The row over the alleged formation of a WhatsApp group on religious grounds by a high ranking IAS official continued to resonate in Kerala on Saturday. The Kerala Police on Saturday said that the phone of the IAS officer, whose WhatsApp account was used to create a religious group, was completely reset and therefore, forensics could not ascertain whether it was hacked as claimed by him. The Thiruvananthapuram City police found no evidence suggesting that the mobile phone of K. Gopalakrishnan, Director of Industries and Commerce, was hacked. 

District Police Chief (Thiruvananthapuram City) G. Sparjan Kumar submitted the findings of the cyber forensics team to State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb, stating that the inquiry did not yield any information to prove that Mr. Gopalakrishnan’s mobile phone had been infected by malware, as alleged by the IAS officer.

Phone formatted

“He (Mr. Gopalakrishnan) had admitted that the phone had been formatted. This made it impossible to detect any signs of cyber attack in the device. Besides, we could not get any useful information from WhatsApp. The company maintained it could provide only details of existing groups, and not deleted ones” Mr. Kumar told The Hindu.

The police had launched the investigation following a complaint by the IAS officer alleging that his personal WhatsApp number was hacked and used to create a religious group. Mr. Gopalakrishnan had lodged a complaint and dismantled the group, stating that he had not added any officers.

Cong. charge

Reacting to the day’s development, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was turning a blind eye to the infiltration of the administrative service by fundamentalist elements. “It was CPI leader Annie Raja who first raised the allegation that the police force was being infiltrated by the RSS. Now the IAS has also been infiltrated, yet no action has been taken. Is this going on with the connivance of the Chief Minister, the LDF government and the CPI(M)?”, he asked.

Union Secretary Higher Education K Sanjay Murthy at the First National Wellbeing Conclave at IITH in Sangareddy district on Saturday (November 09).
| Photo Credit: MOHD ARIF

Making students and faculty members as ambassadors of happiness and strength and prioritising mental health and resilience in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country as a mission, the first National Wellbeing Conclave (NWC) kicked off at IIT-Hyderabad, here on Saturday.

Being held under the aegis of the Ministry of Education (MoE), the conclave aims at fostering healthy and harmonious environment in HEIs with the goal of reducing suicide rates and enhancing student and faculty wellbeing. The two-day conclave features discussions about best practices on wellbeing in campuses with participation of nearly 100 centrally-funded institutions. The NWC also aligns with the Economic Survey 2023-24 which highlights the need for mental health programmes within educational institutions.

According to Secretary (MoE) K. Sanjay Murthy, who also released a compendium of ‘best practices on wellbeing’, NWC is for promoting awareness and collaboration among institutions across the country. The essential foundation, through deliberations on mental health and resilience initiatives, is for spreading effective practices across the country and for future initiatives.

Participants at First National Wellbeing Conclave at IITH in Sangareddy district on Saturday (November 09).
| Photo Credit:
MOHD ARIF

He appreciated initiatives such as IITH’s Team Sunshine, the counselling cell, and Expressions India, the National Life Skills, School & Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Program.

For Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran, who spoke to the diverse participants at the event, “the parameter of success is a test between how you balance the academic pressure and mental wellbeing.”

According to Director (IITH) B.S. Murty, the Insititute promotes the right brain activities to maintain a balanced mind. “We live in a fast-paced world filled with constant stimuli that significantly impact us emotionally, physically and psychologically, often leading to stress. This makes promoting mental health, resilience, and overall wellbeing more essential than ever. Students need to learn that failure is a natural part of growth — it’s okay to fail, as each failure being valuable lessons,” he said.

Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Rina Sonowal Kouli, Program Director (Expressions India) Jitendra Nagpal, psychiatry experts and counsellors, faculty members and students from various participating institutions were present.

The International Airport police have registered a case against a cab driver for allegedly harassing a 34-year-old doctor on the pretext of dropping her home from the airport pick up point on Friday.

The victim, Dr. Nikhita Malik had landed at the airport from Delhi and booked a taxi at around 10 p.m. The accused identified as Basavaraju approached her and offered her to drop. Even though she noticed that the car she booked was different, he convinced her to board the taxi and started driving.

While driving the car the accused started demanding ₹1500 for the trip citing that it was a sedan car while the victim said that she had booked it for ₹1,300. Suspecting something fishy, Dr. Malik asked him to drop her back to the airport, but the accused continued to drive and stopped at a petrol pump asking her to pay ₹500 for the fuel.

At this juncture, the victim called 112 and reported the matter for which the accused brought her back to the airport and dropped her. The victim later took down the cab number and filed a complaint with the police seeking action. Based on the complaint the police have registered a case of impersonation for further investigation.

The Hindu had recently reported on such cases where cab drivers ferrying passengers to the airport demanding money, often in excess of the agreed-upon fare, for refuelling the vehicle midway and refusing to return the excess money.

Junior doctors with other citizens issue a symbolic ‘Janata Chargsheet’ to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, marking three months of the incident, in Kolkata, on November 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Junior doctors took out a rally in Kolkata on Saturday (November 9, 2024) demanding justice for the 31-year-old rape and murder victim at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The procession was organised under the banner West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front and people from all walks of life sympathetic to the demands of the junior doctors joined the procession from College Street to Esplanade.

