<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
     xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
     xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
     xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/"
     xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
     xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
     xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
<channel>
<title>World Malayalee Voice &#45; : KERALA NEWS</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/rss/category/kerala-news</link>
<description>World Malayalee Voice &#45; : KERALA NEWS</description>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Copyright © 2026 World Malayalee Voice. All Rights Reserved.</dc:rights>

<item>
<title>സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് ലോഡ് ഷെഡിങ് ഏര്‍പ്പെടുത്തി; രാത്രി അരമണിക്കൂര്‍ നിയന്ത്രണം</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/load-shedding</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/load-shedding</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69f0931d51e3a.jpg" length="78847" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:59:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>നിതിന്‍ രാജിന്റെ മരണം : സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് ഹര്‍ത്താല്‍ ശക്തം; പലയിടത്തും വാഹനങ്ങള്‍ തടഞ്ഞു</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/nithin</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/nithin</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69f08f360ca18.jpg" length="270067" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:44:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ദുരന്തഭൂമിയിൽ  മുസ്ലിം ലീഗ് ഒരുക്കിയ  51 വീടുകൾ ഉയർന്നു</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/league</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/league</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69efd0719e995.jpg" length="54742" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:12:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Hartal’ tomorrow in Keralam over BDS student’s death</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/hartal-tomorrow-in-kerala-over-bds-students-death-check-whats-open-and-closed</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/hartal-tomorrow-in-kerala-over-bds-students-death-check-whats-open-and-closed</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &#039;Hartal’ tomorrow in Kerala: The demonstration, led by the Justice for Nithin Raj Action Council and supported by Dalit and Adivasi organisations, is scheduled from 6 am to 6 pm. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.livemint.com/lm-img/img/2026/04/27/1600x900/logo/Bharat_1770824473360_1770824484075_1777294001275.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:49:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Hartal’, tomorrow, Kerala, over, BDS, student’s, death:, Check, what’s, open, and, closed</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Keralam mulls peak hour power cuts as demand surges to record highs</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/keralam-mulls-peak-hour-power-cuts-as-demand-surges-to-record-highs</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/keralam-mulls-peak-hour-power-cuts-as-demand-surges-to-record-highs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ef68b9e5f6c.jpg" length="145528" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:46:45 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Keralam’s Sanjana wins European Math Olympiad silver, gets praise from PM Modi in ‘Mann ki Baat’</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/keralams-sanjana-wins-european-math-olympiad-silver-gets-praise-from-pm-modi-in-mann-ki-baat</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/keralams-sanjana-wins-european-math-olympiad-silver-gets-praise-from-pm-modi-in-mann-ki-baat</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ef66a3bd01a.jpg" length="49265" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:37:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala temperatures rise above normal; IMD issues yellow alert</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-temperatures-rise-above-normal-imd-issues-yellow-alert</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-temperatures-rise-above-normal-imd-issues-yellow-alert</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday, 26 April, issued a yellow alert for hot and humid conditions across Kerala, with temperatures remaining above normal in most districts. A yellow alert indicates elevated heat and humidity with no severe weather risk expected.Daytime temperatures are expected to be 3-4°C higher than usual across most districts, particularly in central and northern Kerala. Palakkad could see highs touching 40°C, while Kollam may record around 39°C. Districts including Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Thrissur and Kozhikode are likely to register temperatures of up to 38°C. High-range areas such as Idukki and Wayanad are expected to remain comparatively cooler.Recent readings reflect a trend of rising temperatures, crossing 40°C in parts of Palakkad and nearing 39.5°C in Punalur. The humidity has added to the discomfort, particularly in coastal and low-lying regions where nights remain warm and offer little relief.On 26 April, an elderly man identified as Baby Philip died in Kollam, in a suspected case of sunstroke amid the rising temperatures. Officials said he is believed to have been exposed to the heat for a prolonged period, though the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed. The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by elderly residents and those without adequate protection from the heat.The IMD has predicted thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of up to 50 kmph between Monday, April 27, and Thursday. Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely in parts of Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod and Kottayam later this week.Authorities have advised people to avoid direct exposure to the sun during peak afternoon hours, to stay hydrated and to take precautions to safeguard against the heat.This article was written by a student interning with TNM. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-27/u8erscmc/temo.avif" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:25:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, temperatures, rise, above, normal, IMD, issues, yellow, alert</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Avalkoppam Legal Support Trust formed to aid 2017 actor assault case survivor</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/avalkoppam-legal-support-trust-formed-to-aid-2017-actor-assault-case-survivor</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/avalkoppam-legal-support-trust-formed-to-aid-2017-actor-assault-case-survivor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The constitution of a trust named the Avalkoppam Legal Support Trust, aimed to support the survivor of the 2017 actor assault case, was announced in Kozhikode on Monday, April 27. In a press meeting, senior activist K Ajitha, writer and academic Deedi Damodaran, and dubbing artist and author Bhagyalakshmi, among others, said that the motivation for the trust is the 2017 incident, in which a Malayali woman actor was sexually assaulted in a moving car in Kochi. “People worldover have asked us why the survivor in the actor assault case could not have a better team of lawyers. Many of them told us they were willing to contribute financially, urging us to form a trust for mobilising money. The Avalkoppam Legal Support Trust is a result of that,” said Bhagyalakshmi.She was referring to the Ernakulam District and Sessions Court verdict of December 8, 2025, pronouncing six men–Pulsar Suni, Martin Antony, R Manikantan, VP Vijesh, H Salim and Pradeep–guilty. However, though the court said there is a conspiracy in the case, actor Dileep, who was accused of masterminding the kidnapping and sexual assault of the woman actor, was acquitted.People also took to social media and the streets to protest the verdict, under the campaign slogan ‘Avalkoppam’, which means ‘with her’.The term was first used by the Women In Cinema Collective (WCC) in the aftermath of the 2017 actor assault to express solidarity with the survivor.The survivor herself stated that she had lost faith in the trial court early on, and posted six reasons why she felt that justice had been denied.“It is the responsibility of society to stand with the survivor. That is why we have decided to form this trust to bring in lawyers from the Supreme Court. They will help the survivor go to court about the change in the hash value of the assault visuals while in judicial custody,” said Ajitha.Calling the actor assault case “rarest of rare”, where a man was hired to rape the survivor, Bhagyalakshmi further said at the Kozhikode press meet that the Avalkoppam trust is for the numerous survivors who may be finding it difficult to navigate the financial burden of fighting sexual assault and rape cases in court.When asked about the working limits of the Trust, K Ajitha said that anyone within India can approach the Trust. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-27/3ayu0l7f/Artboard-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:25:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Avalkoppam, Legal, Support, Trust, formed, aid, 2017, actor, assault, case, survivor</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Wayanad rehabilitation: 51 families move into houses constructed by IUML</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/wayanad-rehabilitation-51-families-move-into-houses-constructed-by-iuml</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/wayanad-rehabilitation-51-families-move-into-houses-constructed-by-iuml</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. Fifty-one families who survived the 2024 Wayanad landslide officially moved into new houses provided by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Monday, April 27, in Meppadi Panchayat, near Kalpetta town. The event was attended by senior IUML leaders Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and PK Kunhalikutty.According to the beneficiaries, the houses were handed over nearly one and a half months ago, and many were waiting for Ramadan and students&#039; exams to be over. Following the landslide, the IUML promised a total of 105 houses and purchased 11 acres of land in Meppadi Panchayat. Currently, 51 houses have been completed and handed over. Each measures 1,060 sq ft and has three bedrooms, a dining hall, a kitchen, and a work area.Speaking to the media, PK Firos, the General Secretary of the Muslim Youth League (MYL), the youth wing of the IUML, said, &quot;It’s a proud moment. We are extremely happy that, as a political party, the League has been able to keep its promise. As a political party, we are demonstrating this to the world itself as a model,” he added.After the landslide, the government gave survivors two options. They could either accept the houses provided by the government in the government’s township project, or accept houses from other organisations by accepting the government’s compensation of Rs 15 lakhs. Most of the beneficiaries in the IUML houses accepted the compensation money and opted for the houses given by them. The IUML has also allocated houses to those who are not on any official lists but are unable to live in the landslide-affected areas.As per Mansoor, a beneficiary of IUML, basic amenities and furniture were also provided in the house. “I don’t know how to express my happiness. I&#039;m really happy to move from the rented house to our own house, finally,” he added. Mansoor, a cable TV operator in Mundakki, lost both his business and his house in the landslide. “I had a few debts, so I opted for the Rs 15 lakhs and the IUML’s house,” he had told TNM earlier.Meanwhile, the government’s township project of 410 houses has completed construction of 178 houses and handed over the keys to the beneficiaries. However, people are unable to move due to pending work. At the same time, the Congress has not yet begun construction of the promised 100 houses. On February 26, Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi laid the foundation stone for this project at Kunnampetta in the Meppadi panchayat, which is located nearly 11 km away from the town. Wayanad landslide survivors wait to move into govt homes, Congress’ promises undelivered ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-27/gbqvik37/IUML-houses.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:25:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Wayanad, rehabilitation:, families, move, into, houses, constructed, IUML</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Evidence tampering case: SC dismisses former minister Antony Raju’s petition</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/evidence-tampering-case-sc-dismisses-former-kerala-minister-antony-rajus-petition</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/evidence-tampering-case-sc-dismisses-former-kerala-minister-antony-rajus-petition</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Supreme Court on Monday, April 27, dismissed a petition filed by former Kerala minister Antony Raju seeking suspension of his conviction in the evidence tampering case.A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma dismissed the special leave petition against the Kerala High Court judgement which refused to suspend his conviction in the case. In January, the Nedumangad Magistrate Court had sentenced Raju for three years in prison for tampering with evidence in a 1990 narcotics case. Following the order, Raju, an MLA representing Thiruvananthapuram constituency, was disqualified. He also became ineligible to contest the 2026 Assembly election, where he was set to contest again as a candidate of the Janadhipatya Kerala Congress, a constituent of the Left Democratic Front. Raju had served as the minister of transport under the LDF rule for two years from 2021.The case dates back to the 1990s when Raju, then a junior advocate, helped an Australian national get acquitted in a narcotics case. As per the case, an underwear in which the accused hid the narcotic substance was tampered with. The lawyers then proved in the court that the underwear did not fit the accused, resulting in his acquittal.Following an investigation, a case of evidence tampering was registered, with court staff member KS Jose as the first accused and Raju as the second. Though the case dragged on for years, Raju was finally found guilty and convicted in January this year. Though he filed a plea in the Kerala High Court in March, the court refused to stay the order.Raju had also sought the Supreme Court to expunge certain remarks made by the High Court against him. Though he argued that the remark would harm his chances of getting bail, the SC dismissed it.A drug accused &amp; an underwear that didn’t fit: A Kerala cop recalls an unusual case ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/tnm/import/sites/default/files/AntonyRaju_Facebook_Kerala_030822_1200x800_Facebook.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:25:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Evidence, tampering, case:, dismisses, former, Kerala, minister, Antony, Raju’s, petition</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>&amp;apos;കാത്തുസൂക്ഷിച്ച മാമ്പഴം പിണറായി കൊത്തിക്കൊണ്ടുപോകും&amp;apos;:  വെളളാപ്പളളി നടേശൻ</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/vellappally</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/vellappally</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ef54333215f.jpg" length="61677" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:19:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>No fireworks, shortened Kudamattam: Thrissur Pooram held in wake of accident</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/no-fireworks-shortened-kudamattam-thrissur-pooram-held-in-wake-of-accident</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/no-fireworks-shortened-kudamattam-thrissur-pooram-held-in-wake-of-accident</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM’s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. The Thrissur Pooram festival in Kerala was held without the customary fireworks on Sunday, April 26, five days after a blast at a firecrackers unit killed 15 people. The decision was collectively taken by the state government and the temple authorities.Apart from the cancellation of fireworks, the government and temple authorities also decided to reduce the Kudamattam ritual to about 20 minutes from the usual one hour. Kudamattam is a competitive ritual in which teams atop caparisoned elephants rhythmically swap vibrant, decorative umbrellas to the beat of percussion. Held at the Swaraj Round in the city, it features the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu temples facing off. This year, fewer sets of umbrellas were exchanged.Thrissur Pooram is known as the mother of all festivals in Kerala, with key rituals including Vilambaram (opening announcement), Kodiyettam (flag hoisting), Ezhunnallippu (elephant processions), Ilanjithara Melam (percussion), Kudamattam (umbrella exchange), and massive, competitive fireworks by Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu, which are the two temple groups that lead the Pooram festival.The blast occurred at Mundathikode on April 21, where firecrackers for the Thiruvambadi temple were prepared and stored. Following the accident, officials from both the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu temples had told the media that they would meet government officials to decide how to conduct the Pooram.Meanwhile, the Kerala government announced financial assistance of Rs 14 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced ex gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured will receive Rs 50,000.Read: Thrissur Pooram, fireworks and the cost of looking away  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-26/2xe24775/Thriaaur-Pooram.