<p>Kerala's Padma Lakshmi registered as an advocate with the state's Bar Council, becoming the first transgender lawyer in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I ignore all forms of negativity, be it people or their comments. I focus on the positive. I believe that is one of my advantages. If I focus on the negativity, I will have time only for that and will never move forward in life," she told PTI.</p>

<p>P Rajeev, the state's industries minister, expressed&nbsp;his delight&nbsp;and posted a photo of the lawyer on his official Instagram handle.</p>

<p>As per the minister's post, Padma Lakshmi was one of the more than 1,500 recent law graduates who received their bar enrolment certificates on Sunday at an event hosted by the Bar Council of India. Padma Lakshmi received her law degree from Ernakulam Government Law College, as per PTI reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rajeev applauded the young lawyer's perseverance in his Instagram post, noting that she had to navigate a society that was not quite supportive or kind to her.</p>

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<p>"Congratulations to Padma Lakshmi who overcame all the hurdles of life and enrolled as the first transgender advocate in Kerala. Becoming the first is always the hardest achievement in history. There are no predecessors on the way to the goal. Obstacles will be inevitable. There will be people to mute and discourage. Padma Lakshmi has written her name in the legal history by overcoming all this," Rajeev said in the post translated from Malayalam to English, as reported by NDTV.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meet-nisha-desai-biswal-indian-origin-woman-nominated-by-biden-as-deputy-ceo-of-us-finance-agency-574279">Meet Nisha Desai Biswal: Indian-origin woman nominated by Biden as deputy CEO of US finance agency</a></p>

<p>The heartwarming tweet thrilled users, and several of them used the red heart emoji to express their happiness.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Congrats and welcome to the Advocate community,"&nbsp;said one user in response to the minister's post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Social media users are praising Padma Lakshmi's accomplishment in the wake of Joyita Mondal, who was appointed as India's first transgender judge in West Bengal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Kerala's Padma Lakshmi registered as an advocate with the state's Bar Council, becoming the first transgender lawyer in the state. "I ignore all forms of negativity, be it people or their comments.

Kerala's Padma Lakshmi registered as an advocate with the state's Bar Council, becoming the first transgender lawyer in the state. "I ignore all forms of negativity, be it people or their comments. I focus on the positive. I believe that is one of my advantages. If I focus on the negativity, I will have time only for that and will never move forward in life," she told PTI. P Rajeev, the state's industries minister, expressed his delight and posted a photo of the lawyer on his official Instagram handle. As per the minister's post, Padma Lakshmi was one of the more than 1,500 recent law graduates who received their bar enrolment certificates on Sunday at an event hosted by the Bar Council of India. Padma Lakshmi received her law degree from Ernakulam Government Law College, as per PTI reports. Rajeev applauded the young lawyer's perseverance in his Instagram post, noting that she had to navigate a society that was not quite supportive or kind to her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by P Rajeev (@prajeevofficial) × "Congratulations to Padma Lakshmi who overcame all the hurdles of life and enrolled as the first transgender advocate in Kerala. Becoming the first is always the hardest achievement in history. There are no predecessors on the way to the goal. Obstacles will be inevitable. There will be people to mute and discourage. Padma Lakshmi has written her name in the legal history by overcoming all this," Rajeev said in the post translated from Malayalam to English, as reported by NDTV. ALSO READ | Meet Nisha Desai Biswal: Indian-origin woman nominated by Biden as deputy CEO of US finance agency The heartwarming tweet thrilled users, and several of them used the red heart emoji to express their happiness. "Congrats and welcome to the Advocate community," said one user in response to the minister's post. Social media users are praising Padma Lakshmi's accomplishment in the wake of Joyita Mondal, who was appointed as India's first transgender judge in West Bengal. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kerala's first transgender lawyer: Padma Lakshmi aspires to be the voice of the poor

With the establishment of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1963 at Thumba, a location close to the magnetic equator, there was a quantum jump in the scope for aeronomy and atmospheric sciences in India.

WION at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space centre

ISRO launches 'RH-200' sounding rocket. WION gets this exclusive report from the ISRO centre in Kerala, India.

ISRO launches 'RH-200' sounding rocket

"VSSC's main job is to develop space transportation systems. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has also designed and developed the crew module for Indian astronauts", says Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, VSSC, in conversation with WION's Sidharth MP on key activities and more.

WION reaches ISRO's centre in Kerala, India

Attukal Pongala, the largest festival of women in the world, began in the Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. This year, the festival is witnessing huge participation of devotees.

WION at Attukal Pongala - World's largest gathering of women

<p>For five days firefighters in India’s southern Kochi city in Kerala state have been battling to douse the fire at the waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram.</p>

<p>Authorities on Monday said that the fire has been brought under control as the efforts are on to contain the smoke billowing out from the burning plastic garbage.</p>

<p>Though it is unclear what led to the massive blaze, a firefighter told the PTI news agency that heaps of plastic had heated up underneath the mounds of waste.</p>

<p>Such massive landfills are prone to natural fires, mostly because of the methane generated as the waste decomposes.</p>

<p>The toxic smoke is also affecting the operation as firefighters are coming down with nausea and dizziness. According to reports, at least 20 officials from the fire department had developed breathing issues from exposure to the smoke.</p>

<p>In light of these developments, civic authorities shut down schools for young children, and have advised residents to say indoors and use N-95 masks while stepping out.</p>

<p>The Brahmapuram waste plant, which is located at the outskirts of Kochi city, is known for its massive mounds of waste. The plant is owned and operated by Kochi city authorities.</p>

<p>Kerala’s health minister said that the administration has made all the arrangements in the city’s hospitals to treat patients with respiratory diseases. He, however, said that no major health issues had been reported so far.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, state agencies, including Kerala High Court and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) have taken up the issue following media reports on health issues due to smoke in different parts of the city and adjoining areas.</p>

<p>A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court will consider the issue on Tuesday after the opposition leader VD Satheesan brought up the issue in the State Legislative Assembly on Monday.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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For five days firefighters in India’s southern Kochi city in Kerala state have been battling to douse the fire at the waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram. Authorities on Monday said that the fire has been brought under control as the efforts are on to contain the smoke billowing out from the burning plastic garbage.

For five days firefighters in India’s southern Kochi city in Kerala state have been battling to douse the fire at the waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram. Authorities on Monday said that the fire has been brought under control as the efforts are on to contain the smoke billowing out from the burning plastic garbage. Though it is unclear what led to the massive blaze, a firefighter told the PTI news agency that heaps of plastic had heated up underneath the mounds of waste. Such massive landfills are prone to natural fires, mostly because of the methane generated as the waste decomposes. The toxic smoke is also affecting the operation as firefighters are coming down with nausea and dizziness. According to reports, at least 20 officials from the fire department had developed breathing issues from exposure to the smoke. In light of these developments, civic authorities shut down schools for young children, and have advised residents to say indoors and use N-95 masks while stepping out. The Brahmapuram waste plant, which is located at the outskirts of Kochi city, is known for its massive mounds of waste. The plant is owned and operated by Kochi city authorities. Kerala’s health minister said that the administration has made all the arrangements in the city’s hospitals to treat patients with respiratory diseases. He, however, said that no major health issues had been reported so far. Meanwhile, state agencies, including Kerala High Court and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) have taken up the issue following media reports on health issues due to smoke in different parts of the city and adjoining areas. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court will consider the issue on Tuesday after the opposition leader VD Satheesan brought up the issue in the State Legislative Assembly on Monday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Massive fire breaks out at Kerala's solid waste plant,  operations delayed due to toxic smoke

<p>A temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala has taken a revolutionary step by introducing a robot elephant to do religious rituals. This move towards holding religious events in a "cruelty-free manner" comes after years of concerns by animal activists. As per a BBC report, the mechanical robot has been donated to the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur district by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and actress Parvathy Thiruvothu. The robot, which is made of an iron frame, is 11 feet tall and weighs 800 kg. The initiative is reportedly part of a pledge to stop using live animals for festivities.</p>

<p>Animal welfare organisations have for years flagged the "cruel" treatment temple animals face. Just last week, the Centre for Research on Animal Rights wrote to Kerala's chief minister regarding the increasing mortality of captive elephants in the state.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;'Toro Jubilo': Fiesta or grotesque tradition from the stone ages?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/toro-jubilo-fiesta-or-grotesque-tradition-from-the-stone-ages-534702/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The letter alleged that between 2018 and 2023, the mortality of the large mammal increased significantly, with over&nbsp;138 captive elephants&nbsp;dying over the period of five years.</p>