The body of a junior doctor was found inside the seminar room of the State run facility in the early hours of August 9 and since then the city had witnessed hundreds of such processions.

The protesting doctors held a dummy statue of the lady of justice as they marched on Saturday. The doctors who have been expressing dissatisfaction with the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation also came out with a ‘janatar charge sheet (people’s charge sheet)’.

In the ‘charge sheet’, the WBJDF alleged shortcomings in the ongoing CBI investigation such as not clearly mentioning what items belonging to the victims were seized. While one person has been charged with rape and murder, many believe that multiple people could be involved in the horrific crime.

The CBI has filed a charge sheet against a civic police volunteer Sanjay Roy and accused him of rape and murder. Charges have been framed against the accused and trial will start from November 11 before a court in Kolkata. The Central agency has also arrested former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh and ex-officer-in-charge of Tala Police station Abhijit Mondal for tampering with the evidence in the case.

The protesting doctors have also come up with a gallery highlighting their protests for the past 90 days. The gallery called “droher gallery (protest gallery)” has come up at Medical College Kolkata. Similar galleries were set up in other medical colleges of the State. During the day the protesting doctors also held a convention at Star Theatre.

Along with demanding justice for the female doctors the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front is also protesting against threat culture in medical college and hospital in the State.

“People who are part of the threat culture are trying to build their roots back in the medical colleges, but we will fight against it legally and stay on the roads till we stop this,” Debasish Halder, one of members of WBJDF said.

The R.G. Kar incident not only triggered months of protests but members of WBJDF held multiple meetings with officials of the West Bengal government including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Several steps for ensuring safety in State-run medical colleges including a task force were the outcome of the meetings.

The Department of Horticulture signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 3F Oil Palm to boost sustainable agriculture among rural communities in three districts — Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Kalaburagi.

This partnership will provide farmers with access to advanced agricultural technologies, training programmes, and essential resources to enhance productivity and support Karnataka’s growing horticultural sector, said a statement. It further noted that the company also has plans to introduce state-of-the-art cultivation practices.

As part of the initiative, the company will oversee area expansion, nursery development, sprout procurement, and seedling cultivation within the designated zones.

Srinivasarao Kilari, head (Agriculture), 3F Oil Palm, said, “The company looks forward to collaborating closely with the farming community.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Prakash M. Sabarad, Additional Director of Horticulture.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu conducted a high-level review of the ongoing expansion works at the Vijayawada airport at Gannavaram, and set a completion target of June 2025 for the New Integrated Terminal Building.

Mr. Naidu, during the meeting at his camp office at Undavalli in Guntur district on Saturday, emphasised incorporating a cultural theme inspired by the traditional Kuchipudi dance form in the terminal’s design, to reflect Andhra Pradesh’s heritage and vibrancy.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, A.P. Minister for Investments and Infrastructure B.C. Janardhan Reddy, and senior officials from the Civil Aviation Department, received a detailed presentation on the airport expansion’s progress. The terminal, estimated to cost ₹611 crore, has so far reached a completion rate of 58.5%. Besides, the ₹85 crore ATC (Air Traffic Control) tower construction has reached 52% completion. 

The CM expressed concern over the current design, stating it lacked appeal and cultural resonance. He urged the authorities to incorporate traditional elements in the design, reflecting the State’s cultural identity. The interior designs should prominently feature the essence of local arts and crafts, making them visually representative of Andhra Pradesh’s heritage. The traditional craftsmanship of the State should be showcased within the interior framework, making it not only a functional space but a cultural landmark, he said. 

Five airstrips

He discussed plans to enhance air connectivity across Andhra Pradesh by developing airstrips in five new locations: Moolapeta, Kuppam, Dagadarthi, Tadepalligudem, and an additional strip between Anantapur and Tadipatri. This expansion plan, according to Mr. Naidu, was aimed at boosting economic activity through improved air connectivity. He stressed the importance of robust support from the Civil Aviation Department in advancing these objectives and fostering regional economic growth. 

“We are planning for increased air connectivity as part of a broader strategy to promote economic activities across Andhra Pradesh. I request the cooperation of the Civil Aviation Department to help realise our State’s vision,” stated Mr. Naidu. 

The Vijayanagar police are on the hunt for a 32-year-old security guard accused of stealing gold, diamond jewellery, and cash worth ₹15.15 crore from his employer’s house last week.

The suspect, Namraj from Nepal, had been employed six months ago as a security guard at Arihanth Jewellers on Magadi Road. Since he lacked housing, his employer, Surendra Kumar Jain, provided him and his wife with accommodation in the basement of his residence. In addition to his duties at the jewellery shop, Namraj assisted with maintaining the terrace garden and other household tasks.

On November 1, Mr. Jain and his family left for Gujarat to attend a function. Upon their return on November 7, they found Namraj missing and their house ransacked. Stolen items included 18 kilograms of gold and diamond jewellery, along with ₹40 lakh in cash. According to Mr. Jain, the valuables belonged to his wife, mother, and sister. He had transferred the items from the shop to his home for safekeeping.