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:56:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>fireworks, shortened, Kudamattam:, Thrissur, Pooram, held, wake, accident</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ചൂടിൽ വെന്തുരുകി കേരളം; 5 ജില്ലകളിൽ ഓറഞ്ച് അലേർട്ട്</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heat-wave-126779</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heat-wave-126779</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69edf24b4a1e4.jpg" length="156864" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:09:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala steps up heatwave response, CM chairs review meeting</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-steps-up-heatwave-response-cm-vijayan-chairs-review-meeting</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-steps-up-heatwave-response-cm-vijayan-chairs-review-meeting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Kerala government has stepped up its response to the ongoing heatwave in the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired a high-level review meeting on Saturday, April 25, outlining a multi-pronged strategy to protect public health and safety amid rising temperatures. The meeting, held online, reviewed the impact of the heat wave and directed authorities to ensure the availability of drinking water, ORS, and first-aid facilities for sunstroke at key public spaces such as markets and bus stands.Temporary shaded shelters will also be set up in high footfall areas. Health workers, local body representatives, and voluntary organisations have been asked to coordinate efforts on the ground.In a suspected heat-related fatality, an 85-year-old man was found dead in his farmland in the Kollam district on Saturday morning. Officials believe it could be the second sunstroke-related death reported in the state this season, though confirmation is awaited.Authorities plan to impose strict restrictions on public events, including cultural and sports programmes, during peak heat hours when heat wave warnings are in place.Water distribution points will be expanded across roadsides, junctions, and transport hubs, with community participation encouraged to provide drinking water, buttermilk, and fruits such as watermelon.The Water Authority and Irrigation Department have been directed to take urgent steps to ensure an adequate drinking water supply, alongside a public campaign promoting rainwater harvesting.District Collectors will also explore reducing traffic signal wait times in congested areas to minimise heat exposure.The state is set to expand climate monitoring systems at the local level, collecting ward-wise data on temperature, rainfall, and humidity to improve preparedness.The Disaster Management Authority’s ‘Kavacham’ warning system will be strengthened, with a focus on maintaining sirens and related infrastructure.Long-term measures include converting anganwadis and health centres into heat-resilient buildings with improved ventilation and cooling features, and establishing specialised Heat &amp; Burn clinics in select hospitals.The Kerala State Electricity Board has been tasked with ensuring an uninterrupted power supply amid rising cooling demand. The government has also issued public advisories on snake safety and water hygiene, citing increased risks during extreme heat.With forecasts indicating further temperature rise, local bodies have been asked to prepare heat action plans, backed by state disaster mitigation funding. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69edc094b6746.jpg" length="131430" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:31:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, steps, heatwave, response, Vijayan, chairs, review, meeting</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Death of dental student: Kannur court denies anticipatory bail to Dr MK Ram</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/death-of-dental-student-kannur-court-denies-anticipatory-bail-to-dr-mk-ram</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/death-of-dental-student-kannur-court-denies-anticipatory-bail-to-dr-mk-ram</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Dr MK Ram, former head of the Anatomy Department at Kannur Dental College, who is facing allegations of harassment, including casteist remarks and body shaming, was denied anticipatory bail by the Kannur District and Principal Sessions Court on Saturday, April 25. In the same case, another faculty member, Sangeetha Nambiar, was granted anticipatory bail.Both have been named as accused in connection with the death of first-year BDS student Nithin Raj, 22, a native of Uzhamalackal in Thiruvananthapuram. Police have invoked charges of abetment to suicide under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including Section 3(1)(r), which pertains to intentional insult or intimidation of an SC/ST member in public view.Dr Ram, in his bail plea, denied role in the student’s death and stated that Nithin Raj had been struggling academically and had low internal marks. The plea said faculty members had advised him to improve his performance.The plea also claimed that Nithin Raj had taken private loans and allegedly used a professor’s phone number without consent. This reportedly led to repeated calls from recovery agents, who continued to contact the professor seeking repayment. The situation escalated to a cyber police complaint after the calls persisted.Following the complaint, Nithin Raj was summoned to the office of principal Vinod Mony on April 10, where he was questioned for over an hour in the presence of senior faculty, the plea stated. It further alleged that he was later reprimanded publicly and warned that his parents and the police would be informed.Nithin Raj was found lying on a stone-paved area between the administrative block and hospital around 1.30 pm on April 10. He was taken to the casualty department but was declared dead at 3.35 pm.Sangeetha Nambiar, in her plea, maintained that she had no involvement in the incident and denied harassing the student in any manner.After hearing arguments from both sides and examining the available evidence, the court rejected Ram’s anticipatory bail plea citing the seriousness of the allegations, while allowing relief to Sangeetha Nambiar. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-17/plrhtljm/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-17-at-10.38.49-AM.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:12:42 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Death, dental, student:, Kannur, court, denies, anticipatory, bail, Ram</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>തൃശൂർ പൂരത്തിന് വിളംബരമായി</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126756</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126756</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ecaf7e61fb8.jpg" length="185500" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:12:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘പോടാ പുല്ലേ പൊലീസേ’ മുദ്രാവാക്യം: ആർ. ശ്രീലേഖയെ പ്രതി ചേർത്തു</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sreelekha-126753</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sreelekha-126753</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ec8f8b278d7.jpg" length="79859" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:55:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Thrissur Pooram, fireworks and the cost of looking away</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/thrissur-pooram-fireworks-and-the-cost-of-looking-away</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/thrissur-pooram-fireworks-and-the-cost-of-looking-away</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Thrissur Pooram is a great cultural asset. But culture cannot be defended by ignoring preventable risks,&quot; said Dr R Venugopal, retired joint chief controller of explosives with Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The April 21 blast at Mundathikode, at a site where firecrackers were being assembled for the famed Thrissur Pooram, killed 15 people. The site, according to reports, had no proper license, no fire safety clearance, and no road wide enough for a fire engine to enter. For decades, Thrissur Pooram&#039;s status as a cultural tradition has made administrators, politicians, and courts reluctant to enforce the rules that exist on paper, diluting regulations and overlooking violations. In the process, an unofficial immunity was granted to an industry that operates almost entirely in the shadows. The subject of Thrissur Pooram is a sensitive one, said lawyer and environmental activist Harish Vasudevan, and the reason why regulations are ignored.Venugopal, a member of the inquiry commission that probed the 2016 Puttingal tragedy that killed over 100 people, said if we want Pooram fireworks to continue for future generations, we should prove that Kerala is capable of conducting it within the boundaries set up by the enforced rules and basic principles of risk management.Rather than shut the informal industry down, the solution, Venugopal said, would be to set up a regulated fireworks park where safety is the first concern.A culture that enabled violationsHarish alleges that ministers, political leaders, and administrative authorities enabled the violations that led to the Mundathikode fireworks tragedy. The crackers were made for the annual Thrissur Pooram sample firework display scheduled for Friday, April 23. Satheeshan, the person who ran the unit in Mundathikode was the contractor of the Thiruvambady temple, one of the organisers of the Pooram.Speaking to TNM, Harish said that the Thiruvambady Devaswom’s contract with the fireworks manufacturer itself is invalid, because one cannot give a contract for an illegal activity. “Indian law does not permit operating firecrackers on temple premises or anywhere between 10 pm and 6 am,” he said.According to a Supreme Court directive issued in 2005, sound-emitting fireworks are not allowed between 10 pm and 6 am.He also pointed to the potential presence of banned compounds in the crackers that were being assembled in Mundathikode. The Justice PS Gopinathan Commission that probed the 2016 Puttingal fireworks tragedy had recommended that the focus of firework displays be shifted from the sound to the light and colours. The blasts in the Mundathikode field were reportedly heard in a several kilometre radius.  Dr Venugopal said that he is “99% certain that potassium chlorate was used at Mundathikode.&quot; He explained why the chemical is extremely hazardous: “Potassium chlorate is unstable when mixed with sulphur or other fuels. It can ignite from minor friction, heat, or impact, turning ordinary fireworks into a bomb-like device. It was prohibited in India in 1992 under the Explosives Rules, allowing only narrow exceptions for matches, toy caps, railway signals, and limited scientific research.” “Even if an LE-6 license is obtained for a firework display, there can be a contract for display only. The police should have taken samples and verified whether these compounds were present; only then should permission have been granted at the assembling site,” Harish added. The Explosives Rules 2008 provide for six types of licenses for handling fireworks: LE-1 for manufacturing fireworks or gunpowder or both; LE-2 for one time possession of gunpowder; LE-3 for possession and use of explosives for agricultural purposes and small quarry; LE-4 for transport of explosives in tractor compressor for use in well sinking; LE-5 for possession and sale fireworks from a shop, including temporary shop for 15 days; and LE-6 for possession and use of fireworks for public display.LE-1 and LE-2 limit the maximum quantity of explosives to 15 kg. LE-6, for public display, has a limit of 100 kg.Harish alleged that fireworks manufacturers often present ‘clean samples’ for testing, only to manufacture and use crackers containing banned chemicals for the actual festivities. “Last year, the LE-6 license was granted. [Banned compounds] are not found because the contractor provides ‘clean samples’ for testing. This is a fraud occurring with the knowledge of everyone involved,” he alleged.Harish highlighted the potential absence of approvals from the local self government and the fire and rescue departments. “Manufacturing fireworks requires a factory license, which is admittedly absent. If it existed, the police would have a copy, but the officer who was in charge says it is not there. Fire and Safety permission is also required. Permission will not be granted for a location where a fire engine cannot enter. While a Panchayat license can be applied for online, it requires all these documen ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-21/gh43n312/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-21-at-20.31.56.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:37:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Thrissur, Pooram, fireworks, and, the, cost, looking, away</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Satheesan alleges corruption behind power crisis as minister denies load shedding</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-lop-satheesan-alleges-corruption-behind-power-crisis-as-minister-denies-load-shedding</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-lop-satheesan-alleges-corruption-behind-power-crisis-as-minister-denies-load-shedding</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Saturday alleged that Kerala’s emerging power crisis and unannounced load shedding were the result of the state government scrapping long-term electricity purchase agreements, claiming corruption was the motive behind the decision. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of power restrictions, warning of strong protests by the UDF if the situation continues.Calling the outages amid intense heat a challenge to the people, Satheesan questioned the LDF’s claim of delivering ten years without power cuts under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He argued that a long-term deal secured during the tenure of Oommen Chandy to procure 465 MW at an average cost of Rs 4.29 per unit was arbitrarily cancelled.This, he said, forced the State to buy power at Rs 6 -- Rs 12 per unit, causing daily losses of Rs 15-20 crore to the Kerala State Electricity Board. He also alleged that the move benefited private companies and demanded a probe into the decision and the alleged financial gains.Responding to the charges, Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty denied that the State is witnessing unannounced load shedding. He maintained that only natural regulation is being carried out when the grid faces overload. Power consumption, he said, has crossed 6,195 MW, necessitating costlier power purchases.The government is trying to avoid a tariff hike, he added, urging consumers to exercise restraint.The Minister also dismissed criticism of the LDF’s no power cut claim, stating that the current electricity strain is part of a wider national trend.In a pointed remark, he said the Opposition should ask nature about the situation, attributing the surge in demand during extreme heat, and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved within two days.Meanwhile, complaints of frequent short-duration outages, especially at night, are rising from across the state as consumption spikes. A high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister is scheduled to review the situation as Kerala grapples with peak summer demand. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-25/2pitvlwn/vd.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:37:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, LoP, Satheesan, alleges, corruption, behind, power, crisis, Minister, denies, load, shedding</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ground Report: Kerala child killed by snakebite, family had no safe place to sleep</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/ground-report-kerala-child-killed-by-snakebite-family-had-no-safe-place-to-sleep</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/ground-report-kerala-child-killed-by-snakebite-family-had-no-safe-place-to-sleep</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On the lower half of a crumbling outer wall, a pencil-drawn king wearing a crown watches over. The artist was eight years old. His name was Dikshal, and he will never draw again. The makeshift structure surrounded by trees he called home – asbestos sheets with tarpaulin for a roof, bamboo mats for bed, sand for floor – sits quietly on a lane bordering the Azhoor Bhagavathy Temple in Chirayinkeezhu, a coastal town on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. Seven plastic chairs are arranged outside, as if waiting for someone. No one sits in them. Death of the little boy by snake bite on April 23 has brought in the neighbours, residents of the area and media attention to the house. The photograph of a heartily smiling Dikshal is on a flex outside the lane.  His is the latest in a series of deaths by snake-bites in Kerala, believed to have risen after the unbearable summer heat. On April 18, an eight-year-old, Aljo, died after being bitten by a banded krait while asleep. His brother was also bitten.  The cobra that bit Dikshal was found later in the house, hiding beneath a sewing machine.  “We had heard of the recent bout of snake bites but thought that with the sheets covering our house, it would be hotter inside and keep the snakes away. We’d never seen a poisonous snake around here before, only the harmless rat snake,” Dileep, Dikshal’s father tells us.  Dileep tears away from a small crowd of people huddled around him, to attend to his four-year old daughter, Dikshitha, complaining about a missing paratha. The little girl is running around the small yard with a friend, not yet grasping the absence of her brother. Half a dozen yellow wreaths are placed over a part of the yard where Dikshal is buried. His mother Anu is somewhere inside, resting. A little white dog is in a cage. The room where Dikshal slept on the night he was bitten by a snake, with visible gaps in the walls and roof. Dikshal’s death has raised questions about the treatment at public hospitals as well as the reasons that drove the family to live in such unsafe conditions. When Dikshal woke up complaining of a wound, the family could not make out if the bite came from a snake.  “There was only one bite mark, not two (as commonly seen). We rushed him to the Chirayinkeezhu taluk hospital but they too could not make out if it was a snake bite and did not administer the anti-venom. They did some blood tests and asked us to take him to the Medical College Hospital in the city,” Dileep says. Dikshal had been complaining about his pain, and talking to the family but on the way to the Medical College, he found it difficult to breathe and stopped responding. By the time he was brought to the hospital, he was declared dead. The taluk hospital has reportedly not administered anti-venom since the risk of doing that without a snake-bit, when it was still only suspected, could also be hazardous.  Questions on the hospital’s response also brought attention to the living conditions of the family. On the fateful night, Dileep and Anu had slept with Dikshita in one of the two little rooms of the house. A room away, Dikshal had slept on a mat with his grandmother Leela and his aunt Liji.  A day after his passing, the room is left alone, like a bad memory. Clothes are strewn across it and the sleeping mat remains spread out on the floor. A small table fan offers little respite from the summer heat. The walls, made of plywood, have gaps wide enough for large reptiles to crawl in. More holes remain uncovered on the ceiling, where the walls join the tin roof, which would let in sunlight and rain. Small blocks of cement have been placed to cover the cracks at the bottom, but these can hardly prevent further invasion.  Outside the house, cooking vessels are piled in a corner, dry clothes folded and hung over a rope. Space is clearly lacking in the temporary home the family hopes to leave behind once they have a real one.  Dikshal&#039;s house The living conditions are far from desirable for this family of six, sharing the two dilapidated rooms. Dileep works as a daily wage labourer, in aluminum fabrication. Anu has been training for a computer job.   