Kerala

Kerala on Friday witnessed widespread stone pelting at public transport buses, damaging of shops and vehicles, and sporadic incidents of violence in many places during the statewide dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Popular Front of India (PFI).

Kerala BJP President K Surendran said: "The PFI criminals have resorted to massive violence in the name of hartal. They attacked KSRTC buses, forcefully shut shops and disrupted Mookambika pilgrimage while Kerala police remain silent spectators."

Violent mobs targeted a number of Kerala state road transport corporation buses in Kollam, Malappuram, Wayanad, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram. A number of private vehicles and trucks were also pelted with stones.

A wild buffalo knocked an auto-rickshaw with its head in a spine-chilling incident. A man driving his car through a forest area caught the incident on camera.

The NIA and ED launched a massive nationwide search operation against groups, including PFI, and individuals allegedly supporting terrorists. Over PFI members have also been arrested.

The wedding photoshoot of Sujeesha -- a native of Pookottumpadam in the Malappuram district of Kerala -- drew attention to the bad condition of the road in her locality. The photoshoot was on her wedding day on a cracked road -- the intention was to highlight the road's poor condition in the area.

Dr Kiran Anand Kakkad, the new 'melshanti',is also trained in the 'mridangam' -- a percussion instrument -- and Carnatic music. He was trained in music by four gurus. He has sung in music albums and cover songs and manages a YouTube channel with his wife, who is also an ayurvedic doctor.

The student, who was enrolled in Lovely Professional University's (LPU) B.Design programme, allegedly took drastic action on Tuesday. Following that, other university students staged a campus protest. Police officers have been stationed outside the university campus.

In Kerala, Rahul Gandhi recently formed a bond with a group of teenage BTS fans. Gandhi was introduced to the gang, and they made him watch some of their favourite BTS songs as well.

Shashi Tharoor met with Sonia Gandhi on Monday and expressed his intention to contest for AICC president in the upcoming elections. According to sources, the Congress chief has also stated that she will be 'neutral' in the polls. The upcoming elections will undoubtedly be historic, as the new president will take over from Sonia Gandhi, the party's longest-serving leader.