The police have registered a case of theft and suspect that Namraj has fled to his hometown. His mobile phone remains switched off. Investigations suggest that Namraj, his wife, and two accomplices executed the theft in the early hours of November 3.

The police believe the suspect gained the family’s trust and accessed the house keys. A team has been dispatched to track them, said S. Girish, DCP, West Division.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran, MP, has demanded an apology from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the loss of 11 years and ₹14 crore due to the failure of the seaplane project introduced by former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Mr. Sudhakaran said the CPI(M) had sabotaged the seaplane project when it was first launched, and now, after a decade, when the CPI(M) was trying to implement it as its own, the State had suffered significant setbacks.

The seaplane project, launched by Oommen Chandy in 2013, was the first of its kind in the country. He had flagged off the service from Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam in June 2013. However, when the project was first introduced, the CPI(M) vehemently opposed it, even preventing the seaplane from landing in Alappuzha. The CPI(M)’s opposition led to the failure of many such projects, with the seaplane service being one of them, the KPCC president said while addressing a election campaign at Chelakkara on Saturday.

He criticised the CPI(M)’s policy of mixing politics with development, which he said had led to economic losses and stagnation in State’s progress.

Three people were killed when a car they were travelling in collided head-on with a truck on Kanakapura Road on the outskirts of the city on Saturday evening. 

The deceased have been identified as Satish, Manjunath, and Ramachandra, all aged between 27 and 30 years and residents of Chamarajpet, Bengaluru.

The deceased are working for a real estate firm and had been to Sangama on a joy ride and were returning when a speeding truck laden with crushed stones crashed into them head-on at around 5.45 p.m. near Hulibele village.

The impact of the collision was so huge that the front portion of the car was severely mangled and the trio in the car were killed on the spot. The truck driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene soon after the accident. Villagers rushed to the spot and tried to rescue the passengers, but they were all dead by then.

The Kanakapura Rural police rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies to Kanakapura government hospital.

Senior police officials who visited the spot said that both the vehicles were speeding and it was yet to be ascertained what caused the accident. The officials said that only a technical investigation of the vehicles by the transport department can throw more light on what may have caused the accident. Meanwhile, efforts are on to track down the truck driver for further investigation.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses a public meeting in support of party candidate Eknath Pawar for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, at Loha in Nanded district of Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena did not lose its identity even after an alliance of three decades with the BJP and there was no question of it turning into Congress now, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday (November 9, 2024).

The Sena (UBT) chief was speaking at a campaign rally at Hingoli for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance candidates from Kalamnuri, Hingoli and Vasmat Assembly segments ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra elections.

Replying to criticism by the BJP that the Sena led by him has become another version of the Congress, Mr. Thackeray said his party was a BJP ally for several years, but did not lose its identity.

‘BJP is not Bal Thackeray’s thoughts’

“Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah come here and tell people that we (Shiv Sena-UBT) abandoned Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology. I did not leave the ideology, I left the BJP. The BJP is not Bal Thackeray’s thoughts,” he said.

“How can the Shiv Sena become Congress? Congress is with us. The Shiv Sena did not become BJP despite being with them for 25-30 years. How can it become Congress?” added Mr. Thackeray who severed the ties with the BJP in 2019 and joined hands with the Congress and the (then undivided) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

On the BJP’s slogan ‘ek hai to safe hai’, he said, “We are already united, we will wipe out the BJP by staying together.” Despite the elections in Maharashtra, the Tata Airbus project in Gujarat was inaugurated with fanfare, Mr. Thackeray said, referring to the Opposition’s claim that big industrial projects meant for Maharashtra were being diverted to Gujarat.

Santosh Bangar, sitting MLA and candidate of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena from Kalamnuri, had called on him when he was Chief Minister and suffering from coronavirus infection, Thackeray said. “He was crying, and the next day I saw that he went there [Shinde camp]. I came to know about his sins later,” the Sena (UBT) chief said, referring to the split in the party in June 2022. His government took care of people during the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Thackeray said.

“Maharashtra remained at the number one position in terms of taking care of its people [during the pandemic]. Some people claim I was sitting at home. But I was taking care of people from there. These burglars betrayed us. If we had got a full term, no demand would have been left unmet. Every work would have been completed,” said the former Chief Minister whose MVA alliance government collapsed following Shinde’s rebellion.

Soybean prices and Ladki Bahin scheme

The price of soybean in the state has crashed from about ₹10,000 per quintal during his tenure to ₹3,500, prices of pulses too have gone down and cotton has not been procured yet, he said. The BJP once promised to deposit ₹15 lakh in every person’s bank account but now the Mahayuti government is paying a mere ₹1,500, he said, referring to the Shinde government’s Ladki Bahin scheme for women.

“If they come to power again, it will come down to 15 paisa, because their promises have proved fake,” Mr. Thackeray said. If it formed the government, the MVA will pass a resolution seeking to increase the cap on reservations and send it to the Central government, he said, adding that “those who are sitting in Delhi can solve this issue”.

Notably, some Maratha leaders have demanded that the 50% limit be lifted so that their community can get reservation.