<p>"It's high time we made stronger and more impactful strides towards stopping such abuse and letting animals have respectful and dignified lives," said the organisation.</p>

<p>Take a look at the realistic robot elephant here:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mechanical elephant Irinjadappilly Raman will be used in the temple’s rituals.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElephantRobotRaman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElephantRobotRaman</a> <a href="https://t.co/lUUnFEVBaN">pic.twitter.com/lUUnFEVBaN</a></p>
— PETA India (@PetaIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PetaIndia/status/1629824167867711489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/parvatweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@parvatweets</a> has given her seal of approval, too!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElephantRobotRaman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElephantRobotRaman</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ukav8anw0J">pic.twitter.com/Ukav8anw0J</a></p>
— PETA India (@PetaIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PetaIndia/status/1629830867437887489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/120-billion-wiped-out-in-seven-days-of-indian-stocks-meltdown-566701">$120 billion wiped out in seven days of Indian stocks meltdown</a></strong></p>

<p>Rajkumar Namboothiri, a priest at the temple while talking to Indian Express newspaper, said that they were happy with the donation.</p>

<p>"We hope other temples will also think about replacing elephants with robotic elephants for their rituals," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/video-19-year-old-indian-teenager-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-while-dancing-566663">VIDEO | 19-year-old Indian dies of cardiac arrest while dancing</a></strong></p>

<p>However, not everyone is happy with the step. Some people on Twitter were quick to label it an experiment with Hindu culture. Others hailed the move. As one user put it, "who says science and religion cannot come together?"</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


A temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala has taken a revolutionary step by introducing a robot elephant to do religious rituals. This move towards holding religious events in a "cruelty-free manner" comes after years of concerns by animal activists.

A temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala has taken a revolutionary step by introducing a robot elephant to do religious rituals. This move towards holding religious events in a "cruelty-free manner" comes after years of concerns by animal activists. As per a BBC report, the mechanical robot has been donated to the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur district by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India and actress Parvathy Thiruvothu. The robot, which is made of an iron frame, is 11 feet tall and weighs 800 kg. The initiative is reportedly part of a pledge to stop using live animals for festivities. Animal welfare organisations have for years flagged the "cruel" treatment temple animals face. Just last week, the Centre for Research on Animal Rights wrote to Kerala's chief minister regarding the increasing mortality of captive elephants in the state. Watch | 'Toro Jubilo': Fiesta or grotesque tradition from the stone ages? The letter alleged that between 2018 and 2023, the mortality of the large mammal increased significantly, with over 138 captive elephants dying over the period of five years. "It's high time we made stronger and more impactful strides towards stopping such abuse and letting animals have respectful and dignified lives," said the organisation. Take a look at the realistic robot elephant here: Mechanical elephant Irinjadappilly Raman will be used in the temple’s rituals.#ElephantRobotRaman pic.twitter.com/lUUnFEVBaN — PETA India (@PetaIndia) February 26, 2023 × .@parvatweets has given her seal of approval, too!#ElephantRobotRaman pic.twitter.com/Ukav8anw0J — PETA India (@PetaIndia) February 26, 2023 × Also read | $120 billion wiped out in seven days of Indian stocks meltdown Rajkumar Namboothiri, a priest at the temple while talking to Indian Express newspaper, said that they were happy with the donation. "We hope other temples will also think about replacing elephants with robotic elephants for their rituals," he said. Also read | VIDEO | 19-year-old Indian dies of cardiac arrest while dancing However, not everyone is happy with the step. Some people on Twitter were quick to label it an experiment with Hindu culture. Others hailed the move. As one user put it, "who says science and religion cannot come together?" (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

When science and religion come together: Indian temple unveils realistic robot elephant. Watch it here!

Call it the power of the internet or height of human benevolence, this incident from India's Southern state of Kerala is sure to warm your heart. A couple looking to raise a huge sum of money for their child's treatment received more than 70 percent of that sum required from a single donor.

Kerala: Anonymous donor donates huge sum for child's treatment | India

A transgender couple gave birth to a baby at a government hospital. However, the trans couple has not disclosed the gender identity of the newborn. Ziya Paval, 21, and her partner Zahad, 23 were in the process of gender transition when they decided to have a baby.

India's first Trans biological parents

<p>A transgender couple, who hail from India's southern state of Kerala, with "tears of joy" welcomed their baby on Wednesday, days after the pregnancy photos went viral</p>

<p>Taking to social media, Ziya Paval shared the good news that her partner Zahad gave birth to a baby on Wednesday morning.</p>

<p>Announcing the delivery, Paval uploaded a photo of the baby who was born almost a month before the due date.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/transgender-cops-to-partake-in-indias-republic-day-parade-in-chhattisgarh-555888">Transgender cops to participate in India’s Republic Day parade in Chhattisgarh</a></p>

<p>Paval said that both Zahad and the baby are healthy and doing fine. Paval and Zahad, have stated that becoming parents was their dream.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Their pregnancy has been called a rarity in India because "no one else has called themselves a biological parent in the transgender community as far as we know", the couple had said while speaking to the BBC earlier this week.</p>

<p><img alt="pr" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e8f5426-60fc-4ceb-b6f2-e2544f562b6f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2814%29_3.png" /></p>

<p><strong>Transgender couple plans a bright future</strong></p>

<p>When the couple decided to have a baby, one-and-a-half years ago, the two were at different stages of their respective gender transition processes. As per the doctor's advice, they had paused their hormone therapy.</p>

<p>Sharing the photo of the baby on Wednesday, the couple expressed their gratitude for the support and prayers sent by their well-wishers.</p>

<p>After the birth of the baby was announced, the couple's social media pages have been flooded with congratulatory messages.</p>

<p>The couple had earlier stated that after the baby is born, they will have to find more jobs to make ends meet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="ps" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="220d1fb6-1d1f-4e9a-bb88-71ffda468bf8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2816%29_3.png" /></p>

<p>"It is very difficult to survive," Paval said, further adding that she will add more dance students to her class.</p>

<p>"Zahad will go back to work about two months after the baby is born. Then I will take care of the baby," Paval added.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | WION Dispatch: Transgender tycoon buys Miss Universe contest</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-transgender-tycoon-buys-miss-universe-contest-528927/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The couple stated that their pregnancy was welcomed very warmly by the transgender community.</p>

<p>"Of course, there are people both within the transgender community as well as outside who believe in stereotypes. They think a trans man cannot be carrying a baby. [But] it doesn't matter," Paval stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="pk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="898daee7-5e3d-45e6-a066-14eaf885d652" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2815%29_3.png" /></p>

<p><strong>Story so far&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Three years ago, Zahad and Paval had met, at a time when both of them had estranged relations with their families.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am from a conservative Muslim family which never allowed me to learn classical dance. (My parents) were orthodox to the point that they used to cut my hair so that I did not dance," Paval narrated</p>

<p>She said that she had left her home to take part in a youth festival and after that, she never returned. She received training in dance at a transgender community centre and now she teaches the art to students in Kozhikode.</p>

<p>Zahad is an accountant and belongs to a Christian family from Thiruvananthapuram's fishing community. Currently, he is employed at a supermarket.</p>

<p>After coming out as a transgender, he left his family. However, after pregnancy, the couple was accepted by his family. "They are helping Zahad during the pregnancy," Paval said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A transgender couple, who hail from India's southern state of Kerala, with "tears of joy" welcomed their baby on Wednesday, days after the pregnancy photos went viral Taking to social media, Ziya Paval shared the good news that her partner Zahad gave birth to a baby on Wednesday morning.

