mathew M was found dead in February 2014; two-year-old Alphine died in May 2014; and Alphine’s mother, Cily collapsed and died in January 2011. Read: Jolly's web of deception: Alleged Kerala serial killer faked a job for 14 yrs Jolly murders: Postmortem rules helped alleged Kerala serial killer get away for 17 yrs

Body 2:

Controversy

Actor Dini Daniel has also announced a film on the subject and it's being speculated that Jeethu Joseph might also tweak the script of his upcoming film.

TNM Staff

As the alleged serial murder case in Kerala’s Koodathayi unfolds, filmmakers are already looking to turn the case into an on-screen crime drama. Just as the cops have started unravelling the mystery behind the death of six people belonging to one family, the turn of events have already become fodder for Malayalam filmmakers with some announcing films based on the Koodathayi murder case and the life of the prime suspect Jolly Amma Joseph. One of the first announcements regarding the adaptation of the murder case was made by producer Antony Perumbavoor with Mohanlal as the hero. Reports say that Mohanlal will be playing the role of an investigation officer in this crime thriller which is expected to begin shooting in February next year. Soon after Antony made the announcement, actor Dini Daniel, through a Facebook post, said that the work for her film directed by Ronex Philip revolving around the same plot has already begun, with Dini herself playing the role of Jolly in the film, under the name Dolly. Along with the post, Dini also revealed a poster of the upcoming film. Responding to a news item published in a prominent Malayalam daily about Antony Perumbavoor’s project, Dini said they started work for the project on October 8 and now, with another movie announced on the same lines, the actor said she is unsure of the future of the film. Directed by Ronex Philip, Dini's film, titled Koodathayi is reportedly being produced by Alex Jacob with screenplay by Vijeesh Thundathil. According to reports, director Jeethu Jospeh (maker of hit movie Drishyam) is mulling a possible rewrite on the script of a movie, another crime thriller, which already has Mohanlal playing the hero. With the Jolly murders coming to light, reports suggest that the director may rework the script to adapt the murder case as the plot for the film. Yet another aspiring filmmaker Arun T Mohan, told Onmanorama that he too was keen on adapting the Koodathayi murder case on screen, but with films already been announced around the same plot, he has his own reservations. There are also reports that the fifth part of Mammootty’s CBI crime series will be hitting the screens soon. The plot of the film is said to be similar to the Koodathayi murder case with Mammootty playing the role of a retired CBI official. Less than a week after the Kerala cops re-opened the Koodathayi crime file, Malayalam filmmakers are clearly flocking to the alleged serial killer case, though it remains to see how many of the projects will kick-off after the frenzy around the case dies down. This is not the first time that Malayalam filmmakers have adapted a case into a crime thriller. From Mammootty’s Rakshasarajavu in 2001 (an adaptation of the Aluva serial murder case) to Suresh Gopi’s Crime File (based on the murder of sister Abhaya), a number of films have been made revolving around real-life crime incidents. Two films were made in 1967 titled Mynatharuvi Kolacase and Madatharuvi, following the murder of a widow Marykutty where a priest was convicted of the crime.

Body 2:

Human Interest

Anwar and his brother-in-law Nisam run a small bakery near Adoor in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district.

Shiba Kurian

Anwar was standing near his bakery when he saw a Kerala SRTC (State Road Transport Corporation) Fast Passenger bus approaching at high speed. As the bus slowed down near his bakery, Anwar saw the conductor trying to frantically clear the traffic ahead of it. “When I enquired with him, he said a woman passenger had collapsed in the bus and that she had to be rushed to a hospital,” Anwar, who runs Aliyan’s Bakery in Adoor, Pathanamthitta district, told TNM. The driver of the bus, KS Jayan, was zipping through the road, even as other motorists hurled abuses at him, to get the woman passenger to the nearest hospital. He did not even make any stops at the scheduled destinations. But despite Jayan’s best efforts, the chock-a-block traffic on the National Highway connecting Kollam and Alappuzha districts in Kerala due to a temple festival posed a problem. But when they reached KP Road, the traffic got worse. It was sheer luck that bus slowed down near Anwar’s bakery – because in addition to running their own bakery, Anwar and his brother-in-law, Nisam also run a free ambulance service. Anwar and Nisam “When the conductor told me about the medical emergency, I offered to take the woman to a hospital,” said Anwar. “Because of the festival, there was heavy traffic on that stretch of road and it would have been difficult for a bus to make the vehicles pave the way. With the help of a few of my volunteers, we shifted the woman to our ambulance and took her to government taluk hospital in Kayamkulam,” he narrates. Two years ago, in December, a family of three met with an accident near Anwar and Nisam’s bakery, and later died. “When we saw the footage captured by the CCTV camera at our shop, we realised that the three members, including a child, were left on the road, without any help, for almost 15 minutes. We felt helpless. But we decided to do something about this,” recounts Anwar. Two days later, Anwar and Nisam found a second-hand ambulance in Malappuram, which was up for sale on a website. It cost them about Rs 3 lakh, including repairing it. “We are not financially sound. We run a small, two-room bakery. We had to borrow money from our friends and even sold some gold ornaments to buy the ambulance. But we wanted to do our bit to save lives,” Nisam tells TNM. It is not just accident victims, but the duo helps anybody in need. “We give them first aid services and take them to the nearest hospital in our ambulance. We did not start this for any benefits, but as a service to society,” reiterates Anwar.