Their house stands on five cents of land surrounded by marshes and woods, with no proper road connectivity, only a narrow path that is accessible on foot. Dileep’s grandfather had worked as a labourer for the landowner many years ago, and the family had lived there without any legal documents or ownership of land.After his grandfather’s death, the landowner asked the family to move to a corner of the plot, promising to give them five cents of land in their name so they could build a house. The family relocated and constructed the temporary shed, where they have been living for the past 10 years. Building a house on his own was beyond Dileep’s means. He had been waiting for government assistance to make that possible.However the family was not included in the state’s housing scheme, LIFE Mission - a project to build homes for the ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-25/095tyspu/Untitled-design-1.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:37:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ground, Report:, Kerala, child, killed, snakebite, family, had, safe, place, sleep</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ബംഗാളില്‍ വിജയം ആവര്‍ത്തിച്ച ശേഷം താന്‍ ഡല്‍ഹി കീഴടക്കും: മമത ബാനര്‍ജി</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/banerjee</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/banerjee</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ebc030f0f43.jpg" length="237820" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:11:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>&amp;apos;പോടാ പുല്ലേ&amp;apos; എന്ന് മുമ്പും വിളിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്; പൊലീസ് സ്റ്റേഷൻ ഉപരോധത്തിനെതിരായ വിമർശനങ്ങളിൽ ന്യായീകരണവുമായി    ശ്രീലേഖ</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sreelekha</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sreelekha</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69eb8cdfbb6f2.jpg" length="65620" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:31:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>HC issues notice on plea alleging mistreatment of elephants ahead of Thrissur Pooram</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/hc-issues-notice-on-plea-alleging-mistreatment-of-elephants-ahead-of-thrissur-pooram</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/hc-issues-notice-on-plea-alleging-mistreatment-of-elephants-ahead-of-thrissur-pooram</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69eb70c205c96.jpg" length="166775" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:31:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Congress steps up protest against EC; Venugopal flags credibility crisis​</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/congress-steps-up-protest-against-ec-venugopal-flags-credibility-crisis</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/congress-steps-up-protest-against-ec-venugopal-flags-credibility-crisis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69eb6fa138891.jpg" length="29717" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:27:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>HC seeks ECI response on postal ballot gaps, ahead of counting</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-hc-seeks-eci-response-on-postal-ballot-gaps-ahead-of-counting</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-hc-seeks-eci-response-on-postal-ballot-gaps-ahead-of-counting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to clarify on Tuesday whether additional facilities can be arranged for voters who were unable to cast their postal ballots in the recently-concluded polls, in a move with wider implications for electoral access and fairness. Taking note of concerns over possible disenfranchisement, the court asked the ECI to place on record its considered view on the feasibility of extending or facilitating postal voting mechanisms for those who missed the opportunity.The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday, directing the poll panel to respond.The direction comes in the backdrop of polling held on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4.The timing of the court’s intervention has drawn attention, given that postal ballots can play a decisive role in closely-contested constituencies.The proceedings stem from a petition filed by a state government employee who contended that his constitutional right to vote was denied despite complying with all procedures required for postal voting.The plea echoes broader concerns raised ahead of the polls, which elected 140 members to the Assembly.Earlier, on April 8, the ECI had informed the court that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure polling personnel could cast their votes through postal ballots before reporting for duty.This assurance followed a writ petition by the Kerala NGO Union, which highlighted large-scale difficulties faced by government staff deployed on election duty.The union pointed out that, under the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, such personnel are entitled to vote via postal ballots.However, delays in the distribution of ballot papers reportedly left many unable to exercise this option.The issue was compounded by a narrow voting window from April 1 to April 8, overlapping with tight logistical schedules.Officials said several personnel did not receive ballots even by April 6, while April 8 was largely taken up with the collection of voting machines and other materials, leaving little time to vote. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-24/wgtl3iph/kerala.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:19:42 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, seeks, ECI, response, postal, ballot, gaps, ahead, counting</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>വിരമിച്ചിട്ടും കാറില്‍ ത്രീ സ്റ്റാര്‍ ബോര്‍ഡ്; ടോമിന്‍ തച്ചങ്കരിക്കെതിരെ അന്വേഷണത്തിന് നിര്‍ദേശം</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/tomin</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/tomin</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69eb4eba2bbaa.jpg" length="63922" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:07:28 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Global pride for Kerala: Kannur scientist wins prestigious ₹3 cr Marie Curie Fellowship</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/global-pride-for-kerala-kannur-scientist-wins-prestigious-3-cr-marie-curie-fellowship</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/global-pride-for-kerala-kannur-scientist-wins-prestigious-3-cr-marie-curie-fellowship</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69eb28786f513.jpg" length="110567" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:23:33 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>കോഴിക്കോട് പന്തീരങ്കാവിൽ വൻ മയക്കുമരുന്ന് വേട്ട. രണ്ട് കിലോ എംഡിഎംഎയുമായി രണ്ടുപേർ എക്സൈസ് സംഘത്തിന്റെ പിടിയിൽ</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/excise</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/excise</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ea80a379c0c.jpg" length="59979" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:27:24 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ഇത്തവണ തൃശൂര്‍ പൂരത്തിന് വെടിക്കെട്ടില്ല; കുടമാറ്റത്തിന്റെ പൊലിമ കുറയ്ക്കും</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126625</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126625</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69ea01f6db772.jpg" length="130452" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:26:55 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>കണ്ണൂരിൽ സൂര്യാഘാതമേറ്റ് യുവാവ് മരിച്ചു</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sanal</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sanal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e9eb5ea5061.jpg" length="32749" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:50:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Thrissur Pooram to be held without fireworks display</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/thrissur-pooram-to-be-held-without-fireworks-display</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/thrissur-pooram-to-be-held-without-fireworks-display</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e9d348a9512.jpg" length="149181" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:07:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala declares Mundathikkode blast a state disaster, Rs 14 lakh aid announced</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-declares-mundathikkode-blast-a-state-disaster-rs-14-lakh-aid-announced</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-declares-mundathikkode-blast-a-state-disaster-rs-14-lakh-aid-announced</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Kerala government has announced Rs 14 lakh as immediate financial assistance to the families of those who died in the Mundathikkode fireworks unit explosion in Thrissur district. The incident will be classified as a state-specific disaster, with the State Executive Committee of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority directed to take necessary action.The decision was taken at an online cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.A judicial inquiry has been ordered into the explosion. The investigation will be carried out by a one-member commission led by Justice CN Ramachandran Nair.Families of the deceased will receive Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an additional Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), taking the total assistance to Rs 14 lakh.Those injured in the blast will receive compensation as per SDRF norms, along with an additional Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as immediate support.The government will also cover medical expenses for the injured for up to six months in government or private hospitals. Funds will be released from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund based on the district collector’s recommendation, in addition to SDRF assistance. If treatment extends beyond six months, further expenses in empanelled private hospitals will be covered based on the decision of a medical board.Meanwhile, reports indicate that the death toll may have risen to 15, although authorities have so far officially confirmed 10 deaths. Efforts to identify victims are ongoing. Officials said eight bodies have been identified and handed over to families after post-mortem procedures, while several people remain missing, with at least four yet to be traced.Eleven injured victims are currently undergoing treatment, including five in critical condition with severe burn injuries. Medical sources said many of the injured have sustained burns over more than 70% of their bodies.Due to the condition of the remains recovered from the site, authorities have initiated DNA analysis to establish identities. The force of the blast scattered debris and body parts over a wide area, complicating rescue and recovery operations.Unexploded fireworks materials found at the site have been safely neutralised, and nearby water bodies are also being examined as part of the investigation. Officials are probing the cause of the explosion, including the possible use of banned substances. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-23/kxuyaq63/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-23-at-11.10.53.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:31:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, declares, Mundathikkode, blast, state, disaster, lakh, aid, announced</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>From Puttingal to Thrissur, a recurring cycle of fireworks tragedies in Kerala</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/from-puttingal-to-thrissur-a-recurring-cycle-of-fireworks-tragedies-in-kerala</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/from-puttingal-to-thrissur-a-recurring-cycle-of-fireworks-tragedies-in-kerala</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM’s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. The latest firecracker explosion at Mundathikkode in Thrissur is not an isolated disaster; it is part of a long and troubling continuum of fireworks-related tragedies in Kerala, raising serious questions about whether the state has truly absorbed the lessons of its past. The most searing reference point remains the 2016 Puttingal temple fireworks disaster in Kollam, where a competitive display triggered a massive blast that killed 111 people and injured over 350.Investigations that followed had pointed clearly to violations -- illegal storage of explosives, lack of permissions, and poor enforcement of safety norms.Yet, nearly a decade later, similar fault lines appear to persist.History shows that such incidents are neither rare nor recent.As far back as 1952, a fireworks explosion at Sabarimala Temple claimed 68 lives, underlining how deeply embedded risks have been in festival practices.In 1987, the Kuttamooli temple accident in Thrissur killed 20 people, followed by another deadly blast in 1990 at the Malanada Temple, which claimed 26 lives.More recent incidents show little has changed. In 2024, over 150 people were injured in a fireworks accident at Anjootambalam Veerarkavu Temple in Kasaragod.The same year, a blast at Tripunithura, where fireworks were stored for a temple festival, killed two people and damaged more than 100 houses, highlighting the risks posed not just during displays but also in storage and handling.The pattern is stark: repeated accidents, followed by inquiries, compensation announcements, and renewed promises of stricter regulation.Yet implementation remains inconsistent.Committees have repeatedly recommended tighter licensing, safe storage distances, and stricter monitoring of explosive materials.However, enforcement on the ground continues to lag, often compromised by local pressures, administrative gaps, and the cultural weight of tradition.The Mundathikkode tragedy now fits into this larger narrative of systemic failure.It underscores that the issue is no longer about isolated lapses but about a structural inability to enforce safety norms in high-risk festival environments.Kerala today stands at a crossroads.The choice is between continuing a reactive approach, responding to disasters after they occur or shifting to a preventive framework rooted in accountability and strict enforcement.Without that shift, each festival season risks reopening old wounds, with history repeating itself in increasingly painful ways. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-23/it4hhgmy/20260421488.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:31:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, Puttingal, Thrissur, recurring, cycle, fireworks, tragedies, Kerala</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>തൃശൂർ പൂരം നടത്തിപ്പിൽ തീരുമാനം നാളെ; മരിച്ചവരുടെ കുടുംബങ്ങൾക്ക് 14 ലക്ഷം ധനസഹായം</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126579</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126579</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e8dd21ecc92.jpg" length="34587" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:37:27 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fireworks tragedy: Holding of Kerala&amp;apos;s famous Thrissur Pooram to be decided tomorrow</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/fireworks-tragedy-holding-of-keralas-famous-thrissur-pooram-to-be-decided-tomorrow</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/fireworks-tragedy-holding-of-keralas-famous-thrissur-pooram-to-be-decided-tomorrow</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e8cdf1d48f2.jpg" length="175302" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:32:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Govt orders judicial probe into Thrissur fireworks tragedy; announces aid</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/govt-orders-judicial-probe-into-thrissur-fireworks-tragedy-announces-aid</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/govt-orders-judicial-probe-into-thrissur-fireworks-tragedy-announces-aid</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e8cd4a4d6fe.jpg" length="128974" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:29:55 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>HC stays ‘dry day’ order near TN border before polls</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-hc-stays-dry-day-order-near-tn-border-before-polls</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-hc-stays-dry-day-order-near-tn-border-before-polls</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Kerala High Court has stayed a state government order imposing a ‘dry day’ within a 5-kilometre radius of the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border ahead of the Assembly elections in the neighbouring state scheduled for April 23.A Vacation Bench of Justice S Manu granted the interim relief, on Tuesday, April 21, while hearing petitions filed by hotels in Palakkad district challenging the restriction on liquor sales from April 21 to midnight of April 23.The court held that the state government did not have the authority to issue such a direction, noting that prohibitory measures on liquor sales during elections are governed by statutory provisions. The Bench observed that under the Representation of the People Act, such restrictions can only be imposed within notified polling areas.The court further noted that the state “could not show any provision which confers such power on it,” referring specifically to Section 135C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prescribes a ban on sale of liquor only within polling areas.The petitions were filed by a group of three-star hotels holding valid FL-3 bar licences for the 2026–27 period. They contended that the order was “ex facie arbitrary, without jurisdiction and illegal,” and violated their fundamental right to carry on trade under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, according to copy 2.The petitioners also argued that their establishments, located between 3 and 5 kilometres from the state border, had no impact on electoral processes in Tamil Nadu. They pointed out that liquor outlets on the Tamil Nadu side remained open during previous elections in Kerala without causing law and order issues.The matter has been posted for further hearing on June 8. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2025-03-17/n94cukja/high-court-kerala.