A transgender couple, who hail from India's southern state of Kerala, with "tears of joy" welcomed their baby on Wednesday, days after the pregnancy photos went viral Taking to social media, Ziya Paval shared the good news that her partner Zahad gave birth to a baby on Wednesday morning. Announcing the delivery, Paval uploaded a photo of the baby who was born almost a month before the due date. ALSO READ | Transgender cops to participate in India’s Republic Day parade in Chhattisgarh Paval said that both Zahad and the baby are healthy and doing fine. Paval and Zahad, have stated that becoming parents was their dream. Their pregnancy has been called a rarity in India because "no one else has called themselves a biological parent in the transgender community as far as we know", the couple had said while speaking to the BBC earlier this week. Transgender couple plans a bright future When the couple decided to have a baby, one-and-a-half years ago, the two were at different stages of their respective gender transition processes. As per the doctor's advice, they had paused their hormone therapy. Sharing the photo of the baby on Wednesday, the couple expressed their gratitude for the support and prayers sent by their well-wishers. After the birth of the baby was announced, the couple's social media pages have been flooded with congratulatory messages. The couple had earlier stated that after the baby is born, they will have to find more jobs to make ends meet. "It is very difficult to survive," Paval said, further adding that she will add more dance students to her class. "Zahad will go back to work about two months after the baby is born. Then I will take care of the baby," Paval added. WATCH | WION Dispatch: Transgender tycoon buys Miss Universe contest The couple stated that their pregnancy was welcomed very warmly by the transgender community. "Of course, there are people both within the transgender community as well as outside who believe in stereotypes. They think a trans man cannot be carrying a baby. [But] it doesn't matter," Paval stated. Story so far Three years ago, Zahad and Paval had met, at a time when both of them had estranged relations with their families. "I am from a conservative Muslim family which never allowed me to learn classical dance. (My parents) were orthodox to the point that they used to cut my hair so that I did not dance," Paval narrated She said that she had left her home to take part in a youth festival and after that, she never returned. She received training in dance at a transgender community centre and now she teaches the art to students in Kozhikode. Zahad is an accountant and belongs to a Christian family from Thiruvananthapuram's fishing community. Currently, he is employed at a supermarket. After coming out as a transgender, he left his family. However, after pregnancy, the couple was accepted by his family. "They are helping Zahad during the pregnancy," Paval said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Tears of joy | Kerala's transgender couple, whose pregnancy photos went viral, welcomes baby

A strange case has surfaced wherein a Kerala-native man, who reportedly went missing seven months ago and was presumed dead and even cremated, was found alive and well in Goa.

36-year-old Deepak who reportedly died in Kerala, found in Goa

<p>The police and the Excise department have carried out a series of drug hauls in the Indian state of Kerala which led to a sharp increase in cases related to banned tobacco products, liquor and narcotics in 2022, indicating the state's new and escalating problem of drugs.</p>

<p>As per the data, 26,629 cases were registered by the police under India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2022, which is an increase of 300 per cent compared to 5,924 cases registered in 2016 and 188 per cent when compared to 9,245 cases registered in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-to-legalise-use-of-mdma-and-magic-mushrooms-for-treating-depression-post-trauma-stress-558658">Australia to legalise use of MDMA and magic mushrooms for treating depression</a></p>

<p>As the data reflects, the cases have steadily increased since 2016, and have only witnessed a dip in the numbers in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, and now the numbers have sharply shot up in 2022.</p>

<p>The Excise data's analysis shows that there was an 87.47 per cent increase in the number of people arrested in the cases filed under the NDPS Act between 2016 and 2022, from 3,217 to 6,031, as the number of cases registered between the same years increased by 104 per cent.</p>

<p>The number of cases increased steadily even though there was only a marginal increase in the number of raids from 1,39,366 in 2016 to 1,44,200 in 2022.</p>

<p>The cases registered under the NDPS Act by the Excise department also reflect the steady increase from 2016, as the highest number of cases get registered in 2019 in a span of six years.</p>

<p>Drug offences are handled by both the Excise departments and police under the NDPS Act, as the quantum of punishment varies on the quantity of drugs seized.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: British Columbia decriminalises hard drugs</strong></p>

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<p>Additional Director-General Police and Excise Commissioner S Ananthakrishnan said that such an increase in drug-related cases in the state is a factor of both “strict enforcement and raids” and the contraband's easier access.</p>

<p>“Accessibility of synthetic drugs such as MDMA and LSD has increased. Youngsters are now aware about the availability of synthetic drugs. There is also peer pressure to explore these drugs,” he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The police and the Excise department have carried out a series of drug hauls in the Indian state of Kerala which led to a sharp increase in cases related to banned tobacco products, liquor and narcotics in 2022, indicating the state's new and escalating problem of drugs.

The police and the Excise department have carried out a series of drug hauls in the Indian state of Kerala which led to a sharp increase in cases related to banned tobacco products, liquor and narcotics in 2022, indicating the state's new and escalating problem of drugs. As per the data, 26,629 cases were registered by the police under India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2022, which is an increase of 300 per cent compared to 5,924 cases registered in 2016 and 188 per cent when compared to 9,245 cases registered in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. ALSO READ | Australia to legalise use of MDMA and magic mushrooms for treating depression As the data reflects, the cases have steadily increased since 2016, and have only witnessed a dip in the numbers in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, and now the numbers have sharply shot up in 2022. The Excise data's analysis shows that there was an 87.47 per cent increase in the number of people arrested in the cases filed under the NDPS Act between 2016 and 2022, from 3,217 to 6,031, as the number of cases registered between the same years increased by 104 per cent. The number of cases increased steadily even though there was only a marginal increase in the number of raids from 1,39,366 in 2016 to 1,44,200 in 2022. The cases registered under the NDPS Act by the Excise department also reflect the steady increase from 2016, as the highest number of cases get registered in 2019 in a span of six years. Drug offences are handled by both the Excise departments and police under the NDPS Act, as the quantum of punishment varies on the quantity of drugs seized. WATCH | Gravitas: British Columbia decriminalises hard drugs Additional Director-General Police and Excise Commissioner S Ananthakrishnan said that such an increase in drug-related cases in the state is a factor of both “strict enforcement and raids” and the contraband's easier access. “Accessibility of synthetic drugs such as MDMA and LSD has increased. Youngsters are now aware about the availability of synthetic drugs. There is also peer pressure to explore these drugs,” he said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Kerala's drug issue escalates, as cases jump by 300 per cent in six years

The man identified as Deepak, 36, a resident of Meppayur, Kozhikode was reported missing on July 7, 2022, from his home and was untraceable for months. A man from Kozhikode (Calicut) in Kerala, who was missing for eight months and presumed dead, was found alive and well in Goa on Wednesday, police said. Watch this video to know more.

Declared dead and cremated, Kerala man shows up in Goa

<p>India’s southern Kerala state on Monday recorded two cases of norovirus— a gastrointestinal zoonotic disease that is transmitted through close contact who have already been infected.</p>

<p>According to PTI news agency, two students of Class 1 and 2 of a school at Kakkanad were found to be infected with the virus.</p>

<p>Following the detection of two cases, around 62 students of the school and a few parents developed similar symptoms after which two samples were sent for testing at the State Public Laboratory.</p>

<p>“The health condition of the children is stable. The Health Department personnel inspected the school which is now temporarily closed. We are holding online awareness sessions to the children and parents. The classrooms and the toilets have now been sanitised," the District Medical Officer said in a statement.</p>

<p>This is the second time that the state has reported norovirus outbreak. Last year, two children were found infected with the same virus at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram.</p>

<h2><strong>What is norovirus?</strong></h2>

<p>According to the World Health Organisation, norovirus is a viral illness which is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis globally with symptoms including acute onset diarrhoea and vomiting.</p>

<p>The virus is highly contagious and spreads through contaminated water, food and surfaces.</p>

<p>According to the state health department, initial symptoms include vomiting and/or diarrhoea, head and body aches.</p>

<p>Though the virus usually has mild effects on healthy people, it can cause severe abdominal illness in young children, the elderly, and people with other medical conditions.</p>

<p>The first case in Kerala was recorded in the Alappuzha district in June last year. In 2021, around 950 cases linked to norovirus were reported from the same locality and adjoining areas. The outbreak lasted for one-and-a-half months.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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India’s southern Kerala state on Monday recorded two cases of norovirus— a gastrointestinal zoonotic disease that is transmitted through close contact who have already been infected.