Body 2:

Law

The High Court was considering multiple writ petitions against the reconstruction of the Palarivattom flyover.

TNM Staff

Midhun J

Considering multiple writ petitions filed against the reconstruction of Palarivattom flyover, the Kerala High Court on Thursday ordered the state government to not start the demolition of the structure until further orders from the court. Palarivattom flyover, situated in one of the busiest junctions in Kochi, was shut down two years after it was inaugurated and opened to traffic, due to severe structural damages. The closure of the multi-crore flyover within two years had triggered a huge controversy in the state. Four officials of various agencies involved in the construction of the flyover, including former Public Works Department (PWD) secretary TO Soorej, have been arrested in the scam surrounding the flyover construction. The High Court on Thursday considered writ petitions filed by five petitioners, including KITCO (which provided technical expertise in the flyover construction) and Association of Structural and Geotechnical Consulting Engineers, appealing against the demolition and reconstruction of the flyover. The court has also asked the state government to consider conducting a load test, to assess the structural response of a bridge under various loading conditions. The court also asked the government for a response in the matter within two weeks and also enquired about which agency will be assigned to carry out the load test. According to sources, the petitioners had requested the court to make provisions to conduct load test. They also stated that as per clause 11 of the contract, which was signed during the construction of the flyover, if any problem concerning the structure arises, a load test should be conducted. The flyover was closed for traffic in May 1. An expert team from IIT-Madras, which studied the flyover, had initially submitted a report stating that there was no need to completely reconstruct the structure. But later, another report submitted by E Sreedharan, Principal Advisor of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, had stated that major portion of the flyover, except the pillars, need to be reconstructed. Following this, in September, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the flyover will be demolished and reconstructed within a year, beginning October. Meanwhile, the court had rejected the bail plea of the four accused in the scam: Sumeet Goyal, managing director of RDS Projects Ltd (the construction company); MT Thankachan, former assistant general manager of Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Ltd (RBDCK), a subsidiary of Kerala PWD; Benny Paul, joint general manager of KITCO, and Soorej TO. Also read: Palarivattom flyover scam: Why 4 including a former PWD secy have been remanded Palarivattom flyover reconstruction: Traffic, environmental concerns ahead for Kochi

Body 2:

Church

A letter issued by the Changanacherry archbishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam in this regard was read out in all churches during the Sunday mass on October 6.