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:21:31 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, stays, ‘dry, day’, order, near, border, before, polls</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>വെടിക്കെട്ട് ദുരന്തം :  പാറമേക്കാവിന്റെ വെടിക്കെട്ട് നിര്‍മ്മാണത്തിന് സ്റ്റോപ്പ് മെമ്മോ നല്‍കി പാലക്കാട് കലക്ടര്‍</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/collector</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/collector</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e8a15dac66e.jpg" length="83874" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:22:31 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>പൂരവും വെടിക്കെട്ടും: ഡിജിറ്റൽ യുഗത്തിലെങ്കിലും ഇത്തരം ആചാരങ്ങൾ ഒഴിവാക്കിക്കൂടേ? തൃശൂർ സ്ഫോടനത്തിൽ  ആർ. ശ്രീലേഖ</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126544</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram-126544</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e89e840a841.jpg" length="86457" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PM Modi announces compensation after Thrissur firecracker blast kills 13</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pm-modi-announces-compensation-after-thrissur-firecracker-blast-kills-13</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pm-modi-announces-compensation-after-thrissur-firecracker-blast-kills-13</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Saddened by the loss of lives in the explosion at a firecracker facility in Thrissur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, April 21, expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies.Describing the incident as profoundly tragic, the Prime Minister said he was anguished by the scale of the loss of life, which has cast a shadow over the region ahead of the upcoming Thrissur Pooram festivities.The Prime Minister announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased, while those injured will receive Rs 50,000. He also stated that the government stands firmly with the affected families and assured them that all necessary assistance will be extended without delay.According to official reports, 13 people have died in the explosion so far, while 13 others are undergoing treatment in various hospitals. The condition of five of the injured is reported to be serious, with medical teams providing intensive care and closely monitoring their progress.The explosion at a fireworks unit in Thrissur took place on Tuesday during preparations for the festival’s grand fireworks display, triggering a massive fire, sending thick smoke across the area and causing panic among workers and nearby residents.President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan also expressed grief over the loss of lives. In a post on social media platform X, the President said she was saddened by the incident and offered prayers for the bereaved families, while wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. The Vice-President too expressed anguish and extended condolences.Following the incident, the Prime Minister directed Thrissur MP and Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi to immediately proceed to the city. Responding to the direction, Gopi said he was en route to Delhi airport to take a flight to Kochi and would continue to Thrissur by road.Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling the explosion heartbreaking and noting the scale of devastation at the fireworks facility. He said his thoughts are with the bereaved families and urged authorities to ensure swift rescue efforts, along with immediate and adequate medical care for all those injured.Wayanad Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also conveyed her condolences, stating she was deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the explosion. She extended her sympathies to the grieving families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, while expressing solidarity with all those affected.Communist Party of India Secretary Binoy Viswam expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and said he shares in their deep grief. He urged the government to ensure adequate compensation and immediate specialised treatment for the injured, and said the tragedy calls for serious reflection by festival committees and religious scholars on the continued use of hazardous explosive materials in festival-related activities. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2025-04-30/uge68aa2/20250423274F.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:21:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Modi, announces, compensation, after, Thrissur, firecracker, blast, kills</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fireworks tragedy: Govt and temple authorities to decide on Thrissur Pooram conduct</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/fireworks-tragedy-govt-and-temple-authorities-to-decide-on-thrissur-pooram-conduct</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/fireworks-tragedy-govt-and-temple-authorities-to-decide-on-thrissur-pooram-conduct</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. Following the tragic fireworks explosion that killed 13 people, the Thrissur Pooram Committee said a decision on how to proceed with Thrissur Pooram and its associated fireworks will be made after discussions with authorities. Thrissur Pooram is a popular temple festival in Kerala, scheduled to take place on April 26 at the Vadakkunnathan Temple.Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan told the media that the state government will take a decision after discussions with both the Thiruvamabady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms. He also said a judicial probe into the accident will be conducted and announced financial assistance of Rs 14 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. The fire occurred in Mundathikode near Thrissur on April 21, when a powerful explosion at a fireworks unit killed 13 and left several others critically injured. Authorities said the death toll is expected to rise. The unit produced fireworks material for Thrissur Pooram-related displays at the Thiruvambady Devaswom.Thiruvambady Devaswom Secretary K Gireesh Kumar said that Thiruvambady can&#039;t make a unilateral decision. “People from the festival committee also died. Any further steps will be taken only after discussions with the government, the police, and other officials,” he added.Paramekkavu Devaswom Secretary V Rajesh said, “When so many people die, the public are emotional. Taking that into account, and also considering the customs, what we intend is a balanced approach. We will act in coordination with whatever the district administration says.”According to reports, final decisions will be taken following a meeting with Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan on April 23.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased. The injured will receive Rs 50,000.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-22/fj62stqj/Thrissur-pooram.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:21:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Fireworks, tragedy:, Govt, and, temple, authorities, decide, Thrissur, Pooram, conduct</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Sabarimala gold theft row: SIT questions former TDB president again</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-gold-theft-row-sit-questions-former-tdb-president-again</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-gold-theft-row-sit-questions-former-tdb-president-again</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the controversial removal of gold plated panels from Sabarimala temple in 2025 has intensified its enquiry, questioning key figures and examining procedural lapses that have triggered political and administrative scrutiny. This comes at a time when the SIT is to submit its comprehensive report to the High Court, which had appointed them last year.Former Devaswom Board president, P.S. Prasanth, was questioned for the third time on Monday as part of the expanding probe.Ajikumar, a former member of the Devaswom Board, was also interrogated.Investigators are focussing on the circumstances under which the gold panels were handed over to the temple’s tantri without prior approval from the Kerala High Court, a move the SIT has flagged as a clear violation of established norms.The issue had earlier snowballed into a controversy, prompting Prasanth to tender an apology before the High Court.The SIT is now examining whether the decision to transfer the panels bypassed mandatory oversight mechanisms and if any undue influence was involved.In parallel, the SIT has recorded statements from all officials involved in transporting the panels on September 7, 2025.Testimonies were collected both at Sannidhanam and in Thiruvananthapuram, reflecting the probe’s widening scope and urgency.Attention has also turned to the role of the current Thiruvabharanam Commissioner, whose statement is expected to be pivotal.The commissioner had initially raised concerns over the technical expertise of Smart Creations, the firm entrusted with the gold plating work, but later submitted a report certifying the company’s competence.This reversal has raised questions about possible external pressure influencing official assessments.With multiple layers of administrative decision-making under the scanner, the SIT is expected to submit its findings in the coming weeks, even as calls grow for greater transparency in the management of temple assets and adherence to judicial directives.In the two separate charge sheets registered by the SIT on the gold scam 13 people were arrested and all of them now are out on bail. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-21/dzxt893v/202604213758029.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:27:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sabarimala, gold, theft, row:, SIT, questions, former, TDB, president, again</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Thrissur blast leaves at least 13 dead: ‘Felt like an earthquake,’ say residents</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/explosion-at-fireworks-unit-near-thrissur-kills-4-over-40-injured</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/explosion-at-fireworks-unit-near-thrissur-kills-4-over-40-injured</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At least four people were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing and storage unit in Mundathikode near Thrissur, Kerala, on Tuesday, April 21, during preparations for the Pooram festival. The incident which took place at around 3 pm, has triggered a large-scale emergency response.Among the injured, nearly eight individuals are said to be in critical condition. While the exact number of workers present at the unit during the blast remains unclear, unconfirmed reports indicate that around 40 people may have been at the site. The facility was reportedly preparing firecrackers for the Thiruvambady Devaswom, one of the key organisers of the Thrissur Pooram festival.The explosion occurred at a unit producing fireworks materials for a sample display scheduled on April 24, part of the week-long Thrissur Pooram festivities that began with flag-hoisting ceremonies on Monday.Authorities said the exact cause of the explosion has yet to be determined, and investigations are underway. The blast was described as extremely powerful, with its sound heard several kilometres away. Many local residents initially mistook it for an earthquake, as thick smoke and flames engulfed the area.Emergency services, including Fire and Rescue teams, police, and multiple ambulances, rushed to the spot. “We received an alert around 3.35 pm about the blast. The firecracker preparation unit was situated in a paddy field that had dried after the harvest, and the intense summer heat may have worsened the incident,” an official from the Wadakkanchery Fire Station told OnManorama.The injured were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur and other nearby hospitals. Health Minister Veena George directed officials to ensure all necessary arrangements for expert medical care, placing multiple hospitals on high alert.Rescue operations are being carried out with caution amid fears of unexploded firecracker materials. During the rescue, another explosion was reported forcing the authorities to proceed with extreme caution. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-21/u3ecziqb/2521ea11-8dca-4e66-8017-d5f06291de87.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:27:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Explosion, fireworks, unit, near, Thrissur, kills, over, injured</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Perambra material room opening: Kozhikode Collector reports lapses by returning officer</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/perambra-material-room-opening-kozhikode-collector-reports-lapses-by-returning-officer</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/perambra-material-room-opening-kozhikode-collector-reports-lapses-by-returning-officer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. Kozhikode district collector Snehil Kumar Singh on Tuesday, April 21, submitted a report to Kerala Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ratan U Kelkar regarding the opening of a material room, where documents related to the Assembly election in Perambra constituency were stored. According to reports, the Collector cited lapses on the part of the Returning Officer (RO), who opened the room to collect polling-related documents to update the Election Commission software. The collector will submit a detailed report within two days. Kelkar told TNM that an inquiry has been initiated into the issue.The controversy erupted in Perambra on Monday, April 20, after Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) members alleged a conspiracy over the opening of a strong room at the JDT Institute in Vellimadukunnu, where polling-related materials for the Perambra Assembly constituency were stored. In response, the Perambra Returning Officer clarified that the room opened was not the sealed strong room housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) or postal ballots, but an unsealed room used to store polling records. Speaking to the media on Monday, senior Congress leader and Kozhikode MP MK Raghavan said that access to the strong room is highly restricted after polling. “Only central forces are permitted access. But now, who all have entered? Government officials have gone inside. Why did they enter, for whom, and with what purpose? A clear answer must be given,” he said.Following this incident the UDF lodged a complaint with the ECI. Palakkad incident A day after the Kozhikode incident caused a controversy, polling officials’ move to open a material room in Palakkad evoked sharp reactions from political parties. Following this, Kelkar issued a directive against opening any rooms in the vote-counting centres.In Palakkad, the returning officers had planned to open a strong room at Victoria College, which stored the documents in connection with the Nenmara Assembly constituency election. Palakkad District Collector MS Madhavikutty later clarified that the proposal was to access the material strong room, not the EVM strong room.Madhavikutty explained that the material room, housing election-related documents, is located adjacent to the EVM strong room and that opening it is not irregular. According to officials, the intent was to retrieve Form 17A to ensure accurate data entry on the Election Commission’s website.The Collector added that such a room would only be opened in the presence of candidates and reiterated that the materials&#039; strong room was not sealed.Kerala went to the polls on April 9, and counting of votes will take place on May 4.  With IANS inputs  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/tnm/import/sites/default/files/polls_elections_PTI_3x2_0_0_1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:27:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Perambra, material, room, opening:, Kozhikode, Collector, reports, lapses, returning, officer</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>തൃശൂർ പൂരം ഒരുക്കത്തിനിടെ വെടിക്കെട്ട് പുരയിൽ സ്ഫോടനം; 7 പേർ മരിച്ചു</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/blast</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/blast</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e769341e5f0.jpg" length="61677" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:10:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Wayanad township row deepens as Minister Rajan defends government, targets critics</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/wayanad-township-row-deepens-as-minister-rajan-defends-government-targets-critics</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/wayanad-township-row-deepens-as-minister-rajan-defends-government-targets-critics</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The controversy over cracks and leakages in newly-built houses in a government township project in Kerala&#039;s landslide-struck Wayanad intensified on Monday with Revenue and Housing Minister K. Rajan issuing a fresh clarification even as criticism mounted from opposition parties and on social media.  Addressing a press conference, Rajan said water seepage had been detected in two houses and that he personally inspected them to verify whether the affected portions had been properly marked.The minister rejected allegations that he attempted to conceal structural flaws, asserting that the markings seen being erased were only surface indicators and not cracks themselves.The row erupted after cracks and leakages were reported in three houses in the township developed and handed over by the government.Critics alleged that efforts were made to downplay the defects, with visuals circulating widely and fuelling public concern over construction quality and safety standards.Amid the backlash, Rajan also responded to personal criticism, saying he takes pride in being called a &quot;daily wage worker&quot;, a remark that drew both support and derision online.He further appealed against cyber attacks targeting Noufal, a disaster-affected resident linked to the controversy, urging restraint and sensitivity in public discourse.Incidentally, the video featuring Rajan making a personal observation at the cracks has by now gone viral and has turned into a comedy act.Seeking to reassure beneficiaries, the government announced that residents of 178 houses in the township would be able to move in by the first week of May.Officials said a three-stage inspection process is being expedited and is expected to be completed by April 30 to ensure structural safety and habitability.The minister also took a swipe at the opposition Congress, accusing it of politicising the issue instead of constructively engaging with rehabilitation efforts.With the controversy showing no signs of abating, the episode has raised broader questions about quality control in post-disaster housing projects, even as the government attempts to contain political fallout and restore public confidence. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-21/tmignejt/wayanadd.