Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a public rally in Kerala’s capital on Friday, struck an emotional chord as he interacted with children in his trademark style and took a sharp dig at political opponents who accuse him of staging such moments for social media. During the rally, the Prime Minister engaged in a warm exchange with a young child holding a poster. Modi requested the child to write his address on the back of the photograph so that he could write to him in the future. Referring to criticism and trolling over such interactions, Modi said he was willing to endure abuse and mockery but would never disrespect a child’s affection. “Wherever I go across the country, children and young people express their feelings with great sincerity. Some people then ...

Kannur:Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has invited Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), claiming that such a move would ensure greater financial assistance for the state from the Centre. Athawale’s remarks have triggered sharp reactions from the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in Kerala. Addressing reporters, Athawale said that if Vijayan were to become part of the NDA, it would be a “revolutionary step” in Kerala’s politics. He asserted that the state would receive more central funds, which could be utilised for development projects. Athawale further claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would sanction a “big package” for Kerala if the state leadership aligned wit...

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The Kerala High Court has granted permission to a 16-year-old student to participate in the upcoming State-Level School Kalolsavam, after a power outage during her district-level dance performance prevented proper evaluation. The state-level competition begins today, January 14. Student Perseveres Despite Sudden Blackout The incident occurred at the district-level Kalolsavam in Thiruvananthapuram, where the student was competing in the Girls’ Kuchipudi category. While performing on stage, the lights suddenly went out for 32 seconds, and the accompanying music stopped. Despite the technical disruption, the student continued her dance without music or lighting. By the time the lights returned, her performance time had ended. Judges awarded her fifth place...

Thiruvananthapuram: Rahul Mamkootathil, a Kerala MLA who was once a prominent youth face of the Congress party, has been arrested in a third rape case and sent to judicial custody. The development comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, adding to Congress’ growing concerns. The latest case was filed by a woman residing in Canada, alleging sexual assault by Mamkootathil. This follows two earlier cases: the first case, registered in November 2024 at Nemam Police Station, involved allegations of rape and forced abortion, while the second case was filed in December 2025 by a 23-year-old woman in Bengaluru. The allegations first came to light in August 2024 when Malayalam actress Rini N. George accused an unnamed young politician of sexual mis...

Thiruvananthapuram: In a horrifying incident from Kerala, a woman has been arrested for allegedly burning the private parts of her five-year-old stepdaughter with a hot steel spoon. The abuse came to light when the child’s anganwadi teacher noticed she was struggling to sit in class and immediately alerted the authorities. The police registered a case under the BNS and Juvenile Justice Act and took the accused woman into custody. The child is currently under the care of the Child Welfare Committee. According to officials, the woman hails from Bihar, while the girl’s father, a Nepali national, works at a hotel. The incident occurred in Anarkulam, Kerala, and has sent shockwaves through the local community. The teacher’s vigilance played a critical role in bringing the case to the atte...

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator R. Srilekha has once again come into the spotlight. Reports suggest she was disappointed at not being appointed Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, but she has publicly stated that she supports the party’s decision to select V.V. Rajesh for the position. BJP secured a hard-fought victory in the recent Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections, marking a historic win after 40 years. However, internal party dissatisfaction arose when the mayoral post was announced. Senior BJP leader R. Srilekha revealed that she had been assured by the party of consideration for the Mayor’s post, which influenced her decision to contest the local body elections. V.V. Rajesh Appointed MayorFo...

In a startling revelation, police have arrested a 28-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru, identified as Gade Renuka, for allegedly masterminding a large interstate and cross-border ganja trafficking network with links extending from the Andhra–Odisha border to Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Renuka, dubbed the “Lady Don” by her associates, is among eight accused arrested by police in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. Investigators claim this is the first known case of ganja smuggling from the Andhra–Odisha border region to Sri Lanka, marking a significant breakthrough in narcotics enforcement. Major Seizure During Police Operation Acting on specific intelligence, Nathavaram police intercepted the gang near Suryakailasa village, where they seized 74 kilograms of high-quality ‘S...