Sandeep Vellaram

Picxy.com/navinpicxy

The Syro Malabar Church in Kerala has publicly expressed concern claiming that the share of the Christian population in Kerala has dwindled over the years, creating an "alarming situation" for the community in the state. Claiming that over one lakh men under Syro Malabar Church itself are yet to find life partners, the Church says that several other factors have created a crisis."Over one lakh Christian grooms above the age of 30 under the Syro Malabar Church are unable to find life partners," claimed a pastoral letter issued recently by a Kerala archbishop. The letter, issued by the Changanacherry Archdiocese, Archbishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam, was read out in all churches during the Sunday mass on October 6. According to the church, apart from not being able to find a life partner, low birth rate, unemployment, agricultural crisis and even the recent floods are affecting the Christian community. The letter viewed these issues as "precarious to the existence of Christian community". To support its claim, the letter uses certain statistics based on the registry of parishioners in all churches under Syro Malabar Church. “During the period of the formation of the Kerala state, Christians were the second-largest community in the state. But now, the community is only 18.38% of the state’s total population. In recent years, the birth rate in the Christian community has decreased to 14%. This data shows that the Christian community is facing an alarming situation,” the archbishop said in his pastoral letter. The Church says that many youngsters are deserting the community and leaving the country for greener pastures due to the lack of jobs in Kerala. “Most Christian youths are NRIs. Many homes in the state have only old parents living there while young people are not willing to return to their home land. Unemployment is the main reason and this is largely in the Christian community,” the letter said, alluding to the data presented by Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi at the Lok Sabha in June this year. The pastoral letter also pointed out that certain sectors that the Christian community is involved in are facing serious issues. “The farming sector has been largely destroyed in the state. Rubber, fisheries and small scale industries are facing a huge crisis, which is affecting the Christian community,” it read. “The floods last August and this year mainly affected the Christian community,” the letter claimed, although the government has not released any data explicitly stating this. “In 2006, the union government formed a minority department and allotted Rs 4,700 crore for minority development. The state and union governments also provide facilities for bank coaching and other PSC exams. But the Christian community failed to enjoy the government assured benefits and government jobs,” it further read. The church has also decided to publish a textbook on the issues faced by the Christian community. Additionally, a teaching team will be formed under the archdiocese to create awareness on these issues amongst the community members. “This team will conduct special classes to discuss the textbook at the parish level. In addition, a help desk to explain the government schemes available to them and how to apply for it will be started at each parish and school under the archdiocese,” the pastoral letter said.

Body 2:

Law

A bill for implementing minimum wages was first proposed in 2007 and later in 2016, a draft bill was framed to be passed in the assembly but nothing happened after that.

Haritha John

File photo

Lisamma, a graduate with Bachelors degree in education, has been teaching at a private primary school in a village in Kannur district for the last eight years and earning Rs 5000 per month. "I was not able to crack Kerala Public Service examinations to secure a government job. Now at the age of 38, I earn Rs 5000 a month. I know that housemaids can earn more in Kerala. But being educated and with my passion for teaching, I continue in this job" she tells TNM asking not to reveal her identity as she wants to continue in her job. Nisha was a teacher in another private school in Malappuram district, but was forced to resign when she got pregnant. "I was teaching at high school for three years. When I got pregnant, they asked me to resign and offered the job back after two years. After two years when i approached them, they said no vacancy and would inform me if there is any. Whom to complain, they might not even have records of me teaching there," Nisha, a postgraduate in Physics, says. Low salary, no maternity leave, no allowances, gender bias, irregularities in provident fund are some of the problems that many private school teachers in Kerala face in their career. There were reports on Wednesday that the state government will soon implement a legislation to ensure minimum wages for private school teachers. A bill for implementing minimum wages for this unorganised sector was first proposed in 2007. Later in 2016, a draft bill was framed to be passed in the assembly. But after that nothing happened. However, Shajir Khan, vice president of Kerala Unaided School Teachers Association (KUSTO), said that present reports on minimum wages are just gimmicks at the time of bye-elections. “It's been three years since the bill was framed, and it is yet to be implemented. Only 20 to 30% of private schools in Kerala provide minimum wages and other allowances to teachers," he said. A teacher from a CBSE school in Kottayam, who sought anonymity, says, "We have to reach school by 7.30am. After the regular classes, we have to stay back in school till 6pm taking extra classes for below-average students. If we are found sitting in the classroom during exams or class hours, we are required to submit an explanation to the principal," she said. As proposed in 2007 by then Education Minister MA Baby, the minimum pay for headmasters is Rs 7000, for high school teachers Rs 6000, for primary school teachers Rs 5000, and clerks Rs 4000. "You can imagine how low the amounts are and even this is not yet implemented in all schools. There are a lot of teachers who get less than Rs 4000 a month," Shajir said. All the associations in the sector demand a minimum monthly provisional salary of Rs 10,000 for primary school teachers, Rs 15,000 for secondary school teachers, and Rs 20,000 for senior secondary teachers, as per what the Kerala High Court had ordered CBSE in 2012. A senior secondary teacher gets about Rs 45000 as per the government scale."Apart from salary issues, most of the school managements are not happy with teachers getting married or pregnant, as they have to provide leave. In many schools, such teachers will be forced to resign," Shajir said. Alleging that many managements don't pay their share to the provident fund, he said, "They just pay a share from teachers' salary, they don't put in their share.” He said that only a proper legislation can save teachers from this pathetic situation.