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:43:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Wayanad, township, row, deepens, Minister, Rajan, defends, government, targets, critics</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>അത്യുഷ്‌ണം ; ജാഗ്രത പാലിക്കണമെന്ന് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heat-wave</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heat-wave</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e70f5bedf2c.jpg" length="78394" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:47:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>&amp;apos;നിങ്ങൾ കഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടുണ്ടാക്കിയ പണമാണ്, എന്‍റെ പേരും ചിത്രവും കണ്ട് ചതിയിൽ വീഴരുത്,  പദ്ധതിയുമായി എനിക്ക് ഒരു ബന്ധവും ഇല്ല&amp;apos; ; അജു വർഗീസ്</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/aju</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/aju</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e68080ba1ea.jpg" length="66776" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:38:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala strong room opening row: Officials say the room stored polling records, not EVMs</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-strong-room-opening-row-officials-say-the-room-stored-polling-records-not-evms</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-strong-room-opening-row-officials-say-the-room-stored-polling-records-not-evms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e630c0e9fa4.jpg" length="108308" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:58:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala tightens surgical protocols after two shocking incidents</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-tightens-surgical-protocols-after-two-shocking-incidents</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-tightens-surgical-protocols-after-two-shocking-incidents</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e62b1d75b69.jpg" length="250486" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:33:31 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>പി.വി.അൻവര്‍ തൃണമൂല്‍ കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ് വിട്ടു</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/anvar</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/anvar</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e605d92cfb8.jpg" length="49886" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:53:27 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ഹോർമൂസ് പ്രതിസന്ധി; വിഴിഞ്ഞം തുറമുഖത്തേക്ക് കപ്പലുകൾ ഒഴുകിയെത്തുന്നു</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/vizhinjam</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/vizhinjam</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e53234f10ee.jpg" length="72032" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:53:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ലോൺ ആപ്പ് ചതിക്കുഴി: 3 വർഷത്തിനിടെ കേരളത്തിന്  70 കോടിയുടെ നഷ്ടം</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/loan-app</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/loan-app</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e52be84971e.jpg" length="53641" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:27:56 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala faces record demand in electricity, minister assures no power cuts</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-faces-record-demand-in-electricity-minister-assures-no-power-cuts</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-faces-record-demand-in-electricity-minister-assures-no-power-cuts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty said on April 19, Sunday, that the state will not impose load shedding despite electricity consumption touching record levels. He said the government has made arrangements to meet rising demand during the ongoing summer.Addressing the media, he said procuring additional electricity from power exchanges has become increasingly difficult under current conditions. In response, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has approached the Kerala Electricity Regulatory Commission, seeking approval to enter long-term agreements with power suppliers from other states. The minister said the board expects a decision by April 22 and expressed confidence that approval would help avert any electricity crisis.He maintained that there is no situation warranting load shedding at present and attributed the surge in consumption to intensifying summer heat. Increased use of cooling appliances such as fans and air conditioners has driven demand, he said, adding that a shortage of LPG has also led more households to rely on induction cookers.Krishnankutty urged the public to avoid using high-power appliances during peak hours between 6 pm and 11 pm. He said high temperatures are likely to persist until at least April 26. Responding to concerns about frequent power disruptions, he said these are largely due to overloading in local networks leading to tripping, rather than planned outages.Kerala is currently witnessing an unprecedented spike in power consumption, with daily usage reaching a record 116.11 million units and peak load climbing to 6,013 MW. The pressure on the grid is most severe during evening and late-night hours. Officials said that while peak demand traditionally occurred between 6.30 pm and 10.30 pm, it has in recent years extended up to 2 am during the summer months, largely due to increased use of air conditioners.Amid the surge, KSEB is exploring both short-term and medium-term procurement options. According to a report by Mathrubhumi, the board has sought permission to purchase electricity at rates of up to Rs 10 per unit to ensure uninterrupted supply, arguing that prevailing market conditions require a higher ceiling than the previously approved average of Rs 7.35 per unit. It has also requested access to the term-ahead market, which allows procurement over a 30-day window, after finding limited availability in the day-ahead market. The board plans to procure an additional 250 MW between mid-April and mid-May.Despite these measures, multiple media reports indicate that consumers in several rural areas have faced unscheduled nighttime power cuts. KSEB officials have denied imposing load shedding, but acknowledged that certain load restrictions are being implemented to manage transmission constraints.Officials said the state currently has access to around 6,255 MW of power during peak hours, including approximately 4,455 MW from the central grid and power purchase agreements, and about 1,800 MW from internal generation. However, there has been a reduction of around 100 MW due to the shutdown of some generation units. The board has indicated that it can manage demand even if peak load reaches 6,200 MW.The rise in rooftop solar installations has added complexity to power management. Around 3.61 lakh consumers have grid-connected rooftop solar systems, contributing nearly 2,000 MW during daytime. While the board is required to purchase this power at regulator-approved rates, these consumers draw electricity from the grid at night when demand peaks. Officials said daytime consumption stands at around 4,500 MW, rising to about 6,000 MW at night.To manage the situation, KSEB has constituted committees led by senior officials to closely monitor demand patterns and control procurement costs. The board expects high demand to continue until at least mid-May.Krishnankutty said the decision to pursue long-term agreements marks a shift from the state’s earlier approach, when such arrangements were avoided due to concerns over financial losses. He added that once these agreements are in place, Kerala would be better equipped to handle demand fluctuations without resorting to load shedding, and expressed hope that the onset of rains in May would improve generation and ease pressure on the grid. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/tnm/import/sites/default/files/K_Krishnakutty_Kerala_ElectricityMinister_290422_1200x800_Facebook.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:39:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, faces, record, demand, electricity, minister, assures, power, cuts</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>തൃശൂർ പൂരം തിങ്കളാഴ്ച കൊടിയേറും;   പൂരം 26 ന്</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pooram</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e4bc2c5364a.jpg" length="130452" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:27:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>മദ്യപിച്ചിരുന്നില്ല, വാഹനാപകടക്കേസില്‍ നടന്‍ മണിയന്‍പിള്ള രാജുവിന് പൊലീസിന്റെ ക്ലീന്‍ ചിറ്റ്</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/maniyan</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/maniyan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e4af80d39e1.jpg" length="60112" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:33:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Heatwave in Kerala triggers crackdown on juice shops, bottled water quality</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heatwave-in-kerala-triggers-crackdown-on-juice-shops-bottled-water-quality</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heatwave-in-kerala-triggers-crackdown-on-juice-shops-bottled-water-quality</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e38c5e94b2c.jpg" length="332874" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:53:55 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala mourns Valparai tragedy as nine lives lost</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-mourns-valparai-tragedy-as-nine-lives-lost</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-mourns-valparai-tragedy-as-nine-lives-lost</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e38ad68b60a.jpg" length="141272" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:45:56 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Minister visits Wayanad rehab project site amid cracks in new homes</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/minister-visits-wayanad-rehab-project-site-amid-cracks-in-new-homes</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/minister-visits-wayanad-rehab-project-site-amid-cracks-in-new-homes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e3897d9660e.jpg" length="157343" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:39:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala restaurant owners held over Vishu poster depicting Lord Krishna with chicken dish</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-restaurant-owners-held-over-vishu-poster-depicting-lord-krishna-with-chicken-dish</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-restaurant-owners-held-over-vishu-poster-depicting-lord-krishna-with-chicken-dish</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Two restaurant owners were taken into custody by the Cherthala police following a controversy over a Vishu greeting that depicted Lord Sree Krishna as a child alongside a non-vegetarian dish. The accused, identified as Arshad (36) and Shamnas (30), are managing partners of Mehr Mandi &amp; Grills, an Arabic cuisine restaurant based in Cherthala. The police registered a case against them under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with provocation intended to cause a riot and carries a punishment of up to one year in prison. The issue stems from a social media post circulated on April 15, the day of Vishu. The greeting, which read, “Happy Vishu – Mehr’s Vishu wishes to everyone,” featured an image of Mandhi rice and chicken placed in front of Lord Krishna. According to the FIR, the post was shared with the intention of hurting religious sentiments and disturbing public peace. The image reportedly spread widely after it was uploaded as a WhatsApp status. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by advocate MV Biju, a native of Thanneermukkom. Responding to the backlash, the restaurant owners said the post was not created with deliberate intent. In a video message, one of the owners, Shameer, apologized, saying, “We realized that the first poster we created was not appropriate for publication. We later removed it and replaced it with another. However, the initial poster had already spread widely across the country and turned into a controversy. We did not intend to create any issue or offend any religion.” The Vishwa Hindu Parishad organized a protest in front of the restaurant on the evening of April 17, intensifying tensions around the incident. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com" length="4096" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:31:36 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, restaurant, owners, held, over, Vishu, poster, depicting, Lord, Krishna, with, chicken, dish</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>കേരളം ചുട്ടുപൊള്ളുന്നു: 12 ജില്ലകളിൽ യെല്ലോ അലേർട്ട്</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/alert</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/alert</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e2fa900a30e.jpg" length="156864" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 03:29:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>8 Kerala teachers die in mini&#45;van accident in TN&amp;apos;s Valparai</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/8-kerala-teachers-die-in-mini-van-accident-in-tns-valparai</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/8-kerala-teachers-die-in-mini-van-accident-in-tns-valparai</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com" length="4096" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:26:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Postal vote lapse: Kerala HC seeks ECI&amp;apos;s clarification, hearing on April 21</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/postal-vote-lapse-kerala-hc-seeks-ecis-clarification-hearing-on-april-21</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/postal-vote-lapse-kerala-hc-seeks-ecis-clarification-hearing-on-april-21</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e2370bd9a34.jpg" length="121579" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:35:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala: Case filed against hotel over provocative Vishu advertisement</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-case-filed-against-hotel-over-provocative-vishu-advertisement</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-case-filed-against-hotel-over-provocative-vishu-advertisement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e2358d52d85.jpg" length="83594" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:29:01 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Heatwave alert: Kerala steps up vigil as UV levels surge</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heatwave-alert-kerala-steps-up-vigil-as-uv-levels-surge</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/heatwave-alert-kerala-steps-up-vigil-as-uv-levels-surge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ With temperatures soaring and ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching high levels across Kerala, Health Minister Veena George on Friday issued a statewide alert, urging people to take strict precautions against heat-related illnesses. According to the Health Department, the UV index remains particularly high between 11 A.M. and 3 P.M., making direct exposure to sunlight during these hours hazardous.Prolonged exposure could lead to sunstroke or heat exhaustion, the Minister warned, stressing that prevention is key.Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses have been advised to remain indoors during peak hours.In response to the rising heat stress, the government has activated a Heat Health Action Plan and set up dedicated heatstroke clinics in major hospitals.These facilities are equipped with cooling systems and essential medicines, while surveillance of heat-related illnesses has been intensified.Health experts caution that excessive exposure to UV rays can cause skin and eye damage, weaken the immune system, and in severe cases, increase the risk of cancer by damaging cellular DNA.The public has been advised to use protective measures such as umbrellas, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and to wear loose, light-coloured cotton clothing.Dehydration remains a major concern, particularly as fluid loss can occur even without noticeable thirst.Authorities recommend frequent intake of water, along with traditional cooling drinks such as buttermilk, salted rice gruel, and lemon water.Consumption of sugary and carbonated beverages should be limited.People experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, nausea, excessive sweating, or reduced urination have been urged to seek immediate medical attention.Officials also warned against leaving children or the elderly in parked vehicles and advised ensuring proper indoor ventilation.With summer intensifying, George pointed out that public vigilance and timely precautions will be crucial in preventing heat related health emergencies. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-17/omuu75pk/heat.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:19:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Heatwave, alert:, Kerala, steps, vigil, levels, surge</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>BDS student suicide: Kannur Dental College expels Dr MK Ram</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/bds-student-suicide-kannur-dental-college-expels-dr-mk-ram</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/bds-student-suicide-kannur-dental-college-expels-dr-mk-ram</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ After sustained protests by students, the management of Kannur Dental College at Anjarakandy, Kerala, has expelled Dr MK Ram, Head of Department, Dental Anatomy, who faces allegations of harassment, including casteist and body shaming  remarks, in connection with the death of first-year BDS student Nithin Raj.The decision was taken following discussions with student union representatives on Thursday, April 16. A seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the death of Nithin Raj, who died by suspected suicide at a private dental college in Ancharakandi, Kannur, on April 13. Dr MK Ram and Dr Sangeetha Nambiar have been named as accused in the FIR based on the allegations raised so far. Both are absconding, with their mobile phones switched off. Police said efforts are underway to trace them.Action against Dr Ram came amid intensified student protests on campus. Students have been organising marches and symbolically removing their white coats as part of the agitation. They have declared that protests, including sit-in demonstrations, will continue until their demands are met.“Even though I have been studying here for about five years, I don’t know who the management is. Even though our Nithin is gone, we should not allow another such tragedy. For that, we need transparency and a student-friendly environment. We are also aware of the limitations of our union. We don’t even know whom to approach beyond the principal. A strong student body, with or without party support, needs to be built here,” one of the protesters told the media.Student protesters have also said they will attend to patients in the clinic only after a decision is taken regarding Nithin’s case.“We will attend classes only after justice is served. The coats that we wear carry our parents&#039; sweats, they carry our tears, today blood has been splattered on this, if we do not ask now its colour will turn red, this white coat will be of no use then. We want to graduate from here wearing a white coat. If we do not react to this now we will never be able to react, another student protestor told the media.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-17/plrhtljm/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-17-at-10.38.49-AM.