Page 2 - Kochi

Kochi blast remarks: No coercive action against Union minister till Dec 14

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the police not to take any coercive steps against Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar till December 14 in the two criminal cases in which he is accused of making statements promoting enmity between different groups. The cases were lodged against him over his controversial social media posts following the blasts at a convention centre in Kochi during a prayer meeting of Christian religious group Jehovah's Witnesses. Justice C S Dias admitted Chandrasekhar's pleas for quashing the FIRs against him and issued notice to the state seeking its stand in both matters. The court also issued notice to Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Digital Media Convenor P Sarin, on whose complaint one of the FIRs was lodged, and sought his stand on the matter. Right after news broke out about the blasts, Chandrasekhar had posted on Facebook, "The price of appeasement politics of Cong and CPM will always be borne by innocents of all communities

Kerala govt gives approval for BPCL's waste treatment plant in Kochi

The Kerala government on Wednesday accorded sanction to set up a compressed biogas plant project by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), with the objective of finding a permanent solution to the organic waste issue in Kochi, the commercial hub of the state. A cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, took the decision amidst their ongoing tour as part of the 'Nava Kerala' outreach programme in northern Thalassery, a CMO statement said here. For the project, 10 acres of land in Brahmapuram owned by the Kochi Corporation, would be handed over to the BPCL, it said. A treatment plant capable of treating 150 metric tonnes of waste per day would be set up on this land, and the compressed biogas produced there would be used by the central PSU. The construction cost is estimated to be Rs 150 crore, which would be borne by the BPCL, it said. Water and electricity, required for the construction of the plant, would be provided at a lower cost, the CMO statement ...

Kerala govt announces Rs 5 lakh aid to kin of Kalamassery blast victims

The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to provide financial assistance of Rs five lakh each to the families of those who had lost their lives in a blast at a religious gathering in Kalamassery near Kochi last month. A cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, decided to grant the relief amount from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, a CMO statement said here. Additionally, support will be extended to cover medical expenses for the injured persons receiving treatment, even in private hospitals, it said. Five persons were killed and over 50 were injured, some seriously, during the multiple blasts at a religious gathering in an international convention centre in Kalamassery, on October 29. They had gathered for the final day of a three-day-long prayer meeting of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Court grants police 10-day custody of accused in Kochi blast case

A court in Kerala on Monday granted the police ten days custody of the lone accused in the Kochi bomb blast case. Principal Session Court Judge Honey M Varghese allowed the police's plea for 10-day custody of Dominic Martin. Four people were killed and over 50 were injured in the blast during a prayer meeting of the Jehovah's Witnesses at a convention center in Kalamassery near here on October 29. The police submitted that they need to investigate his sources of income, international connections, and other related matters. They also said that the accused must be taken to certain locations for further collection of evidence. Meanwhile, Martin once again declined the assistance of a legal aid lawyer. Previously, on October 31, Martin was remanded to judicial custody. In addition to Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Punishment for murder) and Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act, relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) have also been invoke

Navy sailor dies in helicopter accident at military base in Kochi

A sailor of the Indian Navy died on Saturday in an accident involving a helicopter at a naval base in Kochi. Yogendra Singh, who was a leading airman, died when the helicopter met with the accident while taxiing at at INS Garuda of the Southern Naval Command, officials said. Yadav hailed from Madhya Pradesh. "A Chetak helicopter met with a ground accident today during maintenance taxi checks at INS Garuda, Kochi, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of one ground crew," the Navy said in a brief statement. It said a 'Board of Inquiry" has been ordered to investigate the cause of accident. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and all personnel of Indian Navy mourned the loss of life and pay tribute to Yogendra Singh, the Navy said.

Kerala blast: Who are Jehovah's Witnesses?

20-member team led by ADGP to probe Kalamassery blast case: Vijayan

"A special team led by ADGP Law and Order will be investigating this incident...20 members will be in the investigating team," Vijayan said at a press conference

NSG arrives in Kerala after twin blasts rock prayer meet in Kalamassery

"A total of six people are critically ill. Every possible treatment and support is being provided," Kerala Health Minister said

Kerala IED blasts: Another woman dies, death toll rises to 2 in Kochi

Two women died and 51 persons were injured, some seriously, in multiple blasts at a Christian religious gathering in a convention centre near this port city on Sunday morning, sending shockwaves across Kerala. The blasts took place at an international convention centre in Kalamassery where hundreds of followers of the minority Christian group Jehovah's Witnesses had assembled on the concluding day of a three-day-long prayer meeting. A few hours after the incident, a man claiming to be a member of Jehovah's Witnesses, surrendered before police in Thrissur district of the state, saying that he carried out the multiple blasts. Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC as well as provisions of the Explosives Act and the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Later in the day, state Health Minister Veena George said that of the 51 injured, 30 were admitted in various hospitals in the ...

