Kerala News Highlights: By-election in 23 local bodies in state today

By Aishwarya Nair  |  First Published Feb 22, 2024, 8:16 AM IST

Kerala News Highlights: By-election in 23 local bodies in state today


4.00 PM: Supplyco visuals can be taken with prior permission, says Minister GR Anil 

Following a controversial circular that barred the media from entering Supplyco outlets, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies G R Anil stated that obtaining permission before taking pictures is acceptable. He further stated that too many people posing as online media are damaging Supplyco's reputation.


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3.30 PM: 17-year-old girl found hanging in Idukki

A 17-year-old girl was found hanging dead in Nedunkandam, Idukki. Ashwathi was found hanging dead inside the house at Chillupara. The incident took place when the parents went to work. Ashwathi was alone at home and her body was found after she did not attend the calls from her relatives. 


2.50 PM: Gender audit to be conducted in workplaces for equal pay, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said a gender audit will be conducted in workplaces and steps will be taken to ensure equal pay for women, on par with men. Addressing the Chief Minister's Face-to-Face Programme with women in Kochi, Vijayan said jobs should be made more favourable for women.


2:15 pm: Riyas Moulavi murder case: Kasaragod session court to pronounce judgment on Feb 29

Kasaragod District Principal Sessions Court will pronounce the judgment of Riyas Moulavi's murder case on February 29. Riyas Moulavi, a 34-year-old native of Madikeri, was discovered hacked to death in a room near the Muhayuddin Juma Masjid in Choori by a colleague. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the general hospital. Riyas had been a teacher at Islathul Islam Madrassa in Old Choori for nine years. 


1.30 PM: Three arrested for duping lakhs by offering jobs in health department

Three persons have been arrested in the case of duping lakhs of people who were offered jobs in the health department. Vinod, a native of Kollam, Murukadas, a native of Nooranad, and his brother Ayyappadas were arrested by Adoor police. Vinod is a person who contested from the Kundara constituency as an RJD candidate in the last assembly elections. He is also accused in the case. The accused extorted Rs 90 lakhs by promising them a job in the health department. According to the complainants, fake appointment orders were also issued. 


1.00 PM: Passenger jumps from train in Shoranur; body retrieved from Bharathapuzha

The body of the passenger who jumped from a train was retrieved. The dead body was found floating under the Shoranur railway bridge in the Bharathapuzha (Nila/Ponnani river). The railway police had also received a complaint that a Neyyattinkara resident was missing after they returned from searching the river on Wednesday.


12.30 PM: Operation Belur Makhna to resume if jumbo enters Kerala forest

Forest Minister AK Saseendran stated that efforts to capture the man-killer elephant ‘Belur Makhna’ will continue. The Minister informed that the officials are working in coordination with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to put an end to the persisting problem. 

The Forest Minister said that the “Belur Makhna will be darted the moment it steps foot on Kerala forests.”


11.45 AM: Family of two-year-old girl rescued from abductors refuses to join investigation, wants to go back

The family of two-year-old girl Mary who was kidnapped and found abandoned near Kochuveli railway station on Monday (Feb 19), has reportedly not cooperated with the investigating team. The family and relatives sought permission to go back to Bihar as they have got their child back and are not interested in further actions. The police are investigating whether they can get any crucial information. However, they have so far not got any significant clue from the interrogation and CCTV footage. 

Kerala: Family of two-year-old girl rescued from abductors refuses to join probe, wants to go back to Bihar


11.10 AM: Husband remanded for death of wife and newborn during delivery at home in Thiruvananthapuram

In the unfortunate death of a woman and her newborn after giving birth at their residence on Tuesday (Feb 20) at Karakkamandapam in Nemom, the police arrested Nayas, her husband and remanded him. The police registered a case of homicide against him. 

Read More: Kerala: Husband remanded for death of wife, newborn during delivery at home in Thiruvananthapuram


10.45 AM Koodathyi case: Accused Jolly Joseph hospitalised to assess mental state

 Following the trial court’s directive to assess the mental state of Jolly Joseph, the prime accused in the infamous Koodathai case involving six murders within the family, she has been admitted to the Kannur Government Medical College. Currently, she is an inmate of the Women's Prison in Kannur.


10.30 AM: Weather update: Yellow alert in 8 districts today

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for eight districts in Kerala due to a significant spike in temperature. The alert indicates conditions in Kollam, Kottayam, and Palakkad are expected to reach a scorching 37 degrees Celsius, while Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur are forecast to face highs of 36 degrees Celsius.


10.00 AM: ED to interrogate CPM local leaders again in Karuvannur Bank Fraud case

ED will question CPM local leaders again today in the Karuvannur Bank black money case. Thrissur Corporation Councilor Anoop Davis and Vadakancherry Councilor Madhu are to appear before the ED today. The ED states that the main accused in the case, Satish Kumar, who is closely related to the CPM leaders, knows those who laundered crores of rupees from the bank by producing fake documents. It is indicated that the ED will soon question the top CPM leaders including AC Moideen.


9.30 AM: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav to hold meeting to discuss wild animal attacks in Wayanad today

A special meeting will be held at Kalpetta Collectorate at 10 am today under the leadership of Union Forest and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to address the situation of wild animal attacks in Wayanad. The forest officials of Karnataka and Kerala Forest Departments will participate in the meeting. The meeting was called to discuss the widespread protests due to the release of radio-collared elephants from Karnataka to the Kerala forest border.


9.00 am: KSEB issues guidelines to temples, worship places for festival seasons

The Kerala State Electricity Board( KSEB) has issued important guidelines to temples and places of worship as the state enters the festival season. The KSEB's warning highlights the dangers of electricity touching power lines during festival-related activities such as parades, lanterns, and arches. The notice emphasizes the precautions that need to be taken to avoid such incidents.


8.35 AM: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav meets families of wild animal attack victims in Wayanad

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav met the families of the victims who lost their lives in the man-animal conflict in Wayanad in the last few days. The Environment Minister on Wednesday assured all support to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls of the deceased.

"Met the families of Prajeesh, Paul and Ajeesh, who lost their lives in the man-animal conflict in Wayanad recently. Their loss is irreparable," Yadav said in a post on 'X'.


8.22 AM:  CM Pinarayi Vijayan to address Nava Kerala Sthree Sadas in Kochi today

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will interact with women working in various fields with the aim of Nava Kerala Sthree Sadas on Thursday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at Nedumbassery CIAL Convention Center in Ernakulam. The Minister of Health, Women and Child Development Veena George will preside over the meeting.


8.16 AM: By-election in 23 local bodies in state today

By-elections to 23 local wards of the state will be held today. Elections are held across 10 districts for one corporation, four municipalities and 18 gram panchayat wards. There are 88 candidates seeking mandates in the election. The voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. The counting of votes will be held on Friday.

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