India’s southern Kerala state on Monday recorded two cases of norovirus— a gastrointestinal zoonotic disease that is transmitted through close contact who have already been infected. According to PTI news agency, two students of Class 1 and 2 of a school at Kakkanad were found to be infected with the virus. Following the detection of two cases, around 62 students of the school and a few parents developed similar symptoms after which two samples were sent for testing at the State Public Laboratory. “The health condition of the children is stable. The Health Department personnel inspected the school which is now temporarily closed. We are holding online awareness sessions to the children and parents. The classrooms and the toilets have now been sanitised," the District Medical Officer said in a statement. This is the second time that the state has reported norovirus outbreak. Last year, two children were found infected with the same virus at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram. What is norovirus? According to the World Health Organisation, norovirus is a viral illness which is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis globally with symptoms including acute onset diarrhoea and vomiting. The virus is highly contagious and spreads through contaminated water, food and surfaces. According to the state health department, initial symptoms include vomiting and/or diarrhoea, head and body aches. Though the virus usually has mild effects on healthy people, it can cause severe abdominal illness in young children, the elderly, and people with other medical conditions. The first case in Kerala was recorded in the Alappuzha district in June last year. In 2021, around 950 cases linked to norovirus were reported from the same locality and adjoining areas. The outbreak lasted for one-and-a-half months. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Multiple cases of norovirus found in India’s Kerala. Here’s all you need to know about the zoonotic disease

<p>Many universities in India’s southern Kerala state have decided to extend menstrual leave&nbsp;to female students.&nbsp;Earlier, the Kerala government said it was considering giving menstrual leaves to female students in all state universities coming under the Department of Higher Education.</p>

<p>"Taking into consideration the mental and physical difficulties faced by female students during menstruation, necessary steps will be taken to implement&nbsp;menstrual leave in all universities," higher education minister R Bindu said in a Facebook post on Monday.</p>

<p>&nbsp;The move came after the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University decided to grant menstrual leave for girl students.</p>

<p>In CUSAT, girl students have been given a 2 per cent relaxation in attendance requirements. This means that while students, in general, are required to maintain 75 per cent attendance to appear for examinations, girls will now be required to hold only 73 per cent of attendance.</p>

<p>The decision was taken after requests from the students’ union. CUSAT has over 8,000 students and more than half of them are girls.</p>

<p>"Having considered the requests for menstruation benefits to female students, the Vice-Chancellor has ordered to sanction an additional 2 per cent of condonation of shortage of attendance to female students, in each semester, subject to reporting to the Academic Council," a recent order issued by the joint registrar of CUSAT had said.&nbsp;The education minister hailed the order.</p>

<p>Following CUSAT’s order, female students in other universities in the state also raised similar demands. In December, Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kerala’s Kottayam became the first university in the state to grant maternity leave&nbsp;of 60 days to degree and postgraduate students of 18 years and above.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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Many universities in India’s southern Kerala state have decided to extend menstrual leave to female students. Earlier, the Kerala government said it was considering giving menstrual leaves to female students in all state universities coming under the Department of Higher Education.

Many universities in India’s southern Kerala state have decided to extend menstrual leave to female students. Earlier, the Kerala government said it was considering giving menstrual leaves to female students in all state universities coming under the Department of Higher Education. "Taking into consideration the mental and physical difficulties faced by female students during menstruation, necessary steps will be taken to implement menstrual leave in all universities," higher education minister R Bindu said in a Facebook post on Monday. The move came after the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University decided to grant menstrual leave for girl students. In CUSAT, girl students have been given a 2 per cent relaxation in attendance requirements. This means that while students, in general, are required to maintain 75 per cent attendance to appear for examinations, girls will now be required to hold only 73 per cent of attendance. The decision was taken after requests from the students’ union. CUSAT has over 8,000 students and more than half of them are girls. "Having considered the requests for menstruation benefits to female students, the Vice-Chancellor has ordered to sanction an additional 2 per cent of condonation of shortage of attendance to female students, in each semester, subject to reporting to the Academic Council," a recent order issued by the joint registrar of CUSAT had said. The education minister hailed the order. Following CUSAT’s order, female students in other universities in the state also raised similar demands. In December, Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kerala’s Kottayam became the first university in the state to grant maternity leave of 60 days to degree and postgraduate students of 18 years and above. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

In India’s southern Kerala state, many universities grant menstrual leave to students

<p>A 52-year-old Indian man in the United Kingdom's (UK) Kettering has been charged with murdering his wife and their two children. According to the Northamptonshire Police on Saturday, Saju Chelavalel has been charged with the murders of &nbsp;Anju Asok, aged 35, Jeeva Saju, aged six and Janvi Saju, aged four.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mr Chelavalel, of Petherton Court, Kettering, was arrested by officers who were called to his address at 11.15 am on December 15," the police said in a statement. He will appear at the Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/baby-june-case-indian-american-mother-arrested-charged-543984">Baby June case: Indian-American mother arrested for tossing infant girl in seaside inlet</a></strong></p>

<p>On attendance, officers found Anju, Jeeva and Janvi with serious injuries, the statement said, adding that despite the best efforts of the paramedics, hospital staff and police officers, the three died a short time later.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the post-mortem examination, all three died as a result of asphyxiation.</p>

<p>Anju and Saju got married in 2012 and they moved to the UK last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Anju, Jeeva and Janvi, who we are determined to seek justice for," Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Simon Barnes said on Saturday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>''We will continue to have members of our Neighbourhood Policing Team on patrol in the area and I urge anyone with any concerns to please speak to them,” Barnes added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anju Asok, who belonged to the Indian state of Kerala, was a nurse by profession and had been working at the Kettering General Hospital since last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tributes started pouring in for Asok with the hospital's chief executive Deborah Needham saying that she was a committed and compassionate staff nurse, who was loved and respected by her dear friends and colleagues, according to a report by the Guardian on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"All our thoughts are with her friends and family as they come to terms with this sudden loss,'' Needham added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A 52-year-old Indian man in the United Kingdom's (UK) Kettering has been charged with murdering his wife and their two children. According to the Northamptonshire Police on Saturday, Saju Chelavalel has been charged with the murders of Anju Asok, aged 35, Jeeva Saju, aged six and Janvi Saju, aged four.

A 52-year-old Indian man in the United Kingdom's (UK) Kettering has been charged with murdering his wife and their two children. According to the Northamptonshire Police on Saturday, Saju Chelavalel has been charged with the murders of Anju Asok, aged 35, Jeeva Saju, aged six and Janvi Saju, aged four. "Mr Chelavalel, of Petherton Court, Kettering, was arrested by officers who were called to his address at 11.15 am on December 15," the police said in a statement. He will appear at the Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday. ALSO READ | Baby June case: Indian-American mother arrested for tossing infant girl in seaside inlet On attendance, officers found Anju, Jeeva and Janvi with serious injuries, the statement said, adding that despite the best efforts of the paramedics, hospital staff and police officers, the three died a short time later. According to the post-mortem examination, all three died as a result of asphyxiation. Anju and Saju got married in 2012 and they moved to the UK last year. "Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Anju, Jeeva and Janvi, who we are determined to seek justice for," Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Simon Barnes said on Saturday. ''We will continue to have members of our Neighbourhood Policing Team on patrol in the area and I urge anyone with any concerns to please speak to them,” Barnes added. Anju Asok, who belonged to the Indian state of Kerala, was a nurse by profession and had been working at the Kettering General Hospital since last year. Tributes started pouring in for Asok with the hospital's chief executive Deborah Needham saying that she was a committed and compassionate staff nurse, who was loved and respected by her dear friends and colleagues, according to a report by the Guardian on Sunday. "All our thoughts are with her friends and family as they come to terms with this sudden loss,'' Needham added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian man from Kerala charged with killing nurse wife, two children in Kettering, UK: Cops

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off on November 20 after a lot of hype. This is the first time that it is being held in the Middle East. While there have been only three days since the commencement of the tournament, it has griped the football fans across the globe. In India, despite the national football teams still being far away from qualifying in the mega event, there are plenty of ardent fans across the nation. Recently, a video of fans, in Kerala, made heads turn as there were people donning Brazil and Argentina's jerseys and at war amid the action in Qatar WC.</p>

<p><strong>Here's a video of the fans being engaged in a fist-fight while donning the jersey of their favourite sides:</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In Kerala, India, fans of Brazil and Argentina are at war - India doesn’t have a world class team yet to play <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> but fans have become already world class. <a href="https://t.co/EnM97l6fTI">pic.twitter.com/EnM97l6fTI</a></p>
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashoswai/status/1595019239433330689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-to-leave-manchester-united-with-immediate-effect-536561"><strong>Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with immediate effect</strong></a></p>

<p>While the video certainly shows how NOT to behave as fans, it also implies that even though India's national teams are still trying to grow further and compete at such big-ticket events, there remains plethora of football fans in India and many follow World Cups rigorously.&nbsp;Talking about Argentina, their fans had a forgettable start as Lionel Messi &amp; Co. lost 1-2 to Saudi Arabia in their tournament opener on Tuesday (November 22). Despite a lead from Messi, the 2014 runners-up surrendered the momentum and an inexperienced Saudi line-up made the most of it to strike twice, courtesy of&nbsp;Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari, took their side to a famous win.</p>