Body 2:

Crime

Mithun, who had been stalking the girl, barged into her house, poured petrol over the teen and set himself and her on fire.

TNM Staff

Draped in a yellow cloth and surrounded by her grief-stricken community, the 17-year-old girl who was set ablaze by her stalker earlier that morning, was laid to rest in Athani, Kakkanad. The sombre ceremony was held at 4 pm on Thursday, with dozens of mourners, as well as her mother, her younger sister and Education Minister C Raveendranath, present at the funeral. The girl’s father was unable to attend the funeral as he continues to recover from burn injuries he sustained while trying to rescue his daughter. In the early hours of Thursday, Mithun, a resident of Paravur who had been stalking the girl, barged into her house, poured petrol over the teen and set himself and her on fire in Kerala’s Kakkanad in Ernakulam district. Mithun, who was a distant relative of the girl’s mother, allegedly committed the incident because the teen had refused to marry him. Reports say that Mithun had gone to meet the girl at her tuition centre in Athani on Wednesday, asking the girl to reconsider her decision to end their alleged relationship. However, the teen continued to rebuff his advances. According to reports, Mithun had also gone to her house a few days earlier to present her with a mobile phone but she had rejected it. After seeing the girl ablaze, her father rushed to try and rescue her, but suffered burn injuries himself. The girl’s mother had witnessed the incident unfolding and fell unconscious. She was rushed to a private hospital, but was able to attend the funeral. According to reports, Mithun, who is in his mid-20s, had been stalking the girl since she was in Class 8. Two days ago, the mother had reportedly filed a complaint against him with the Kakkanad police, but Mithun had managed to call the police and pacify them.

Body 2:

Jolly murders

Adding to the already sensational nature of the case, is the level of public interest and discussion that the murders have generated.

Sreedevi Jayarajan

On Thursday morning, Jolly Joseph, the 47-year-old alleged serial killer from Koodathayi in Kozhikode, was handed over to the Crime Branch for questioning. Jolly, the prime suspect in the deaths of six members of her family, was brought from the Kozhikode district jail to the Thamarassery Judicial First Class magistrate court, where she was sent to the custody of the Crime Branch for six days. Adding to the already sensational nature of the case is the level of public interest and discussion that the alleged murders - over the span of 14 years - have generated. On Thursday, hundreds gathered around the court complex to catch a glimpse of the 47-year-old and her two alleged accomplices, who are believed to have supplied cyanide to her to carry out the murders. Also gathered among them were several people from the neighbourhood who lived near the residence of the Ponnamattam family and have had long associations with them. “I have known Jolly’s former husband Roy Thomas for decades now. We used to be part of the same social circle. Then I moved to the Gulf and lost touch with him. It’s rather unfortunate that this has happened to the family,” a neighbour, who was at the court complex, said. Jolly Joseph is accused of murdering six people in her family — her mother-in-law Annamma, father-in-law Tom Thomas, husband Roy Thomas, uncle Mathew as well as Cily and Alphine - the then wife and 2-year-old daughter of her current husband, Shaju. She allegedly poisoned all of them with cyanide. Jolly's web of deception: Alleged Kerala serial killer faked a job for 14 yrs The police are investigating the case and are questioning all suspects, including Shaju, her current husband and Johnson, Jolly’s neighbour who is believed to have been constantly in touch with her for the past few weeks. Police have also taken into custody Mathew, a jewellery store owner, and Praji Kumar, a gold smith, who have been accused of supplying the cyanide to Jolly. A special investigation team comprising 35 officers and headed by range IG Ashok Yadav will be questioning the suspects in the case. The police are yet to establish scientific or medical evidence in the case by identifying traces of cyanide in the bodies of the deceased. Read: 'Doctor death': The British serial killer that Kerala cops compared Jolly Joseph with

Body 2:

Banking

The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday gave the final nod for the Kerala Bank, one of the major promises in the election manifesto of the LDF.