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:40:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>BDS, student, suicide:, Kannur, Dental, College, expels, Ram</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala enforces minimum marks rule: Classes 5&#45;9 students to face re&#45;exams from April 28</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-enforces-minimum-marks-rule-classes-5-9-students-to-face-re-exams-from-april-28</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-enforces-minimum-marks-rule-classes-5-9-students-to-face-re-exams-from-april-28</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69e09437cd7b3.jpg" length="29092" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:48:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Wake Up Keralam seeks immediate release of final Kerala poll statistics</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/wake-up-keralam-seeks-immediate-release-of-final-kerala-poll-statistics</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/wake-up-keralam-seeks-immediate-release-of-final-kerala-poll-statistics</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Wake Up Keralam has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately release the final and accurate figures of votes polled in the state without further delay. Kerala went to the polls on April 9 and the failure of the ECI to release the data had led political parties raising concerns over lack of transparency. As of the afternoon of April 13, only approximate voter turnout percentages had been made available — with no detailed, booth-wise breakdown of votes polled for constituencies. The collective said the delay was fuelling public suspicion.Wake Up Keralam, a coalition of cultural, political, and environmental groups formed in February 2026 as the Kerala chapter of the All India People&#039;s Movement, said it has written to the ECI demanding the immediate release of the figures.In its letter, the collective pointed out that Presiding Officers at polling booths relay voter figures to the Election Commission every two hours during the polling process, and that Form 17C — certified by the Presiding Officer after reconciliation of figures at the end of polling — is also submitted to the Commission. Service votes, it noted, are completed on the day before and the day of polling. Given this, the collective argued, there is no reason for the data to remain unavailable to the public.&quot;Delay in this matter will only lead to raising distrust and concern among the people,&quot; the collective said in its communication to the Commission.The collective acknowledged that the Election Commission and its officials had conducted this year&#039;s election process without significant failures and deserved appreciation for the same. However, it insisted that publishing polled statistics in a timely manner was equally important.VD Satheesan, Leader of Opposition in Kerala had written to Gyanesh Kumar raising concerns over delay in publishing detailed official data including cpostal ballot numbers.In a press conference addressing concerns about the election data on Monday, April 13, Kerala&#039;s Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar said the ECI will publish an &quot;index card&quot; containing the exact and final figures for all constituencies after service votes are processed on counting day. He rejected allegations of an &quot;undue delay&quot; in publishing data. He also stated that the total voter turnout in the Assembly elections in Kerala went up to 79.63% after the postal votes were factored in. This was an increase from the initial 78.27% reported on polling day. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-15/z3f92ehb/Keralavoter.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:21:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Wake, Keralam, seeks, immediate, release, final, Kerala, poll, statistics</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Delimitation bill penalises states that implemented population policy, says CM</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/delimitation-bill-penalises-states-that-implemented-population-policy-says-kerala-cm</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/delimitation-bill-penalises-states-that-implemented-population-policy-says-kerala-cm</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, April 15, came out strongly against the draft Delimitation Bill, 2026, saying the proposed exercise would penalise southern states that had sincerely implemented the National Population Policy of 1976 while rewarding states that had lagged behind in population control. It is imperative that the present Delimitation Bill which is sought to be taken up without much discussions be dropped forthwith, he said. The draft bill, now in the public domain, has raised alarm among southern states, which fear that a delimitation exercise based purely on current population figures would reduce their proportional representation in the Lok Sabha. States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which achieved significant success in controlling population growth, stand to lose seats to more populous northern states under such a formula. Pinarayi Vijayan said the proposed delimitation would be &quot;highly unjust&quot; and amounted to penalising states for responsibly implementing national policy. &quot;In a federal democracy, the raison d&#039;être for representation cannot be mere numbers,&quot; he said, adding that federalism was an inalienable part of the basic structure of the Constitution. &quot;The present attempt to increase the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, through an amendment proposed to be brought about in a haste will undoubtedly destroy the spirit of consensus, which was the cornerstone of our Constitution making,&quot; Vijayan said in a statement. The Chief Minister also raised concerns about the manner in which the bill was being pushed through. He said the attempt to link the delimitation exercise to the implementation of women&#039;s reservation was &quot;nothing but a ploy to mask the real objectives behind this entire exercise.&quot; Vijayan pointed out that the bill was being taken up at a time when elections to four state assemblies and one Union Territory were yet to be completed, which he said had &quot;raised genuine suspicions about the political considerations behind it.&quot; Pinarayi Vijayan said reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures should be implemented immediately, without linking it to delimitation or the census. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-16/di6fijoe/pinarayivijayancm.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:21:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Delimitation, bill, penalises, states, that, implemented, population, policy, says, Kerala</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Congress CM debate intensifies ahead of Kerala election verdict</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/congress-cm-debate-intensifies-ahead-of-kerala-election-verdict</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/congress-cm-debate-intensifies-ahead-of-kerala-election-verdict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Even before the votes are counted, the Congress party in Kerala is grappling with a familiar problem, internal rivalry. With polling for the 140-member Assembly concluded on April 9 and results due on May 4, growing optimism about a possible United Democratic Front (UDF) victory has triggered an intense debate over who should be the next Chief Minister.  What began as murmurs within party circles has now spilled into the public domain.Social media platforms are awash with campaigns backing key contenders, while television channels have amplified the narrative, turning it into a full-blown political spectacle.Congress workers, too, have joined the fray, openly aligning with their preferred leaders and pushing competing claims with unusual aggression.At the centre of the debate are leaders like V.D. Satheesan, K.C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, each backed by distinct camps within the party.Supporters of Venugopal highlight his proximity to Rahul Gandhi and his role in shaping national-level strategies, projecting him as a consensus builder.Satheesan, on the other hand, is being positioned as the face of a younger, more aggressive leadership, credited with energising the UDF’s campaign against the Left government.Chennithala’s camp leans on seniority and experience, arguing that he remains a natural choice if the party returns to power.This open jockeying, however, has raised concerns within the party.During the campaign, the Congress had carefully avoided projecting a Chief Ministerial candidate, insisting that the decision would rest with the high command.The intent was to prevent factionalism from undermining electoral prospects.That restraint appears to have faded quickly after polling day.Reports now suggest that the party leadership in Delhi is unhappy with the public airing of internal differences.The high command is understood to have reiterated that established procedures, not social media campaigns or public posturing, will determine the final choice.There is also unease that the ongoing tussle could send confusing signals to voters and dilute the message of unity that the UDF sought to project during the campaign.The coming weeks, therefore, are as much about managing internal expectations as they are about awaiting the electoral verdict.If the Congress-led front does secure a win, the leadership will have to swiftly contain factional pressures and present a united front.For now, the battle for Kerala’s top post has begun well before the ballots are counted, and it is playing out in full public view.K. Muraleedharan, son of four-time Congress Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, who has seen it all at close quarters when the party was deeply divided between his father and Antony, minced no words, saying, “it’s unfair to those who have voted for the UDF to see this unnecessary and needless discussions going on and all should maintain clam”, on Thursday morning.Sunny Joseph, State Congress president, on Thursday, said there is an accepted procedure in the party that starts to work when a chief minister is being selected. “What we have found out is that this is being done by a section using fake accounts on social media. Moreover, there will come a time when the legislators will be expressing their views on this topic at the appropriate forum, and until then, none should go overboard,” said Joseph. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-16/8e75k931/kerala-pic.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:21:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Congress, debate, intensifies, ahead, Kerala, election, verdict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Scorching heat, gas shortage push Kerala&amp;apos;s power demand to record high</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/scorching-heat-gas-shortage-push-keralas-power-demand-to-record-high</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/scorching-heat-gas-shortage-push-keralas-power-demand-to-record-high</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kerala is witnessing an unprecedented surge in electricity consumption as an intense heat wave, coupled with a shortage of cooking gas, is driving households and small businesses to rely more on electric appliances. Consequent to this, the state recorded a peak power demand of 6,012 MW on Tuesday evening, the highest ever, surpassing Monday’s 5,933 MW.Total daily consumption also touched a monthly high of 112.52 million units.Of this, a substantial 87.42 million units were sourced from outside the state, underlining Kerala’s growing dependence on external supply.In contrast, in state generation, including hydel power, contributed only 25.09 million units.Meanwhile, with the consumption continuing to surge, the Kerala State Electricity Board is in a state of flux and confused about the way forward.The spike in demand is being attributed not just to the sweltering heat but also to shifting cooking patterns.In Kerala, induction cookers are widely used, and with an ongoing shortage of LPG cylinders, many households have turned to electric stoves.The trend is even more visible among wayside eateries and tea stalls, a common sight across the state, many of which have temporarily abandoned cooking gas in favour of electric alternatives.Even as power consumption rises, the heat shows no signs of easing.On Vishu day (Wednesday), large parts of the state continued to reel under extreme temperatures, with 12 districts placed under high temperature alerts.Palakkad recorded a scorching 40 degrees Celsius for the second time this season.Kollam saw temperatures rise to 38 degrees Celsius, while Kannur and Kottayam crossed 37 degrees Celsius.Adding to the discomfort, the ultraviolet index has reached dangerous levels at four monitoring stations, raising concerns about prolonged exposure.Health authorities have reported an increase in heat-related ailments, including dehydration, fatigue and sunburn.With both temperature and power demand climbing in tandem, the state faces a challenging period ahead, balancing supply constraints with rising consumption driven by both climate and necessity. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-16/pls0q4ar/temp.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:21:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Scorching, heat, gas, shortage, push, Keralas, power, demand, record, high</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>On Ambedkar Jayanti, CM calls for vigilance against caste bias</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/on-ambedkar-jayanti-cm-calls-for-vigilance-against-caste-bias</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/on-ambedkar-jayanti-cm-calls-for-vigilance-against-caste-bias</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69de42ecdde6e.jpg" length="66186" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:38:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Scorching heat in Kerala, weather alerts issued in 12 districts</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/scorching-heat-in-kerala-weather-alerts-issued-in-12-districts</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/scorching-heat-in-kerala-weather-alerts-issued-in-12-districts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Kerala continues to reel under an intense heat wave, with authorities issuing temperature alerts across the state, barring the high-range districts of Idukki and Wayanad. The soaring temperatures have raised concerns over public health, prompting officials to urge residents to take adequate precautions, particularly during daytime hours.Palakkad remains the hottest district, with the mercury expected to touch 40 degrees Celsius.The district had already recorded 39.2 degrees Celsius on the previous day, marking the highest temperature in the state so far this season.Weather authorities caution that the heat is likely to persist, with little immediate relief in sight.Kollam is also bracing for high temperatures, with forecasts indicating a rise up to 39 degrees Celsius.Several other districts, including Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod, are expected to experience temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius.Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram may see temperatures climb to around 36 degrees Celsius.Health officials have warned of an increased risk of sunstroke and dehydration amid the prevailing conditions.People have been strongly advised to limit outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours and ensure adequate hydration.Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing and avoiding direct exposure to sunlight are among the key recommendations issued by authorities.The prolonged spell of high temperatures has begun to impact daily life, particularly for those engaged in outdoor work.With the heat index rising steadily, vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions are at greater risk.Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have reiterated the importance of public awareness and preventive measures.As Kerala navigates this period of extreme heat, adherence to safety advisories will be crucial in mitigating health risks and ensuring public well-being.Meanwhile, pranksters are also out sharing unverified temperature alerts, and this forced the authorities to come out against such warnings and asked them to rely only on authorised reports.With a series of holidays soon after the April 9 polling day, many families are heading to the hilly districts to get away from the heat. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-14/93yyxu0a/wayanad.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:17:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Scorching, heat, Kerala, weather, alerts, issued, districts</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Satheesan calls for round the clock vigil at EVM storage centres</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/lop-satheesan-calls-for-round-the-clock-vigil-at-evm-storage-centres</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/lop-satheesan-calls-for-round-the-clock-vigil-at-evm-storage-centres</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ LoP Satheesan calls for round the clock vigil at EVM storage centresThiruvananthapuram, April 14 (IANS) Amid heightened political scrutiny following the conclusion of polling in Kerala, Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, on Tuesday urged stringent vigilance at centres where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are stored, calling for continuous monitoring to ensure transparency and safeguard electoral integrity. In a letter addressed to all 140 United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates, their election agents, District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents, and district UDF chairpersons, Satheesan emphasised the need for special caution at EVM storage strongrooms across the state.The directive comes at a crucial juncture as the state awaits the counting of votes, with political tensions running high.Highlighting existing provisions, Satheesan pointed out that candidates are permitted to deploy representatives in control rooms that monitor surveillance cameras installed at EVM strongrooms.He stressed that this facility must be fully utilised, ensuring that a designated representative remains present 24 hours a day to oversee proceedings.To facilitate this, the Opposition leader instructed candidates and their chief election agents to obtain the necessary permissions from respective District Collectors.He underlined that uninterrupted presence of UDF representatives in these control rooms is essential to reinforce public confidence in the electoral process.The move reflects the Opposition’s broader strategy to maintain strict oversight during the sensitive post poll phase, particularly in light of recurring concerns raised in past elections regarding the security of voting machines.While election authorities have consistently maintained that EVMs are stored under robust security protocols, political parties often deploy their own monitoring mechanisms as an added layer of assurance.Satheesan’s communication signals a coordinated effort within the UDF to remain vigilant until the declaration of results, reinforcing the alliance’s emphasis on procedural transparency and accountability in the electoral process.Kerala went to the polls on April 9 to elect 140 new legislators and the counting of votes will take place on May 4, a day that is eagerly awaited by all political parties in the state. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-14/1ce6tb14/amid.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:17:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>LoP, Satheesan, calls, for, round, the, clock, vigil, EVM, storage, centres</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Sabarimala gold scam: Last accused behind bars also gets bail</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-gold-scam-last-accused-behind-bars-also-gets-bail</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-gold-scam-last-accused-behind-bars-also-gets-bail</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69dcf9e0683e5.jpg" length="34334" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:13:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala elections: CEO says polling turnout touching 80 per cent, denies delay</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-elections-ceo-says-polling-turnout-touching-80-per-cent-denies-delay</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-elections-ceo-says-polling-turnout-touching-80-per-cent-denies-delay</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69dcf6fdadf65.jpg" length="40572" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>VD Satheesan flags delay in releasing Kerala poll data, writes to ECI</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/vd-satheesan-flags-delay-in-releasing-kerala-poll-data-writes-to-eci</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/vd-satheesan-flags-delay-in-releasing-kerala-poll-data-writes-to-eci</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ VD Satheesan, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) expressing concerns over the delay in publishing official data on elections held on April 9. The letter was sent on April 12, three days after the polling. The letter, addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, said even after three days after the polling date, the detailed and official constituency-wise polling data, vote percentage and postal ballot numbers have not been made public.  “The prompt release of such information is crucial to ensuring transparency, enabling public scrutiny and maintaining trust in the electoral process,” the letter said.Urging the ECI to take steps to publish the complete data without any further delays, Satheesan said timely access to verified information is vital for all stakeholders, including the public, researchers, and political representatives.According to the Commission, the approximate turnout for this year’s Assembly elections in Kerala was 78.27 per cent. Polls also saw 883 candidates contesting across 140 constituencies. The Election Commission is yet to respond to the delay in publishing final figures. The results of the elections are to be announced on May 4. Keywords  : VD Satheesan, Kerala election data delay, Election Commission of India, ECI polling data, Gyanesh Kumar, Kerala assembly elections 2026, voter turnout Kerala 78.27 percent, constituency wise data delay, postal ballot numbers Kerala, election transparency India, Kerala opposition leader, April 9 polling Kerala, election results May 4, Kerala politics news, polling percentage Kerala, election accountability India ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2023-11/e4596dcf-92fb-458b-9bfb-975e74b5262c/WhatsApp_Image_2023_11_07_at_5_42_51_PM.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:39:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Satheesan, flags, delay, releasing, Kerala, poll, data, writes, ECI</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kannur dental student death: SIT formed, national Scheduled Castes panel orders probe</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kannur-dental-student-death-sit-formed-national-scheduled-castes-panel-orders-probe</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kannur-dental-student-death-sit-formed-national-scheduled-castes-panel-orders-probe</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.A seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the death of BDS student Nithin Raj, who died by suspected suicide at a private dental college in Ancharakandi, Kannur. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has ordered a parallel inquiry and sought a report from the state police within five days.Kannur City Police Commissioner P Nidhinraj said the SIT, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police and including members of the district cyber cell, was formed in view of the “various allegations” that have emerged in the case. He said the team is conducting a detailed probe into the circumstances that led to Nithin’s death.Nithin, 22, a first-year BDS student from Uzhamalackal in Thiruvananthapuram, was found lying on a stone-paved area between the administrative block and hospital around 1.30 pm on April 10. He was rushed to the casualty department but died at 3.35 pm.Based on preliminary findings, police have added charges of abetment to suicide under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including Section 3(1)(r), which deals with intentional insult or intimidation of an SC/ST member in public view.The Commissioner confirmed that two faculty members, Dr MK Ram and Dr Sangeetha Nambiar, have been named as accused in the FIR based on the allegations raised so far. He added that more names mentioned in complaints have also been included, and further action will depend on evidence gathered during the probe.Police also said voice recordings attributed to Nithin Raj, in which he alleges casteist abuse, humiliation, and threats by a faculty member, were among the reasons for invoking provisions of the SC/ST Act. The authenticity and timing of these recordings will be examined through cyber forensic analysis.The SIT will record detailed statements from classmates, hostel mates, and others associated with Nithin to establish the sequence of events. “Only after recording these statements can we arrive at greater clarity,” the Commissioner said, adding that many students are currently in distress and will be approached sensitively.Police have also seized Nithin’s mobile phone and are examining chats, call data records, and voice conversations as part of the investigation. CCTV footage from various parts of the college campus has been collected and will be analysed further.Separate loan app FIR, financial angle probedIn a parallel development, police have registered a separate case at the cyber police station linked to a loan app transaction involving the student.According to the Commissioner, call data record analysis showed that Nithin had taken a loan through a mobile application around December–January and had received repeated calls regarding repayment. During the loan process, the contact number of another teacher from the college was also accessed by the loan agency.“When the loan defaulted, the agency began calling the teacher as well, including repeated calls on April 10,” he said. Police said they are examining whether this sequence of events had any bearing on the case, and whether the contact details were shared voluntarily or accessed through app permissions.National SC Commission probeThe National Commission for Scheduled Castes has directed the state DGP to submit a report within five days on the circumstances surrounding Nithin Raj’s death.Family members have alleged that Nithin was subjected to sustained mental harassment and casteist abuse by faculty members. Audio clips purportedly sent by him to classmates, in which he describes being insulted over his caste, appearance, and family background, and threatened with physical harm, have surfaced.Following the allegations, the college suspended the two faculty members and constituted an internal inquiry committee. The State Human Rights Commission and Kerala State Youth Commission have also taken suo motu cognisance and sought reports from the police.Police said the investigation will focus on examining the allegations and evidence on record to determine the circumstances that led to Nithin’s death. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-13/sc6fertd/Image-Apr-13-2026-012124-PM.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:39:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kannur, dental, student, death:, SIT, formed, national, Scheduled, Castes, panel, orders, probe</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Caste harassment alleged after Kannur dental student’s death; 2 teachers suspended</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/caste-harassment-alleged-after-kannur-dental-students-death-2-teachers-suspended</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/caste-harassment-alleged-after-kannur-dental-students-death-2-teachers-suspended</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Two teachers of Kannur Dental College, Ancharakandy, were suspended over allegations of mental harassment of a first-year Bachelor of Dental Science student, who died in a suspected suicide on Friday, April 10. The family of RL Nithin Raj, 22, alleged that he was subjected to abuse based on caste and skin colour by the teachers.Nithin, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste community, was found injured in the college backyard. He was immediately shifted to Kannur Medical College Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries at around 3 pm. Following the allegations, the college suspended Dr MK Ram and Dr KT Sangeetha Nambiar, Head of Department and Reader respectively in the Oral Pathology department. Nithin’s family has filed a complaint at Chakkarakkal police station.Kannur Dental College Principal Dr Vinod Mony denied receiving any complaint regarding caste harassment. He told the media that a committee comprising faculty and student representatives has been constituted to inquire into the allegations.Nithin, a native of Uzhamalakkal in Thiruvananthapuram, was the son of daily wage labourers Rajan and Latha. He is survived by two sisters, Rakhi and Nikhita. Rakhi told the media that Ram had shared Nithin’s answer sheet with his classmates and made them laugh at him.An audio clip purportedly of Nithin explaining the harassment he faced in the staff room surfaced after his death. In the clip, he said the teachers threatened him and described the targeted harassment he faced. “I tolerated the insult as far as I could. They insulted my mother and her surgery. My answer sheet was distributed among students, pointing out my spelling mistakes,” he said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/tnm/import/sites/default/files/Mansilhouette_RepImage_011120_1200_1.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:45:46 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Caste, harassment, alleged, after, Kannur, dental, student’s, death, teachers, suspended</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>NDA candidate PC George’s offensive remarks on Church draw backlash</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-nda-candidate-pc-georges-offensive-remarks-on-church-draw-backlash</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-nda-candidate-pc-georges-offensive-remarks-on-church-draw-backlash</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ NDA’s Poonjar candidate PC George, known for his repeated controversial remarks, has once again drawn attention for his use of offensive language in public — this time targeting the Catholic Church and sections of the clergy.Speaking to the media on April 10, George alleged that the Kanjirappally Bishop had instructed convents to support the UDF, and accused Church authorities of backing the opposition. “As of now, I am the only one useful for the Church. Shameless people,” he said. George also referred to the debates over the proposed amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) ahead of the Assembly elections, questioning why Church institutions could not “show accounts of foreign funds.” “The law will come,” George said. “Why are they barking (about FCRA)? This barking is for UDF. This is their rotten politics. Deepika did not publish my name or picture because it is run by bastards,” he said. Deepika is a Church-run daily. The FCRA regulates the receipt and use of foreign funds by individuals, associations, and organisations in India, and proposed changes to the law have sparked concern among several Christian groups and civil society organisations.Shone George, BJP state vice-president and son of PC George, also joined the attack, criticising sections of the clergy for raising concerns over the amendment. Both leaders, who had contested from Pala and Poonjar constituencies respectively, accused Church-backed platforms of politicising the issue. He further alleged that Deepika daily works against the BJP. In what was seen by many as a warning, he added, “If the Church’s stand is against BJP, then the party will take the same stand.”The remarks drew an indirect but sharp response from Deepika in its editorial published on April 11. “Whether the threat is from war-mongering Donald Trump or from communal agents acting as local political enforcers in Kerala, do not forget,” the editorial said, in an apparent reference to George.The editorial invoked a 1943 Time magazine account of an exchange involving Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill, where Stalin dismissed moral authority by questioning the Pope’s military strength. It used the episode to argue that authoritarian forces, across ideologies and eras, tend to suppress dissent and rely on intimidation rather than accountability.“Pope Leo did not stand up only for Christians; he stood up so that everyone could live in peace, for the very survival of humanity. That has relevance in Kerala as well. Even as there are examples of laws claimed to be for everyone but used to target minorities, any political opportunist who threatens people into silence over the FCRA will be met with the same stance. It must be said again and again: politics should not be hijacked by corrupt forces,” it stated.This is not the first time PC George has targeted the Church. On April 1, following criticism from the Syro-Malabar Church over the FCRA amendment, he had accused some bishops of overstepping their domain and making politically motivated statements. He had also alleged that certain Church leaders believed the Congress should return to power and dismissed their concerns as irrelevant to the Christian community.He further courted controversy by claiming that Christians constitute only a small percentage of the population and suggesting that their position in the country was due to the BJP’s “generosity,” remarks that drew criticism from multiple quarters. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/import/sites/default/files/PC_George_1200_1_0522.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:38:54 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala:, NDA, candidate, George’s, offensive, remarks, Church, draw, backlash</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>BJP targets CPI(M) over case linked to Kumbh Mela viral star&amp;apos;s husband</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/bjp-targets-cpim-over-case-linked-to-kumbh-mela-viral-stars-husband</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/bjp-targets-cpim-over-case-linked-to-kumbh-mela-viral-stars-husband</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69da4bfb28659.jpg" length="89049" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:26:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>POCSO case against Kumbh Mela viral star’s husband as she was minor; CPI(M) in dock</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pocso-case-against-kumbh-mela-viral-stars-husband-as-she-was-minor-cpim-in-dock</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/pocso-case-against-kumbh-mela-viral-stars-husband-as-she-was-minor-cpim-in-dock</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69d8fcb35d6b3.jpg" length="69305" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:35:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Court grants bail to director Ranjith in latest sexual harassment case</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-court-grants-bail-to-director-ranjith-in-latest-sexual-harassment-case</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-court-grants-bail-to-director-ranjith-in-latest-sexual-harassment-case</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. The Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate court, on Friday, April 10, granted bail to Malayalam filmmaker and writer Ranjith Balakrishnan in a sexual harassment case filed by a young female actor. Judicial First Class Magistrate L Usha granted bail to Ranjith, noting that the prosecution had not filed a custody application. This is the third case against him. However, the previous two cases have been closed by Kerala and Karnataka High Courts.According to a Bar and Bench report, the lawyer representing Ranjith stated that no notice was served to him before the proceedings. The lawyer also stated that the accused has not contested either his arrest or the previous custody order, and that he was willing to cooperate with the investigation. However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, arguing that Ranjith had not cooperated with the investigating officer during the three days he was in custody. The court decided to grant bail.The filmmaker was arrested by the Ernakulam Central Police on March 31 and lodged in Ernakulam sub jail. According to police, the complainant alleged that Ranjith behaved inappropriately on the set of a film currently in production. He has been charged with assault or the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty.Read: What latest case against director Ranjith reveals about IC failure in Malayalam cinema   Ranjith faced similar allegations earlier, though those cases did not see significant progress.In October 2025, the Kerala High Court quashed a sexual harassment case against Ranjith filed by a Bengali woman actor. In its October 27 order, the court cited the “significant delay” in filing the complaint. The case had been registered on August 26, 2024, after the woman actor filed a police complaint against Ranjith for allegedly sexually harassing her in 2009. The second case by a man, who alleged that Ranjith forced him to be naked and assaulted him in 2012, during an audition conducted in Bengaluru. In July 2025 the case was closed by the Karnataka High Court. A prominent filmmaker and writer, Ranjith has collaborated with superstars including Mohanlal, Mammootty and other actors.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-06/73y7hu4e/FBIMG1775480876963.jpg.