<p>Brazil, on the other hand, are placed in Group G and will open their campaign versus Serbia on November 25 (Friday). Their group also comprises Cameron and Switzerland. Both Brazil and Argentina are considered the top contenders for the elite title.</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off on November 20 after a lot of hype. This is the first time that it is being held in the Middle East. While there have been only three days since the commencement of the tournament, it has griped the football fans across the globe.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off on November 20 after a lot of hype. This is the first time that it is being held in the Middle East. While there have been only three days since the commencement of the tournament, it has griped the football fans across the globe. In India, despite the national football teams still being far away from qualifying in the mega event, there are plenty of ardent fans across the nation. Recently, a video of fans, in Kerala, made heads turn as there were people donning Brazil and Argentina's jerseys and at war amid the action in Qatar WC. Here's a video of the fans being engaged in a fist-fight while donning the jersey of their favourite sides: In Kerala, India, fans of Brazil and Argentina are at war - India doesn’t have a world class team yet to play #FIFAWorldCup but fans have become already world class. pic.twitter.com/EnM97l6fTI — Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) November 22, 2022 × Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Manchester United with immediate effect While the video certainly shows how NOT to behave as fans, it also implies that even though India's national teams are still trying to grow further and compete at such big-ticket events, there remains plethora of football fans in India and many follow World Cups rigorously. Talking about Argentina, their fans had a forgettable start as Lionel Messi & Co. lost 1-2 to Saudi Arabia in their tournament opener on Tuesday (November 22). Despite a lead from Messi, the 2014 runners-up surrendered the momentum and an inexperienced Saudi line-up made the most of it to strike twice, courtesy of Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari, took their side to a famous win. Brazil, on the other hand, are placed in Group G and will open their campaign versus Serbia on November 25 (Friday). Their group also comprises Cameron and Switzerland. Both Brazil and Argentina are considered the top contenders for the elite title.

WATCH: Chaos in Kerala as fans donning Brazil, Argentina jerseys at war amid FIFA World Cup 2022

<p>The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition got underway in Qatar on November 20 (Sunday). While only a handful of games have gone by, the hype around the World Cup has caught everyone's attention. Even in India, while the national sides are far from qualifying for the mega event, the craze for football knows no boundaries. In Kochi, as many as 17 fans crossed boundaries to make their experience of watching the FIFA World Cup a memorable affair by buying a house, worth INR 2.3 million (INR 23 lakhs), to be able to watch the proceedings together.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Love for soccer has no boundaries!</strong></p>

<p>PK Harris, one of the buyers of the house told ANI, “Because no match is enjoyable without loud cheering and fun. Most of the open spaces we used to screen were either sold or built on." Harris, who is a PWD contractor, revealed, "That’s when we came to know about the sale and pooled in money to buy the house."</p>

<p>It is to be noted that the group of ardent football fans are mostly supporting Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and France. In this regard, Harris said, "The idea of investing in the property is to celebrate every world cup season as we did for the past 15 or more years, and for the coming generation.&nbsp;A 50-inch television and internet facility has been set up here. Everyone in the area is welcome to watch the match."</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-chaos-in-kerala-as-fans-donning-brazil-argentina-jerseys-at-war-amid-fifa-world-cup-2022-536642">WATCH: Chaos in Kerala as fans donning Brazil, Argentina jerseys at war amid FIFA World Cup 2022</a></strong></p>

<p>On Tuesday (November 22), the FIFA WC saw Lionel Messi-led Argentina open their campaign with a shocking 2-1 defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia. Sharing what the atmosphere was like during the game, Harris stated, "The fun of teasing while the other person’s team losing and also cheering for our favourite team is the best part of the season,” said Harris. “It’s all friendly banter with each other." Two among the 17 friends are working abroad. Revealing their plans going ahead, Harris pointed out, "After the world cup season, we plan to construct a three-storey building. The first and second floors will be rented out to the needy to either set up a shop or anything, and the top floor will be dedicated space for screening the world cup in the coming years and setting up a sports club-like area for the coming generation."</p>

<p>The FIFA WC, which started with a lot of negative hype, is now set to come up with many such interesting stories of fans, which just depict the unreal craze and affect&nbsp;the beautiful game has across the globe.&nbsp;</p>


The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition got underway in Qatar on November 20 (Sunday). While only a handful of games have gone by, the hype around the World Cup has caught everyone's attention.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 edition got underway in Qatar on November 20 (Sunday). While only a handful of games have gone by, the hype around the World Cup has caught everyone's attention. Even in India, while the national sides are far from qualifying for the mega event, the craze for football knows no boundaries. In Kochi, as many as 17 fans crossed boundaries to make their experience of watching the FIFA World Cup a memorable affair by buying a house, worth INR 2.3 million (INR 23 lakhs), to be able to watch the proceedings together. Love for soccer has no boundaries! PK Harris, one of the buyers of the house told ANI, “Because no match is enjoyable without loud cheering and fun. Most of the open spaces we used to screen were either sold or built on." Harris, who is a PWD contractor, revealed, "That’s when we came to know about the sale and pooled in money to buy the house." It is to be noted that the group of ardent football fans are mostly supporting Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and France. In this regard, Harris said, "The idea of investing in the property is to celebrate every world cup season as we did for the past 15 or more years, and for the coming generation. A 50-inch television and internet facility has been set up here. Everyone in the area is welcome to watch the match." Also read: WATCH: Chaos in Kerala as fans donning Brazil, Argentina jerseys at war amid FIFA World Cup 2022 On Tuesday (November 22), the FIFA WC saw Lionel Messi-led Argentina open their campaign with a shocking 2-1 defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia. Sharing what the atmosphere was like during the game, Harris stated, "The fun of teasing while the other person’s team losing and also cheering for our favourite team is the best part of the season,” said Harris. “It’s all friendly banter with each other." Two among the 17 friends are working abroad. Revealing their plans going ahead, Harris pointed out, "After the world cup season, we plan to construct a three-storey building. The first and second floors will be rented out to the needy to either set up a shop or anything, and the top floor will be dedicated space for screening the world cup in the coming years and setting up a sports club-like area for the coming generation." The FIFA WC, which started with a lot of negative hype, is now set to come up with many such interesting stories of fans, which just depict the unreal craze and affect the beautiful game has across the globe.

Would you buy a house to watch FIFA World Cup? 17 fans from Kerala did just that!

<p>In Dubai, an Indian hotel employee hit a jackpot as he won Dh25 million on Thursday in the first Big Ticket Live outdoor draw since 2020. Sajesh NS,&nbsp;The Series 245 big prize winner is&nbsp;a resident of Dubai who arrived in the UAE two years ago from Oman, has been purchasing Big Tickets every month for the past four years. His 20 coworkers helped him buy his winning ticket online, and they will all now split the prize money.</p>

<p>Sajesh said that he wants to help others when asked how he intends to use his money, reported Gulf news.</p>

<p>“There are over 150 employees at the hotel where I work, and I would like to help out as many of them as I can by sharing a portion of my winnings with them,” he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virgin-australia-launches-lottery-to-make-people-opt-for-the-middle-seat-on-flights-528347">Virgin Australia launches lottery to make people opt for the middle seat on flights</a></p>

<p>Despite becoming a millionaire, Sajesh plans to continue purchasing tickets every month.</p>

<p>One lucky winner will get Dh30 million for the first time ever with Big Ticket at the next December live draw. There will also be a second prize of Dh1 million, a third prize of Dh100,000, and a fourth reward of Dh50,000 revealed.</p>

<p>In November, Dh1 million will be awarded to each weekly e-draw winner.</p>

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In Dubai, an Indian hotel employee hit a jackpot as he won Dh25 million on Thursday in the first Big Ticket Live outdoor draw since 2020. Sajesh NS, The Series 245 big prize winner is a resident of Dubai who arrived in the UAE two years ago from Oman, has been purchasing Big Tickets every month for the past four years.