Saritha S Balan

The Kerala Bank is all set to become a reality. The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday gave the nod to the Kerala government to set up a bank of its own by merging the district cooperative banks to form a state cooperative bank. The move has the potential to transform the banking sector of the state. The Kerala Bank will be the largest banking network in the state, the formation of which was one of the major promises in the election manifesto of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The district cooperative banks of all the 14 districts in the state, barring the Malappuram District Cooperative Bank, had approved the government's amalgamation scheme. However, the proposed amalgamation will have to wait for the High Court's order on cases challenging the amendment to Section 14(A) of the Kerala Cooperative Societies Act (to do with transfer of assets and liabilities). The cases in the HC have mostly been filed by cooperative societies affiliated to the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League. The court had earlier dismissed their plea for staying the bank formation. Now that the RBI has given the nod, it is expected that the court's verdict will be in favour of the government. Advantages of Kerala Bank Kerala Bank is the state’s only own bank since the State Bank of Travancore has ceased to exist. The State Bank of Travancore was headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram and merged with the State Bank of India in March 2017. The advantage, even in the initial phase for the Kerala Bank, is that as an amalgamation of the district cooperative banks, the investment base will be transferred into the new bank intact. Kerala has one of the most established and strong networks when it comes to cooperative banking systems in the country. “In the beginning itself, there will be a wide network under Kerala Bank as it would be functioning along with the primary cooperative societies. The cooperative sector in the state has gained a lot of trust and support of the people over the years. People are convinced that there is no risk in investing in Kerala Bank - the deposits of the cooperative banks would come to the Kerala Bank. There is a trust base for the cooperative movement as a whole and its strong client base would also work in favour of the Kerala Bank," Dr KN Harilal, a public finance expert who is also a member of the State Planning Board, tells TNM. He goes on to add, "Also, once it has become a single bank, the economies of scale will work to our advantage. Multiple bank operations will be done away with. There will be a common management, single software and only one contact to deal with various agencies. Further, issuance of credit or debit cards will become easier and so will the arrangements with other banks. With a single bank, dealing with the customers will also become much easier." Kerala had submitted a compliance report to the RBI in March this year based on which the RBI has given the nod for the formation of the bank. As per the conditions stipulated by the RBI, the government should strictly abide by the provisions of the Kerala State Cooperative Society Act apart from ensuring that the capital of the state cooperative bank is strengthened. “The Kerala Bank will also have the advantage of working directly under the monitoring of the RBI,” adds Dr Harilal. The Kerala government will have to complete the stipulations laid down for the merger and submit a compliance report to the RBI before March 31, 2020. Professor MS Sri Ram of IIM Bangalore, one of the experts who is part of the Kerala Bank initiative, says that the idea of an integrated bank that amalgamates all the district cooperative banks under the state cooperative bank, is to make better and consolidated use of resources and provide economies of scale. “Kerala Bank will be able to provide value added services to the members of primary agricultural cooperatives if executed as envisaged. Since it will be focused on Kerala, it is bound to benefit the state. I was the chair of the committee that laid out the roadmap for the model. So, I believe it is a desirable move, provided the state government follows the spirit of the recommendations. There have been other states that have integrated their banking structure, but that was dictated by a distress. This is the first experiment of a healthy cooperative system going through an integration process,” Professor Sriram tells TNM. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed pleasure over the RBI giving the nod for the bank, and said that he expects the formation of the Kerala Bank to increase the pace of development in the state. “The formation of the Kerala Bank will be done in line with the order of the Supreme Court. The RBI has given the nod with certain conditions. The Cooperative Department will take action to comply with the conditions,” he said. Opposition slams move However, the Congress-led opposition in the state has slammed the formation of the bank. KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran in a statement on Thursday claimed that the decision challenges Constitutional principles. He also urged those 'who have commitment to the cooperative sector' to oppose the move. He alleged that from the beginning, the government had been playing a 'hide-and-seek game' in forming the bank and that the only intention behind this is to use the investments which will be transferred to the Kerala Bank to tide over the financial crisis of the government. Minister for Cooperation Kadakampally Surendran countered the allegation by stating that the aim is to have a bank that doesn't exploit the people. He also said that through Kerala Bank, more farm loans can be provided and that Kerala Bank, unlike the district cooperative banks, can receive investment from non-resident Keralites. NRIs send an amount to the tune of Rs 1.5 lakh crore per year to the state. Read: Hundreds gather to catch a glimpse of Jolly Joseph, Kerala’s alleged serial killer

Body 2:

Housing

The residents can start filing petitions to claim their due compensation for leaving the apartments from Friday.

