Kerala News HIGHLIGHTS: Kerala govt to distribute Onam kits only to yellow card holders this year

Kerala News HIGHLIGHTS: Due to the financial crisis, the Kerala government has decided to provide Onam kits only to yellow card holders this year.

4.00 PM: Kerala govt to distribute Onam kits only to yellow card holders this year over financial crisis

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana ration card holders (yellow hue) would be the only ones to receive Onam kits this year after weeks of consideration by the Kerala government. The state government faced a severe financial crisis that led to the decision to restrict its beneficiaries.

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3.30 PM: Kerala HC directs KSRTC to pay pending dues to employees before Onam

The Kerala High Court ordered the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to settle all employee arrears prior to Onam on Wednesday. The court ordered the corporation to pay the last two months' arrears first.

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3.00 PM: Kerala HC dismisses petition challenging State Film Awards

On Wednesday, the Kerala High Court dismissed the director Lijeesh Mullezhath's appeal challenging the 2022 Kerala State Film Awards. The court's division bench dismissed the petition and maintained the single bench's ruling from August 11 in doing so.

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2.30 PM: Cops suspended for misbehaving with women in Areekal Waterfalls

Two civil police officers of Muvattupuzha police station have been suspended for misbehaving with women at Piravom Areekal Waterfalls. Two cops identified as Pareed and Baiju were earlier arrested in the case. The women alleged that the two policemen in mufti grabbed the women standing in the waterfalls. They were taken into custody by the Ramamangalam police. Pareed's arrest was recorded on Wednesday morning. Ernakulam Rural SP Vivek Kumar took action against them.

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2.00 PM: Rahul Gandhi writes to Kerala CM seeking adequate compensation for Harshina

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday wrote to CM Pinarayi Vijayan seeking adequate compensation for Harshina in the medical negligence case.

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12.00 PM: Puthuppally bypoll: CPM candidate Jaick C Thomas files nomination

LDF candidate for Puthuppally byelection, Jaick C Thomas, filed his nomination papers on Wednesday. He submitted the nomination papers to Kottayam Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO). UDF's Chandy Oommen and NDA's Lijinlal are set to submit their nomination papers on Thursday. 

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11.30 AM: Police take suo moto cognizance in Maharajas College teacher's humiliation case

Six students were suspended from Maharaja's College in Ernakulam after an alleged video of them insulting a teacher who is blind emerged. The action was taken against Muhammed Fazil, vice president of the KSU Unit, Nandana Sagar, Ragesh, Priyada, Aditya, and Fathima Naflam. A video of students strolling aimlessly, using their phones, and making fun of the visually impaired teacher during class surfaced. The police have taken suo moto cognizance in the case.

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10.15 AM: Ernakulam Govt Medical College staff arrested for selling stray cow

An employee of the Ernakulam Government Medical College was arrested for selling a stray cow on the premises of the campus. The Kalamassery police arrested Biju Mathew, a driver of the medical college, while he was selling the cow to the traders. The police said that a detailed investigation will be conducted into the incident.

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9.20 AM: Cop arrested for molesting women in public near Areekkal waterfalls

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8.50 AM: Police to close case against NSS procession (Namajapa Yatra) over myth controversy

The Cantonment police who filed an FIR against Nair Service Society (NSS) for organizing a procession over the 'myth' controversy, are planning to close the case taking Puthuppally bypoll into consideration.  The police had filed a report in the High Court that the Namajapa procession was conducted without permission. It is not easy to close the case when it is pending in the High Court. However, the police will seek legal advice in this regard.

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8.35 AM: Drought threat looms Kerala over lack of sufficient monsoon

Due to 44% insufficient rainfall, Kerala is experiencing drought-like conditions. Reservoir water levels are at 37% of total storage. IMD predicts below-average rainfall until August 25. El Nio and neutral IOD are predicted to persist, predicting a "dry run" of the Kerala monsoon.

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8.30 AM: Puthuppally bypoll: CPM candidate Jaick C Thomas to file nomination today

CPI(M) candidate Jaick C Thomas will file his nomination for the Puthuppally byelection on Wednesday (Aug 16) at 11 am in Kottayam Collectorate. UDF candidate Chandy Oommen will start campaigning after offering prayers at the Puthupally church. BJP State President K Surendran will also reach Puthuppally today to lead the party campaign. BJP Kottayam district president Lijin G Lal is the BJP candidate. Lijin Lal has also worked as Yuva Morcha District President and State Secretary. He was the general secretary of BJP Kottayam district since 2014.