In Dubai, an Indian hotel employee hit a jackpot as he won Dh25 million on Thursday in the first Big Ticket Live outdoor draw since 2020. Sajesh NS, The Series 245 big prize winner is a resident of Dubai who arrived in the UAE two years ago from Oman, has been purchasing Big Tickets every month for the past four years. His 20 coworkers helped him buy his winning ticket online, and they will all now split the prize money. Sajesh said that he wants to help others when asked how he intends to use his money, reported Gulf news. “There are over 150 employees at the hotel where I work, and I would like to help out as many of them as I can by sharing a portion of my winnings with them,” he said. Also read | Virgin Australia launches lottery to make people opt for the middle seat on flights Despite becoming a millionaire, Sajesh plans to continue purchasing tickets every month. One lucky winner will get Dh30 million for the first time ever with Big Ticket at the next December live draw. There will also be a second prize of Dh1 million, a third prize of Dh100,000, and a fourth reward of Dh50,000 revealed. In November, Dh1 million will be awarded to each weekly e-draw winner. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian hotel employee in Dubai hits jackpot; wins Dh25 million in Big Ticket

The famous 'vegetarian' crocodile, 'Babiya' passed away at Kerala's Sree Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple in Kasaragod. Hundreds of thousands of devotees paid homage to their beloved Babiya. Why was it so special? Why was it loved by devotees? Watch the video to know.

India: Famous ‘vegetarian’ crocodile Babiya passes away at Kerala

<p>A police probe that was initiated to trace a missing woman, Padmam,&nbsp;in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has turned&nbsp;extremely gory and murky. After having arrested three accused in the case, the police have learnt that two middle-aged women, Roslin and Padmam,&nbsp;were lured into a trap on the pretext of earning easy money and then killed brutally as part of 'human sacrifice' ritual. It is also suspected by the cops that one of the victim's mortal remains were cannibalised by the accused. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In&nbsp;the last week of September, police in Kerala's Kochi city received a complaint regarding a woman going missing. The complaint was filed by the kin of Padmam, a 52-year-old woman who sold lottery tickets in the city. Padmam had reportedly gone missing on September 26th.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Investigation revealed that Padmam had been in touch with Muhammad Shafi alias Rasheed, who was running an eatery. Shafi is said to have had a criminal record and was already facing serious charges of rape, attempted murder and theft among others. Based on CCTV evidence and call records, police came to know how Shafi got in touch with Padmam and lured her by offering her easy money and took&nbsp;her with him in a car.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Finally, police were led to a house in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. This was the residence of Bhagwal Singh and his wife Laila. The duo was in financial trouble and Shafi had exploited their vulnerability. He is said to have won over their confidence and impressed upon them about 'human sacrifice' would end their troubles and bring prosperity. It was here that the trio carried out the gruesome murder (details of which are known, but are purposely being withheld in this report due to their excessive gory nature) of Padmam in late September.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-breathtaking-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2022-524779">In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022</a></p>

<p>Further, the cops are also said to have understood that Roslin, another lottery vendor who went missing around June, had also suffered the same fate at the hands of the trio, around June 6th. Like Padmam, Roslin also made ends meet by selling lottery ticket in Kochi and is believed to have fallen prey to Shafi's approach and offer for easy money.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mortal remains suspected to be of the two victims were exhumed from the residence of Bhagwal Singh and Laila, on Tuesday. The three accused were remanded to judicial custody till October 26th&nbsp;by a court in Kochi. The police are expected to seek their custody in the coming days.&nbsp;</p>

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A police probe that was initiated to trace a missing woman, Padmam, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has turned extremely gory and murky. After having arrested three accused in the case, the police have learnt that two middle-aged women, Roslin and Padmam, were lured into a trap on the pretext of earning easy money and then killed brutally as part of 'human sacrifice' ritual.

A police probe that was initiated to trace a missing woman, Padmam, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has turned extremely gory and murky. After having arrested three accused in the case, the police have learnt that two middle-aged women, Roslin and Padmam, were lured into a trap on the pretext of earning easy money and then killed brutally as part of 'human sacrifice' ritual. It is also suspected by the cops that one of the victim's mortal remains were cannibalised by the accused. In the last week of September, police in Kerala's Kochi city received a complaint regarding a woman going missing. The complaint was filed by the kin of Padmam, a 52-year-old woman who sold lottery tickets in the city. Padmam had reportedly gone missing on September 26th. Investigation revealed that Padmam had been in touch with Muhammad Shafi alias Rasheed, who was running an eatery. Shafi is said to have had a criminal record and was already facing serious charges of rape, attempted murder and theft among others. Based on CCTV evidence and call records, police came to know how Shafi got in touch with Padmam and lured her by offering her easy money and took her with him in a car. Finally, police were led to a house in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. This was the residence of Bhagwal Singh and his wife Laila. The duo was in financial trouble and Shafi had exploited their vulnerability. He is said to have won over their confidence and impressed upon them about 'human sacrifice' would end their troubles and bring prosperity. It was here that the trio carried out the gruesome murder (details of which are known, but are purposely being withheld in this report due to their excessive gory nature) of Padmam in late September. Also Read: In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022 Further, the cops are also said to have understood that Roslin, another lottery vendor who went missing around June, had also suffered the same fate at the hands of the trio, around June 6th. Like Padmam, Roslin also made ends meet by selling lottery ticket in Kochi and is believed to have fallen prey to Shafi's approach and offer for easy money. The mortal remains suspected to be of the two victims were exhumed from the residence of Bhagwal Singh and Laila, on Tuesday. The three accused were remanded to judicial custody till October 26th by a court in Kochi. The police are expected to seek their custody in the coming days.

India: Kerala 'human sacrifice' case gets gory, cannibalism angle being probed

<p>On Thursday, a magistrate court of Ernakulam in the Indian state of Kerala, remanded three accused of alleged human sacrifice to police custody for 12 days, reported the Bar and Bench. This comes days after the news of human sacrifice first came to light on October 11.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The three accused were later identified as Muhammed Shafi and the husband-wife pair of Bhagawal Singh and Laila, said the report. This comes a day after they were sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a local court.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-three-held-for-allegedly-killing-two-women-as-human-sacrifices-in-kerala-524695">India: Three arrested for grisly 'human sacrifice' of two women in Kerala for prosperity</a></p>

<p>The news first broke when dismembered bodies of two women were exhumed on Tuesday from a house in a village. According to the local police, the two women were murdered allegedly in “human sacrifice” rituals. Reportedly, they were lottery ticket sellers in the state’s Ernakulam city and went missing earlier this year in June and September.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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On Thursday, a magistrate court of Ernakulam in the Indian state of Kerala, remanded three accused of alleged human sacrifice to police custody for 12 days, reported the Bar and Bench.

On Thursday, a magistrate court of Ernakulam in the Indian state of Kerala, remanded three accused of alleged human sacrifice to police custody for 12 days, reported the Bar and Bench. This comes days after the news of human sacrifice first came to light on October 11. The three accused were later identified as Muhammed Shafi and the husband-wife pair of Bhagawal Singh and Laila, said the report. This comes a day after they were sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a local court. ALSO READ: India: Three arrested for grisly 'human sacrifice' of two women in Kerala for prosperity The news first broke when dismembered bodies of two women were exhumed on Tuesday from a house in a village. According to the local police, the two women were murdered allegedly in “human sacrifice” rituals. Reportedly, they were lottery ticket sellers in the state’s Ernakulam city and went missing earlier this year in June and September. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Three accused in Kerala ‘human sacrifice’ case remanded to police custody for 12 days