TNM Staff

Midhun J

The three-member panel appointed by the Supreme Court to fix and distribute compensation for the 326 families in Maradu, conducted their first meeting in Kochi on Thursday. The panel, headed by Justice K Balakrishnan Nair, stated after the meeting that all those residents with proper documents of sale deeds are eligible for the preliminary compensation of Rs 25 lakh. The residents can start filing petitions to claim their due compensation for leaving the apartments from Friday. About 326 families from four apartment complexes – Golden Kayaloram, H2O Holy Faith, Jains Coral Cove and the twin towers of Alfa Serene – have been asked to vacate based on the Supreme Court order of May 2019 to demolish the buildings that were found to be constructed in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. There were apprehensions among a section of residents, who have not yet changed ownership from the name of the builders to theirs in municipal records, whether they will be eligible for compensation or not. But now, the panel overseeing the distribution of compensation has stated that those with sale deeds in proper order are eligible to get Rs 25 lakh. A sale deed is a legal document citing the transfer of ownership of the property from seller to buyer. The panel’s initial work is focused on giving preliminary compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the residents as directed by the Supreme Court. In addition to Justice K Balakrishnan Nair - chairman of the panel - retired Chief Secretary Jose Cyriac K and retired chief engineer of Public Works Department R Murukesan, are the others in the panel. “The flat owners can file claim petitions supported by an affidavit stating the amount they have actually paid to the builder with supporting documents,” stated the official release by the panel. The panel also elaborated on the type of documents that residents should submit in order to get the compensation. This includes the original title deed or its certified copies obtained from sub registrar office. Along with this, residents are also required to submit two photocopies of sale deed attested by secretary/municipal engineer/supervisor of the municipality. The petitions submitted within one week will be considered in the committee meeting to be held on Monday, October 14, while the petitions received after Monday, will be considered in the meeting scheduled to be held on October 17. The panel also stated that residents who produce documents showing the ownership (sale deed) are eligible to get compensation as directed by SC, even if they have not changed the apartment ownership to their names in municipality’s record. “But this will be subject to verification of original sale deed,” the statement said. Residents who have failed to produce the documents of sale deed in spite of ownership change in municipality records, will have to submit the originals of sale deed or certified copies of it to the municipal secretary within three days. The secretary of the municipality has also been directed by the panel to compute the actual amount paid by the flat owners to the builders, within three days.

Body 2:

Jolly murders

Several reports claimed that Jolly had confessed to giving cyanide to four of the deceased and poisoning her mother-in-law, who died in 2002, with pesticide.

Sreedevi Jayarajan

The Crime Branch, which is investigating the Koodathayi murders, has decided to conduct an in-depth probe into the alleged murder of Cily - one among the six people from the Tom Thomas family who died mysteriously in Koodathayi in Kerala. An FIR has been registered under sections 302 (murder) read with 34 of the IPC (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) in connection with Cily’s death, an officer at the Thamarassery police station told TNM. “We have registered a case against prime suspect Jolly and Shaji - a man who is believed to have given the cyanide to her. Investigations have just begun but it seems like poison was applied in a pill which was given to Cily, following which she collapsed at the dental clinic,” the officer added. Apart from this, the Kodencherry police have decided to register four more cases in connection with the other deaths. Jolly had allegedly confessed to giving cyanide to four of the deceased. She had also allegedly confessed to giving pesticide to her former mother-in-law Annamma Thomas - the first alleged victim who passed away mysteriously in 2002. Several reports quoting her alleged confession to the Crime Branch stated that she does not recall poisoning Alphine - the 2 year-old daughter of her current husband Shaju - who passed away in 2014. “We have decided to register cases to probe the four deaths. Jolly’s confession made to the Crime Branch will also be included in this. The cases are registered in connection with the deaths of Annamma, Tom, Alphine and Mathew,” an officer added. Five DYSPs have been charged with investigating the deaths of five of the family members. The investigating team will continue to focus on the death of Jolly’s first husband Roy Mathew. Postmortem was conducted only on Roy's body out of the six deceased. The postmortem report confirmed traces of cyanide in his body along with undigested food. Jolly Jospeh, the prime suspect in the Koodathayi serial killings, is believed to have poisoned six members of her family including mother-in-law Annamma, father-in-law Tom Thomas, former husband Roy Thomas, uncle Mathew and Alphine and Cily - daughter and first wife of Jolly’s current husband Shaju Zacharias whom she married a year after Cily’s death. All six members are believed to have passed away with similar symptoms which included seizures, apnea and foaming in the mouth.

Body 2:

Strike

A section of the Muthoot staff had started an indefinite strike against the company citing poor salary and denial of bonus.