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:25:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, court, grants, bail, director, Ranjith, latest, sexual, harassment, case</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Missing teen found dead in gorge near Manikyadhara Hills, Karnataka</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/missing-kerala-teen-found-dead-in-gorge-near-manikyadhara-hills</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/missing-kerala-teen-found-dead-in-gorge-near-manikyadhara-hills</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Fifteen-year-old Sreenanda, who went missing in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru, was found dead on April 10. Her body was recovered from a 1,500-foot-deep gorge near the Manikyadhara Hills.According to authorities, the body was discovered during a search operation using thermal drones. Around 200 personnel were deployed, and a team of police officers from Palakkad also joined the efforts.According to police, her clothes were intact, and they suspect that the 15-year-old may have accidentally fallen into the gorge. However, all angles are being probed. The post-mortem report is awaited for further clarity.Meanwhile, Sreenanda’s relatives have raised suspicions over the death and demanded a detailed investigation. They pointed out that her body was not found at the spot during their earlier search on April 8.Sreenanda, a resident of Palakkad in Kerala, went missing around 5.20 pm on April 7 while on a picnic with her family and relatives. She disappeared while they were returning from a visit to the Manikyadhara Falls.A Class 10 student, she had been on a family vacation after completing her board examinations. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-10/c6g1i85t/sreenanda-missing-karnataka.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:25:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Missing, Kerala, teen, found, dead, gorge, near, Manikyadhara, Hills</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Sabarimala restrictions not rooted in gender bias, Union govt tells SC</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-restrictions-not-rooted-in-gender-bias-union-govt-tells-sc</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-restrictions-not-rooted-in-gender-bias-union-govt-tells-sc</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.The Union government on Thursday, April 9, reiterated before the Supreme Court that restrictions at the Sabarimala temple are not rooted in gender discrimination, arguing that several temples across the country impose practices that are either male- or female-centric based on faith and tradition. Appearing before a nine-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta submitted that the 2018 verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple proceeded on an incorrect assumption that men were treated as superior and women placed on a lower pedestal.&quot;I have given instances of temples where men are not allowed… There are temples where male priests are mandated to wash the feet of women devotees. There is the Pushkar temple, the only Brahma temple in the country, where married men are not allowed. There is also a temple in Kerala where men go dressed as women. So it is not a question of male-centric or female-centric beliefs. In the present case, it happens to be woman-centric,&quot; SG Mehta told the Bench, also comprising Justices BV Nagarathna, MM Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi.The apex court is currently examining larger constitutional questions relating to the interplay between religious freedom and fundamental rights.During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna stressed the importance of inclusivity in religious spaces, observing that &quot;everybody must have access to every temple and matha&quot;, while clarifying that her remarks were independent of the Sabarimala controversy.&quot;If you say it is my practice that only my denomination must attend my temple and none else, that is not good for Hinduism,&quot; she remarked.Justice Aravind Kumar cautioned that such exclusionary practices could lead to societal divisions.Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing in the matter, countered that denominational temples – particularly private ones – have historically restricted entry to specific groups. He argued that such institutions, if not reliant on public funds or general footfall, may not necessarily violate constitutional principles.&quot;Question is whether it is contrary to the constitutional prohibition. If it is not contrary to public order, morality and health, what would be the realistic consequences,&quot; he submitted.The Union government has consistently maintained that the 2018 Sabarimala judgment warrants reconsideration, contending that the restriction in question is rooted in the unique nature of the deity and religious practices, rather than notions of patriarchy or gender bias.In his written submissions, SG Mehta cited examples such as the Attukal Temple in Kerala, where men are not allowed entry during certain rituals, and the Chakkulathukavu temple, where male priests perform rituals washing the feet of women devotees. He also referred to the Kottankulangara temple, where men dress in women’s attire as an expression of faith. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-10/fmsahmrs/sabarimala.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:34:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sabarimala, restrictions, not, rooted, gender, bias, Union, govt, tells</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Sabarimala hearing: Follow temple&amp;apos;s traditions if you want to visit, says SC</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-hearing-follow-temples-traditions-if-you-want-to-visit-says-sc</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/sabarimala-hearing-follow-temples-traditions-if-you-want-to-visit-says-sc</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow TNM&#039;s WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.The Supreme Court&#039;s nine-judge Constitution bench hearing the Sabarimala reference, on Thursday, April 9, cautioned that excluding other denominations from temples would harm Hinduism. Over the two days, the bench heard arguments on constitutional morality, the locus of PIL petitioners, and the rights of religious denominations under the Constitution.The bench comprises Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice BV Nagarathna, Justice MM Sundresh, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Justice Aravind Kumar, Justice Augustine George Masih, Justice Prasanna B Varale, Justice R Mahadevan, and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.Denomination rights, Sampradaya, and the limits of Article 26Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the Nair Service Society, Ayyappa Seva Samajam, and other organisations, argued that a religious denomination&#039;s right to manage its own affairs cannot be overridden by the State&#039;s power to make laws for religious reform.Vaidyanathan further argued that former Justice DY Chandrachud, in the Sabarimala majority, &quot;asked the wrong question and got the wrong answer&quot; by holding that individual rights could prevail over collective religious rights.Justice Nagarathna pushed back firmly on Vaidyanathan&#039;s position on denomination exclusivity. She said, &quot;If you say it is a matter of religion that only my section must attend my temple and no one else, that is not good for Hinduism.&quot; Justice Aravind Kumar added, &quot;We will be dividing the society.&quot; The CJI said Vaidyanathan&#039;s argument ran directly against the constitutional text, and that the denomination&#039;s right to manage its own affairs is itself governed by morality, which includes the constitutional bar on untouchability. &quot;Article 17 is a principle of morality,&quot; CJI Surya Kant said.The bench also heard from Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, representing the Union government, who argued that the term &quot;religious denomination&quot; in the Constitution must be understood in the Indian context as &quot;sampradaya,&quot; noting that the Hindi authoritative text uses that expression. He submitted that sampradaya has no rigid structure and is a matter of faith. Sampradaya means traditional practices, unbroken lineage or school of religious teaching in Indian traditions.On the question of whether visitors to a denominational temple are bound by its customs, Justice Nagarathna noted: &quot;If Hindus want to visit a particular temple, the sampradayas attached to that temple must be followed.&quot; Vaidyanathan submitted that Sabarimala places no bar on Christians or Muslims, provided they have faith in Lord Ayyappa and follow the 40-day vratam, calling the contrary understanding &quot;erroneous.&quot;The CJI, summing up the tension between the seven-judge and five-judge bench precedents at the close of Thursday&#039;s hearing, said: &quot;What the seven-judge bench held, the subsequent five-judge bench appears to be in conflict, maybe partly or to a larger extent, and we will try to resolve.&quot; Arguments will continue on April 10.Locus of petitioners, constitutional morality under fireOn Wednesday, April 8, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta questioned the Supreme Court&#039;s judgements in Joseph Shine vs Union of India (which decriminalised adultery) and Navtej Singh Johar &amp; Others vs Union of India (which decriminalised homosexuality), arguing that both had wrongly relied on &quot;constitutional morality&quot; and that the same reasoning had seeped into the Sabarimala verdict. He said all judgements that read &quot;morality&quot; as &quot;constitutional morality&quot; are per incuriam.At the heart of his argument was a distinction between two standards: &quot;societal morality&quot; — what society at large considers moral — and &quot;constitutional morality,&quot; a judicially evolved concept that judges have used to test whether a law or practice aligns with constitutional values. Mehta argued that the Constitution framers only intended the former, and that the latter was a vague, judge-driven standard with no textual basis. &quot;Something which is constitutional morality for one judge cannot be for another,&quot; he said.According to a report by LiveLaw, Mehta told the bench: &quot;Constitutional morality is never a ground of judicial review.&quot; He also flagged the use of foreign jurisprudence, saying, &quot;Any interpretation of Articles 25 and 26 based on American jurisprudence will necessarily be flawed in the Indian context.&quot;The bench also spent considerable time on whether the original writ petitioners — the Indian Young Lawyers Association — had the locus to challenge the Sabarimala custom at all. Justice Nagarathna asked pointedly, &quot;They are not devotees. Let us be clear — can any devotee of Lord Ayyappa file a writ petition challenging it? A non-devotee, a person who is not concerned with the temple, challenges it. Can this court entertain the writ petition?&quot;The SG noted that this was one of the referred questions — whether a person not belonging to a religious denomination can challenge its practices through a PIL ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2024-12-16/jqdt2rij/supreme-court13122024ians.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:34:58 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sabarimala, hearing:, Follow, temples, traditions, you, want, visit, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala exit polls 2026 results date and time: When and where to watch the predictions?</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-exit-polls-2026-results-date-and-time-when-and-where-to-watch-the-predictions</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-exit-polls-2026-results-date-and-time-when-and-where-to-watch-the-predictions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69d866f5e3187.jpg" length="17903" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:57:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Chittur BJP candidate&amp;apos;s FB page &amp;apos;posts&amp;apos; appeal for LDF on poll day, UDF alleges deal</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/chittur-bjp-candidates-fb-page-posts-appeal-for-ldf-on-poll-day-udf-alleges-deal</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/chittur-bjp-candidates-fb-page-posts-appeal-for-ldf-on-poll-day-udf-alleges-deal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A controversy erupted in the Chittur assembly constituency on election day after a post appeared on the official Facebook page of BJP candidate Pranesh Rajendran, urging voters to support Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate V Murugadas triggering allegations of a tacit understanding between the BJP and the LDF in the three-cornered contest.The post, which surfaced briefly before being deleted within minutes, called on voters to cast their ballots for Murugadas and his election symbol, the &quot;ring&quot;, and appealed for continued development by supporting the Left. It also took a swipe at the United Democratic Front (UDF), alleging that the Congress was engaging in &quot;low-level politics&quot; and that Chittur would respond to what it described as the party&#039;s mockery of democracy.&quot;The circulation of symbols similar to the &#039;ring&#039;, which is the election symbol of Adv V. Murugadas, is intended to confuse voters. Such hooliganism aimed at disrupting the peaceful atmosphere is not in keeping with Chittur&#039;s democratic values. The people will reject these malicious attempts for the welfare and development of the region. Our vote is for development; our vote is for Adv V. Murugadas,&quot; the post read.Although the post was taken down within minutes, screenshots circulated rapidly on social media, putting the NDA candidate on the defensive. Chittur witnessed a three-way battle between himself, INC candidate Sumesh Achuthan, and LDF&#039;s V Murugadas.Pranesh Rajendran has distanced himself from the post. In a video uploaded to his Facebook page, he said the post had been made without his knowledge or consent and alleged that his account had been hacked. He described the incident as a &quot;desperate attempt&quot; by rival fronts to create confusion among voters in Chittur.He also posted a formal police complaint filed at Chittur police station, alleging that unidentified individuals had gained unauthorised access to his account and posted content favouring the LDF candidate with the deliberate intent of misleading voters on election day.INC candidate Sumesh Achuthan alleged that the post by the NDA candidate shows an understanding between the BJP and the LDF. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-09/tlf6ajnq/pranesh-rajendran.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:40:33 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Chittur, BJP, candidates, page, posts, appeal, for, LDF, poll, day, UDF, alleges, deal</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>As polling concludes, estimated voter turnout crosses 77%</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/as-polling-concludes-estimated-voter-turnout-crosses-77</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/as-polling-concludes-estimated-voter-turnout-crosses-77</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69d7b43b12524.jpg" length="68908" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:14:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wmvadmin2</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kerala polls: CM exudes confidence about a third term for LDF</title>
<link>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-polls-cm-pinarayi-exudes-confidence-about-a-third-term-for-ldf</link>
<guid>https://worldmalayaleevoice.com/kerala-polls-cm-pinarayi-exudes-confidence-about-a-third-term-for-ldf</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “The ‘dash’ is to be filled by themselves. Who is the chief minister who has been imprisoned for corruption? It is this person. I shall not say more about this now. After the election, I can say more about him,” incumbent Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told media persons after casting his vote in the Assembly elections on Thursday, April 9. He was referring to a recent political spat during which he called Congress’ Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy “Dash mone Revanth.” Pinarayi Vijayan cast his vote at the RC Amala Basic UP School in Pinarayi, Kannur district, on Thursday morning. Expressing confidence that the LDF will be reelected for a third term, he said, “This election will determine Kerala’s future, a good step has been made in that direction. We have been able to make several achievements in all sectors. That should continue, the public in general does not wish for a gap in development.” He added, “The LDF got more seats in 2021 than it did in 2016. That was a recognition for our efforts. Without doubt, the people will give the LDF more seats this time around than we got in 2021.” &#039;Nee po mone&#039; meets &#039;Dash mone Revanth&#039; as two CMs trade barbs across state linePinarayi reiterated the government’s development claims, saying that the public will stand by the Left Democratic Front, irrespective of their political leanings. “All citizens … including those opposing LDF are standing by LDF, in the belief that the land needs development and progress. The public has a definitive experience, and the experience has convinced them that only the LDF can take development forward with commitment.” It is the LDF that is capable of implementing development projects, he said, alleging that this was not the case in the state 10 years ago. “The public remembers a time when those in power had refused to implement schemes. That era from 10 years ago is still there in the public’s memory. They have also experienced how committedly the LDF government went ahead with such projects. Comparing the two, the public sees that the foundation of the development in the state in the last 10 years is due to the formation of the LDF government. Even those with opposing political views believe that the state should be governed by the LDF,” he said.   He also claimed that Kerala has low corruption rates because it is the LDF that is in power. Notably, one of the biggest campaign issues their opponents have raised against the LDF this poll season was the Sabarimala gold theft case. When asked whether communalism has affected the voters, he said, “The public cannot be influenced using communal tactics. During the campaigns … I witnessed how all communities stood by the LDF. No communal agenda can break that spirit.”&#039;Why no Hindu MLA in Guruvayoor?’: BJP leader&#039;s communal remark sparks rowWhen asked about bribery allegations, “The voters of Kerala are enlightened. They cannot be influenced by money.” A day before Kerala went to polls, BJP’s Palakkad candidate Shobha Surendran was embroiled in a cash-for-vote allegation. The BJP has also faced allegations regarding distribution of food kits to influence voters in Thrissur. Cash-for-vote FIR filed against Sobha Surendran&#039;s team in Palakkad ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://media.assettype.com/thenewsminute/2026-04-09/k022ofm5/Pinarayi-Votes-FB.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:21:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>WorldMalayalee</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kerala, polls:, Pinarayi, exudes, confidence, about, third, term, for, LDF</media:keywords>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>