<p>Two women were murdered, their bodies&nbsp;cut into pieces and buried in an alleged case of human sacrifice in a shocking incident related to black magic in India's southern state of Kerala. As quoted by news agency ANI, a local police official said on Tuesday the women were 'brutally' murdered allegedly in "human sacrifice" rituals within 24 hours after they went missing in Pathanamthitta.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Kochi City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju, three persons, including a woman, were arrested. They were suspected of luring and killing the women allegedly in human sacrifice.&nbsp;Officials said&nbsp;the murders took place on June 6 and September 26 and the case was registered by Kadavanthra police in Kochi after report of a missing woman was filed in September.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The accused, identified as Shafi and the husband-wife pair of Bhagaval Singh and Laila, were sent to two weeks of judicial custody by a local court on Wednesday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Ernakulam City Commissioner of Police C Nagaraju said, “Mohammed Shafi, the prime accused in the human sacrifice case in which two women were allegedly murdered at a house at Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta District, is a pervert.”<br />
<br />
He said Shafi has got many cases, including theft and rape, against him, reported news agency PTI. "At least, 10 cases have been registered against him in the last 15 years. In one of the rape cases, a 75-year-old was raped and injured with a knife in various parts of her body. In this case of Elanthoor, the two victims were injured in private parts in a similar manner," Nagaraju said.<br />
<br />
"Basically, he is a pervert and a sadist... Causing injury, harm and death. He will make up any story, trap anyone," the commissioner added.<br />
<br />
The senior police official said all the three accused have direct participation in both the murders but the accused couple did not have a history of crime.<br />
<br />
The news agency PTI reported the commissioner saying on Wednesday that Shafi, who is a history-sheeter, used the irrational fear of the accused couple and convinced them that human sacrifice would solve their financial woes.<br />
<br />
Nagaraju said the missing case of one of the women, Padma from Elamkulam, resulted in identifying the horrific crimes.<br />
<br />
Reports mentioned that Mohammed Shafi brought the two women to Bhagaval's house, who along with his wife used to run a massage centre near Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: 'Human sacrifice' in Kerala | All three accused being brought out of Ernakulam District Sessions Court. All of them have been remanded to judicial custody till October 26.<br />
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The three accused had allegedly killed two women as 'human sacrifices' <a href="https://t.co/UI6SDvbDCC">pic.twitter.com/UI6SDvbDCC</a></p>
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<p>"The main suspect is Shafi who brought the women. His aim was money. It is being investigated whether the accused Shafi approached more women for a 'human sacrifice ritual'," Nagaraju said, adding that the CCTV footage was helpful in nabbing the accused.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The women were killed, their bodies cut into several pieces and then they were buried in the premises of the couple's house in the village.&nbsp;The chopped body parts of the deceased were exhumed from Elanthoor village in Pathanamthitta later in the day.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The women had gone missing in September and June this year and the eventual probe, based on their mobile phone details and tower locations, unravelled the story of human sacrifice.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
According to the police, two dismembered bodies were found buried inside the premises of a house in the Pathanamthitta district. "We think that the couple Bhagaval Singh and Laila performed human sacrifice for economic prosperity," the official said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
National and state women's commissions strongly condemned the incident and sought stringent action against the accused.<br />
<br />
Chairperson of National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma&nbsp;sought a detailed action-taken-report from Kerala DGP Anil Kant within a week&nbsp;while&nbsp;Kerala State Human Rights Commission registered a case on its own on the basis of&nbsp;media reports.</p>

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Two women were murdered, their bodies cut into pieces and buried in an alleged case of human sacrifice in a shocking incident related to black magic in India's southern state of Kerala.

Two women were murdered, their bodies cut into pieces and buried in an alleged case of human sacrifice in a shocking incident related to black magic in India's southern state of Kerala. As quoted by news agency ANI, a local police official said on Tuesday the women were 'brutally' murdered allegedly in "human sacrifice" rituals within 24 hours after they went missing in Pathanamthitta. According to Kochi City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju, three persons, including a woman, were arrested. They were suspected of luring and killing the women allegedly in human sacrifice. Officials said the murders took place on June 6 and September 26 and the case was registered by Kadavanthra police in Kochi after report of a missing woman was filed in September. The accused, identified as Shafi and the husband-wife pair of Bhagaval Singh and Laila, were sent to two weeks of judicial custody by a local court on Wednesday. Ernakulam City Commissioner of Police C Nagaraju said, “Mohammed Shafi, the prime accused in the human sacrifice case in which two women were allegedly murdered at a house at Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta District, is a pervert.” He said Shafi has got many cases, including theft and rape, against him, reported news agency PTI. "At least, 10 cases have been registered against him in the last 15 years. In one of the rape cases, a 75-year-old was raped and injured with a knife in various parts of her body. In this case of Elanthoor, the two victims were injured in private parts in a similar manner," Nagaraju said. "Basically, he is a pervert and a sadist... Causing injury, harm and death. He will make up any story, trap anyone," the commissioner added. The senior police official said all the three accused have direct participation in both the murders but the accused couple did not have a history of crime. The news agency PTI reported the commissioner saying on Wednesday that Shafi, who is a history-sheeter, used the irrational fear of the accused couple and convinced them that human sacrifice would solve their financial woes. Nagaraju said the missing case of one of the women, Padma from Elamkulam, resulted in identifying the horrific crimes. Reports mentioned that Mohammed Shafi brought the two women to Bhagaval's house, who along with his wife used to run a massage centre near Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district. #WATCH: 'Human sacrifice' in Kerala | All three accused being brought out of Ernakulam District Sessions Court. All of them have been remanded to judicial custody till October 26. The three accused had allegedly killed two women as 'human sacrifices' pic.twitter.com/UI6SDvbDCC — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2022 × "The main suspect is Shafi who brought the women. His aim was money. It is being investigated whether the accused Shafi approached more women for a 'human sacrifice ritual'," Nagaraju said, adding that the CCTV footage was helpful in nabbing the accused. The women were killed, their bodies cut into several pieces and then they were buried in the premises of the couple's house in the village. The chopped body parts of the deceased were exhumed from Elanthoor village in Pathanamthitta later in the day. The women had gone missing in September and June this year and the eventual probe, based on their mobile phone details and tower locations, unravelled the story of human sacrifice. According to the police, two dismembered bodies were found buried inside the premises of a house in the Pathanamthitta district. "We think that the couple Bhagaval Singh and Laila performed human sacrifice for economic prosperity," the official said. National and state women's commissions strongly condemned the incident and sought stringent action against the accused. Chairperson of National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma sought a detailed action-taken-report from Kerala DGP Anil Kant within a week while Kerala State Human Rights Commission registered a case on its own on the basis of media reports. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Three arrested for grisly 'human sacrifice' of two women in Kerala for prosperity

India: Famous ‘vegetarian’ crocodile Babiya passes away at Kerala temple

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<p>You are alone, walking along a hillside track and are suddenly being charged by a herd of wild elephants. Such a situation is more than adequate to make most people's heart stop. However, a man from Chinnakanal village in Kerala's scenic and hilly Idukki district maintained his composure and presence of mind to not just escape, but also climb onto and remain atop a nearby eucalyptus tree for more than an hour and a half.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saji, the 40-year-old man was walking to his agricultural land when he came up close to the elephant herd. When a tusker in the herd charged at him, he ran to the safety of a nearby grassy tract and climbed atop what looked like a eucalyptus tree.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/viral?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#viral</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Video?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Video</a> of the gutsy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/keralite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#keralite</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/idukki?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#idukki</a> ,who braved a herd of charging <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elephants?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#elephants</a> , ran to safety &amp; climbed the nearest eucalyptus tree… He held on atop the tree for 1.5hrs until villagers &amp; foresters came &amp; chased the herd away.. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kerala</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wildlife?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wildlife</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/forest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#forest</a> <a href="https://t.co/KPcG6w4HbY">pic.twitter.com/KPcG6w4HbY</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1575038540567949312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Videos of the incident show that the elephant herd was barely few meters away from the tree and Saji was watching them from atop. While Saji held on to the tree for more than 90 minutes, villagers and forest staff managed to move away the herd by bursting firecrackers and screaming loudly.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Unfazed by the fact that he escaped a chasing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tusker?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tusker</a> , held on to a tree top for 1.5hrs. Saji coolly recalls the incident- how where were 3 elephants and 2 babies..he was chased and climbed atop the tree. Waited 90mins until villagers, guards burst crackers, chased the herd <a href="https://t.co/XjyaVVsk75">https://t.co/XjyaVVsk75</a> <a href="https://t.co/LYldlXltdD">pic.twitter.com/LYldlXltdD</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1575046552519081984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to Saji, he lived a short distance downhill from the place where the elephants chased him from. He also added that there were three elephants in the herd and two baby elephants. Extremely protective of their little ones, elephants tend to get provoked and agitated when approached in the presence of their babies.&nbsp;</p>

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You are alone, walking along a hillside track and are suddenly being charged by a herd of wild elephants. Such a situation is more than adequate to make most people's heart stop.