TNM Staff

After protesting for a total of 52 days, a section of workers at the Muthoot finance called off their strike as the management agreed to their demands. The management agreed to reinstate all suspended employees of the company and increase their wages. An interim relief of Rs 500 has also been promised to all employees from October 1, 2019. Speaking to TNIE, KN Gopinath, state secretary of CITU which supported the employees strike said, “We have called off the protest as the company has agreed to almost all our demands and we are satisfied. Mainly they have revoked the dismissal of 7 staff and revoked the suspension of 41 other employees.” The company agreed to reinstate the sacked staff after they filed an appeal requesting the same. The management also agreed to disburse the blocked ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) benefits to the staff. In a Facebook post on the issue, state labour minister TP Ramakrishnan said that all the staff will be back in service from Friday (October 11). “The Muthoot management has agreed to the steps taken by the government to establish the final notification after preparing the primary notification to set the minimum wages of employees of non-banking finance institutions,” TP Ramakrishnan said. The Minister stated that the labour department will also take measures to implement a certified standing order in the organisation following the strike. Standing orders are those orders which usually do not change except by agreement between the employer and workers. The discussions between the labour union and Muthoot management took place in the presence of an observer appointed by the High Court. The minister added that the labour department will also ensure that all employees will receive the blocked legal bonus that they are entitled to. A 25% annual increment will be allowed to employees with retrospective effect from April 1, 2019. On August 20, the employees union of Muthoot Finance, under the banner of Non-Banking and Private Finance Employees Association (NPFEA), started an indefinite protest citing poor salary and denial of bonus among other concerns. Among the protesting employees of Muthoot, India's largest gold financing company, were those from the clerical department and lower ranks of the company’s hierarchy. Some who had been working in the company for over 2 decades also added that they were denied of a notable salary hike and bonus. The company will also open all 611 branches in Kerala, which they shut them down following the strike.

Body 2:

Traffic

Both the flyovers are being constructed at two of the prime junctions in Kochi – Vyttila and Kundanoor – which see heavy traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.

TNM Staff

Commuters in Kochi can soon heave a sigh of relief. The flyovers being constructed at Vyttila and Kundanoor, two of the bottleneck spots in the region, will be open to the public in five months, that is, by March 2020. Both the flyovers are being constructed at two of the prime junctions in Kochi – Vyttila and Kundanoor. Vyttila connects the suburbs of Kochi – like Trippunithura and the adjacent industrial areas in and around Vadavucode-Puthencruz panchayat – with the city centre. Kundanoor connects the backwater island stretches of regions like Panangad, Kumbalam and Nettoor with the city. Vehicles coming from Alappuzha district through Aroor also find an easy pathway into the city through the Kundanoor junction. Construction of both the flyovers located along National Highway 66 had created heavy traffic congestion in the stretch for the past several months. However, the traffic woes are expected to ease with the opening of the flyovers. The construction of the flyovers began when the LDF government came to power in 2016. The Vyttila flyover, with a length of 717 metre, is being constructed at a cost of Rs 78.37 crore, while the 750 metre-long Kundanoor flyover is built for Rs 74.45 crore. Recently, at a meeting conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the status of construction of both the flyovers and said that he has given direction to expedite the works. The Vyttila flyover, which started construction in December 2017, according to reports, was initially scheduled to be completed by 2019. As per the current status, 75% of the work on Vyttila flyover is completed, and 68% of the work on Kundanoor flyover has been completed. The controversial Palarivattom flyover, which has been closed down due to structural damages and cracks, is located about 5 kilometres from Vyttila junction on National Highway 66. The closing down of Palarivattom flyover had also caused an increase in traffic congestion in the region. Kochi Metro busts fake news on Vyttila flyover Recently, a photo was doing rounds on social media platforms, stating that the Vyttila flyover is being constructed unscientifically. The photo, which was shot from a particular angle, showed the flyover and Kochi Metro’s railway line passing just above it intersecting with each other. It was propagated that heavy vehicles passing through the flyover will collide with the metro line. Photo that circulated in social media propagating vehicles passing through flyover will collide with metro rail Clarifying the photo, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) called it fake news and tweeted photos showing the actual distance between metro rails line and the flyover below it. നോക്കണ്ട രീതിയിൽ നോക്കിയാൽ, ശരിയായ രീതിയിൽ കാണാം !#മാനംമുട്ടിമെട്രോപറക്കും pic.twitter.com/09y8pGGfoo — Kochi Metro Rail (@MetroRailKochi) October 10, 2019

Body 2:

Animal Rights

Activists say that the Forest dept makes no effort to send back the rescued calves and instead shifts them to various elephant training centres to promote tourism.

