Kerala: Ten taken into custody for RSS worker murder

July 30, 2017

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 30: Police on Sunday detained 10 persons in connection with the murder of RSS activist S N Rajesh (34) here even as a familiar blame-game continued to play out regarding political affiliation of the suspects.

Governor P Sathasivam summoned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Police Chief Loknath Behera seeking details of action taken in connection with law and order disruptions in Thiruvananthapuram, against the backdrop of the killing and clashes between activists of the ruling CPM and BJP-RSS.

The BJP alleged that the key suspect, Manikandan, was an activist of the ruling CPM while CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan “revealed” the suspect’s family connections with the Congress party.

The CPM maintained that the killing which happened late on Saturday was not political and was triggered by issues involving Rajesh’s family. The police arrested six men for direct involvement in the murder of the RSS karyavahak and the others for suspected conspiracy.

A gang of armed assailants attacked Rajesh in Kumbakonam in Sreekaryam here, chopping his right palm off and inflicting serious injuries on him before fleeing on motorbikes. Rajesh was shifted to a private hospital where he was declared dead.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh called Chief Minister Vijayan to convey his concerns on recent incidents of political violence in the state and sought the arrest of its perpetrators.

“I have expressed my concern with the law and order situation in the state of Kerala. Political violence is unacceptable in a democracy,” Singh said on Twitter. The Chief Minister said Singh “appreciated” the swift detention of all the suspects. The detained men are being questioned by a team led by Range IG Manoj Abraham.

BJP Thiruvananthapuram district president S Suresh said Manikandan and the other suspects, also CPM activists killed Rajesh following directions from the party’s Kannur leadership.

CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan said Manikandan and Pramod, another detained suspect, were sons of activists of the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress and BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, respectively.

“Two weeks ago, cases were registered following clashes between two families in the area that had also led to an armed attack on one person. Manikandan was first accused in that case too,” Nagappan said.

The Congress, meanwhile, said it had no links with Manikandan. “During the last election, Manikandan was a booth convener for the (CPM-led) LDF,” Congress president M M Hassan said.

Shutdown, Clashes

The BJP mourned Rajesh with protests and a statewide shutdown, announced late Saturday night, which severely impacted life in the state. Minor clashes and stone-pelting incidents were reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kottayam.

The order enforcing prohibitory orders in Thiruvananthapuram city following clashes and an attack on the BJP state committee office has been extended by three more days.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 7,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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December 3,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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