Kerala Blast: Ministers visits Kalamasery's Medical College, meets injured

One person died and several others were injured after multiple explosions took place at a prayer meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses in Ernakulam's Kalamassery at around 09.00 am

Those who foster violence must be dealt with iron hand: Mallikarjun Kharge

Multiple explosions took place at a prayer meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Kalamassery area of Kochi at around 9:00 am

Blasts in Kerala shake minority Christian group Jehovah's Witnesses

: Jehovah's Witnesses, whose prayer meeting in Kochi was marred by devastating bomb blasts on Sunday in which one person died and 52 others are seriously injured, is a Christian religious group that traces its origins to 19th century America. According to historians, Jehovah's Witnesses was considered an offshoot of the International Bible Students' Association, founded by Charles Taze Russell in Pittsburgh in the year 1872. Unlike mainstream Christian denominations, Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the Holy Trinity (God, the Father; God, the Son - Jesus; and God the Holy Spirit) but worship Jehovah as the "the God of the Bible and the Creator of all things". Followers of the group see Jesus Christ as the son of God, and not God himself. They learn from the teachings and examples set by Christ; hence they consider themselves Christians. The group follows certain strict social mores, which forbid them from receiving blood transfusions and prevent married couples from divorcing,

BPCL offers first gasoil cargo in over a year via sales tender: Reports

BPCL is seeking to sell at least 40,000 metric tons of 10ppm sulphur gasoil loading Oct. 26-27 from Kochi, according to a document seen by Reuters

Kerala CM launches 7 mega projects at Cochin International Airport

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday inaugurated seven "mega projects" at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) here. The chief minister launched the operation of the Import Cargo Terminal, DigiYatra software and Airport Emergency Services at the international airport at an event held at CIAL. He also launched the projects for the first phase of the expansion of Terminal 3, the '0484' luxury aero lounge, an intrusion detection system at the airport and golf resorts. Addressing the gathering, Vijayan said Kerala is showing the public an alternative when even the strategic public sector undertakings in the country, including airports, are being privatised in the country. "We are living at a time when even the strategic public sector undertakings in this country are being privatised. But in Kerala, the public sector undertakings are being protected and are prospering. We even took over the public sector undertakings that the Centre had put up for sale," Vijayan said.

One dead, 4 injured in explosion at gelatin factory in Kerala's Kochi

At least one person died and four others were injured in an explosion at a gelatin factory in the Kakkanad area of Kerala's Kochi, the police said on Wednesday

Air Asia flight returns to Kochi airport due to suspected hydraulic failure

An Air Asia flight carrying 168 passengers and six crew members air returned just minutes after taking off from the Cochin International Airport here, airport sources said on Monday. The Kochi-Bengaluru flight, which left for Bengaluru late Sunday night, suffered a technical problem soon after take off at 11.15 PM. A full emergency was declared at the airport after the flight returned to Kochi due to a suspected hydraulic failure. It landed at the airport safely at midnight. No casualties or injuries were reported, sources said. The emergency was withdrawn immediately after the safe landing of the the aircraft, they added.

Air India Express flight makes landing at Kochi shortly after takeoff

An Air India Express flight from Kochi to Sharjah made a precautionary landing at the airport here on August 2 night after a passenger reported a suspected burning smell shortly after takeoff, an airline source said on Thursday. According to the source, soon after the takeoff of the aircraft from the Cochin International Airport, a guest reported some kind of suspected burning smell. As somebody had reported a burning smell inside the aircraft, as a precautionary measure it was decided to turn back. The aircraft, after landing at the airport late Wednesday night, was inspected, and nothing amiss was found, it said. The Air India Express arranged another aircraft, which left for Sharjah on a delayed basis carrying around 175 passengers.

Indian, US navies conduct 11-day exercise to boost interoperability

The navies of India and the US carried out a 11-day military exercise in Kochi that focused on boosting interoperability and operational coordination. The seventh edition of the Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exercise concludes on Thursday, the Indian Navy said. The two navies have been participating in joint salvage and EOD exercises since 2005. The exercise saw deployment of frontline warships from both sides in addition to specialist diving and EOD teams. "The diving teams of both the countries shared experiences on maritime salvage and trained together in various facets of EOD operations on land as well at sea," the Indian Navy said in a statement. It said the exercise also saw the conduct of joint training exercises towards enhancing interoperability, cohesiveness and gaining from best practices in maritime salvage and EOD operations. "The constructive engagements on operational terms enhanced the skill-sets of the diving teams in a number of diverse disciplin

India set to host IIAS conference on administrative reforms in 2025

The annual conference will be attended by 30 countries, 18 national sections, and over 50 IIAS universities/ institutes of public administration

Kochi Water Metro increases services on Vyttila-Kakkanad route due to rush

To accommodate the huge rush of commuters and joy riders on the Kochi Water Metro, which has witnessed a rise in daily ridership over the past few days, KWML on Thursday said it would be increasing the number of trips on its Vyttila-Kakkanad route. Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) has been operating services only on two routes -- first between Kerala High Court and Vypin and then Vyttila to Kakkanad -- presently. On the second route, it was operating boats only during peak hours, from 8 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM. "From today, the number of services on this route has been increased. Feeder buses and auto rickshaws will be available from Kakkanad terminal to Civil Station and Infopark," KWML said in a statement. According to the schedule of the increased services released by KWML, boats would be operated every 45 minutes from 7.45 AM to 1 PM from Vyttila terminal and from 8.25 AM to 1.40 PM from Kakkanad. In the afternoon too, after 3 PM, boats would be operated every 45 minutes from