Haritha John

Environmentalists allege that a number of elephant calves, rescued by the Kerala Forest department die in their custody without getting proper care. Animal Legal Force (ALF), an NGO has alleged that three baby elephants, two rescued from Malappuram district and one from Kozhikode, died in a span of 12 days since September 22. "Forest department, actually ‘kidnaps' elephant calves whenever they are found isolated or separated from their parent herd. They call it 'rescuing' but they don't try to reunite it with the herd. They falsely claim that the calf doesn't go back to the herd or the herd rejected the calf," Angels Nair, General Secretary of ALF, alleges. Criticising the Forest department, he said that it makes no effort to send back the calves who get isolated and instead shift the animal to different elephant training centres in Kerala to promote tourism."These elephant calves are being displayed for tourists in the elephant training and rehabilitation centres of Kodanad, Kottur, Konni etc..." he says. Echoing Angels' allegations, VK Venkitachalam, secretary of another NGO Heritage Animal Task Force, has also claimed that Kerala Forest department takes no effort to reunite the lost baby elephants with the herd. He said that around 375 baby elephants in the age group of two weeks to 18 months, have died in the last 22 years."There is no protocol to rescue and rehabilitate a lost elephant calf in Kerala. In many countries, they follow a protocol to reunite lost calves. Officials have to stay inside the forest monitoring the calf until it is reunited with the herd. But here, they bring the calf into the human settlement area in a vehicle and expect the herd to find the lost elephant," he says. He also pointed out that the mother elephant's presence and milk are very much important for a calf to survive. "The lost calf will be already stressed as it was away from its mother. Besides, carrying them in a vehicle and making them stand on a cement floor will increase their stress and can result in infections. Very few of them will survive," Venkitachalam adds. Venkitachalam says that the department should at least provide proper care of these calves that are being captured. "Appropriate shelter, maintaining proper humidity, food that is suitable for elephant calves, and proper treatment should be given. There are instances in West Bengal where calves are getting medically treated for 3 months before joining back with the herd," he says. He also agrees with Angels Nair that the Forest department might be capturing the calves to display them in the elephant centres. However, denying all the allegations, Jose Mathew, Assistant Conservator of Forest North Nilambur told The News Minute that they shift the lost calves to elephant centres only after making sure that the calf is not in a position to join back the herd. “Recently, we got two calves. One died instantly as it was sick. Another one we tried to reunite with the herd but the herd rejected it. It was then that we shifted it to Kottur centre in Thiruvananthapuram. When we get a calf, we give it proper treatment and make all efforts to send it back,” he asserted. Read: Tibetan groups detained in Chennai for protests against Chinese President Xi Jinping

Body 2:

Criminal lawyer BA Aloor to represent alleged serial killer Jolly Joseph in court

Kerala police mounts massive investigation into Jolly case, 35 cops to probe

Drunk driving case: Kerala IAS officer Sriram’s suspension extended by 2 months

Stalker burns to death Kerala girl and himself after she allegedly refused marriage

Forest officials who opposed shoot of Mammootty film 'Unda' allege harassment

'Stop unions from obstructing Uber in Kochi': Kerala HC directs police

Kerala Crime Branch gets 7-day custody of alleged serial killer Jolly for questioning

Malayalam films on Jolly murders announced, Mohanlal-Antony Perumbavoor team up again

How two bakery owners in Kerala are saving lives with their free ambulance service

‘Don’t demolish Palarivattom flyover until further orders’: Kerala HC to government

‘Over 1 lakh Christian men unmarried’: Syro Malabar Church rings alarm bells

Low wages, gender bias: Kerala private school teachers suffer as legislation delayed

In sombre ceremony, 17-year-old Kerala girl set ablaze by her stalker, laid to rest

Hundreds gather to catch a glimpse of Jolly Joseph, Kerala’s alleged serial killer

RBI gives the nod for Kerala Bank: How amalgamation will help the state

Maradu flat owners with proper sale deeds eligible for compensation: SC panel

5 more cases filed against Jolly Joseph based on alleged confessions to Crime Branch

After 52 days, Muthoot staff end strike as management agrees to demands

Vyttila, Kundanoor flyovers in Kochi to be opened in March 2020: Kerala CM

Elephant calves rescued by Kerala Forest Dept dying in custody, activists allege