You are alone, walking along a hillside track and are suddenly being charged by a herd of wild elephants. Such a situation is more than adequate to make most people's heart stop. However, a man from Chinnakanal village in Kerala's scenic and hilly Idukki district maintained his composure and presence of mind to not just escape, but also climb onto and remain atop a nearby eucalyptus tree for more than an hour and a half. Saji, the 40-year-old man was walking to his agricultural land when he came up close to the elephant herd. When a tusker in the herd charged at him, he ran to the safety of a nearby grassy tract and climbed atop what looked like a eucalyptus tree. #viral #Video of the gutsy #keralite from #idukki ,who braved a herd of charging #elephants , ran to safety & climbed the nearest eucalyptus tree… He held on atop the tree for 1.5hrs until villagers & foresters came & chased the herd away.. #india #kerala #wildlife #forest pic.twitter.com/KPcG6w4HbY — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) September 28, 2022 × Videos of the incident show that the elephant herd was barely few meters away from the tree and Saji was watching them from atop. While Saji held on to the tree for more than 90 minutes, villagers and forest staff managed to move away the herd by bursting firecrackers and screaming loudly. Unfazed by the fact that he escaped a chasing #tusker , held on to a tree top for 1.5hrs. Saji coolly recalls the incident- how where were 3 elephants and 2 babies..he was chased and climbed atop the tree. Waited 90mins until villagers, guards burst crackers, chased the herd https://t.co/XjyaVVsk75 pic.twitter.com/LYldlXltdD — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) September 28, 2022 × According to Saji, he lived a short distance downhill from the place where the elephants chased him from. He also added that there were three elephants in the herd and two baby elephants. Extremely protective of their little ones, elephants tend to get provoked and agitated when approached in the presence of their babies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Watch: Kerala man holds onto dear life, sits on a tree to escape wild elephants

<p>It was just a week ago that an elated Anoop was giving away media interviews about how his Rs 25 crore (around $3 million) lottery win would change his family's fortunes forever. A week later, the auto driver from the southern Indian state of Kerala experienced and understood the downsides of having big money and popularity. His daily life has taken a turn for the worse and he's even released a new video explaining his plight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the viral video titled "Bumper adichaal ulla avastha"(Malayalam for 'The plight after having won the bumper lottery prize'), he explains the limitless reach and popularity that the breathless media coverage of this lottery win has brought him.</p>

<p>"With every passing day, my plight is deteriorating... I'm unable to step out of home (as people are able to identify me everywhere, even if I'm wearing a mask)... To keep away from the attention, I'm having to move from place to place and shuttle between houses of relatives...People keep coming home asking for help and financial aid... However, I myself haven't got the prize money and nobody is willing to believe me," he laments in the video.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Everyday, my plight is worsening. I'm unable to step outside. To keep away from the attention, I'm moving from place to place. My kid is unwell &amp; that's why I came here.Ppl keep coming home&amp; ask for money. However,I myself haven't got the prize money" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kerala</a> 25cr lottery winner <a href="https://t.co/AIDoEVUP8D">pic.twitter.com/AIDoEVUP8D</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1574343134024110080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The clip shows him embracing his little son, who is visibly unwell and coughing uncontrollably. Anoop says that he's a millionaire now, but can't even peacefully spend time with his son and take him to a hospital when the little one is unwell. "I'm in such a situation where I can't enter my own house... even my neighbours are angry because crowds are flocking to my place," he is seen saying in the clip.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/this-doctor-writes-super-neat-prescriptions-one-is-now-viral-519607" hreflang="en">This doc writes super-neat prescriptions, and one is now viral</a></strong></p>

<p>Anoop who has been feeding his family of four with the meagre Rs.20,000 ($250) that he earns every month, was astonished and beyond delighted on winning the lottery prize amounting to Rs 25 crore (around $3 million), of which he would receive Rs.15.75 crore ($1.9 million) following tax deductions.</p>

<p>"I am an ordinary person who doesn't know a single thing about income tax and related formalities for having received such money...Whenever I receive the prize money, I will deposit it in the bank and utilise it only after a few years," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Considering the excessive and unprecedented attention that he has been witnessing over the last week, Anoop said that it would have been much more peaceful if he had won third place or so, instead of the top prize in the Kerala Onam (festive) bumper lottery.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch WION's live TV here:</strong></p>

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It was just a week ago that an elated Anoop was giving away media interviews about how his Rs 25 crore (around $3 million) lottery win would change his family's fortunes forever.

It was just a week ago that an elated Anoop was giving away media interviews about how his Rs 25 crore (around $3 million) lottery win would change his family's fortunes forever. A week later, the auto driver from the southern Indian state of Kerala experienced and understood the downsides of having big money and popularity. His daily life has taken a turn for the worse and he's even released a new video explaining his plight. In the viral video titled "Bumper adichaal ulla avastha"(Malayalam for 'The plight after having won the bumper lottery prize'), he explains the limitless reach and popularity that the breathless media coverage of this lottery win has brought him. "With every passing day, my plight is deteriorating... I'm unable to step out of home (as people are able to identify me everywhere, even if I'm wearing a mask)... To keep away from the attention, I'm having to move from place to place and shuttle between houses of relatives...People keep coming home asking for help and financial aid... However, I myself haven't got the prize money and nobody is willing to believe me," he laments in the video. "Everyday, my plight is worsening. I'm unable to step outside. To keep away from the attention, I'm moving from place to place. My kid is unwell & that's why I came here.Ppl keep coming home& ask for money. However,I myself haven't got the prize money" #kerala 25cr lottery winner pic.twitter.com/AIDoEVUP8D — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) September 26, 2022 × The clip shows him embracing his little son, who is visibly unwell and coughing uncontrollably. Anoop says that he's a millionaire now, but can't even peacefully spend time with his son and take him to a hospital when the little one is unwell. "I'm in such a situation where I can't enter my own house... even my neighbours are angry because crowds are flocking to my place," he is seen saying in the clip. Also read | This doc writes super-neat prescriptions, and one is now viral Anoop who has been feeding his family of four with the meagre Rs.20,000 ($250) that he earns every month, was astonished and beyond delighted on winning the lottery prize amounting to Rs 25 crore (around $3 million), of which he would receive Rs.15.75 crore ($1.9 million) following tax deductions. "I am an ordinary person who doesn't know a single thing about income tax and related formalities for having received such money...Whenever I receive the prize money, I will deposit it in the bank and utilise it only after a few years," he said. Considering the excessive and unprecedented attention that he has been witnessing over the last week, Anoop said that it would have been much more peaceful if he had won third place or so, instead of the top prize in the Kerala Onam (festive) bumper lottery. Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Week after $3 million lottery win, Indian man says he's surrounded by people asking for money

<p>Absolutely no offense to any language or people as we are one world. But strictly from Indian perspective, patients are often forced to think that Indian doctors have to complete a mandatory ancient Egyptian language course while learning medicine. The hieroglyphic writing on medical prescriptions is for the chemist's eyes only as it is only he (or she) who can de-code the apparent gibberish.</p>

<p>In simpler words, doctors (generally) have (very) bad handwriting.</p>

<p>It is hence a breath of fresh air, a sweet surprise and whatnot when you can actually read a prescription. More so when the handwriting is highest degree of neat. Dr Nithin Narayanan is gaining online fame for this very reason.</p>

<p>Dr Narayanan works at a Community Health Centre (CHC) in southern Indian state of Kerala. A medical prescription written by him has gone viral online for neat handwriting. What's more, the letters are all capital!</p>

<p>While speaking with news outlet Asianet, he said that he liked to write and his handwriting was neat since he was a child.</p>

<p>“My sister used to make me write in four-lined notebooks when I was a child. I love writing, so even when I write a prescription I try to write in block letters.” he said.</p>

<p>It is perhaps quite possible that prescriptions handwritten by Dr Narayanan are not only saving lives of the patients but also saving chemists from a trip to eye doctor.</p>

<p>In all seriousness though, his effort is laudable as while working in community health centre, one deals with grassroots of society. A clean, neatly written prescription is likely to reduce confusion and help in dispensation of correct medicines.</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

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Absolutely no offense to any language or people as we are one world. But strictly from Indian perspective, patients are often forced to think that Indian doctors have to complete a mandatory ancient Egyptian language course while learning medicine.

Absolutely no offense to any language or people as we are one world. But strictly from Indian perspective, patients are often forced to think that Indian doctors have to complete a mandatory ancient Egyptian language course while learning medicine. The hieroglyphic writing on medical prescriptions is for the chemist's eyes only as it is only he (or she) who can de-code the apparent gibberish. In simpler words, doctors (generally) have (very) bad handwriting. It is hence a breath of fresh air, a sweet surprise and whatnot when you can actually read a prescription. More so when the handwriting is highest degree of neat. Dr Nithin Narayanan is gaining online fame for this very reason. Dr Narayanan works at a Community Health Centre (CHC) in southern Indian state of Kerala. A medical prescription written by him has gone viral online for neat handwriting. What's more, the letters are all capital! While speaking with news outlet Asianet, he said that he liked to write and his handwriting was neat since he was a child. “My sister used to make me write in four-lined notebooks when I was a child. I love writing, so even when I write a prescription I try to write in block letters.” he said. It is perhaps quite possible that prescriptions handwritten by Dr Narayanan are not only saving lives of the patients but also saving chemists from a trip to eye doctor. In all seriousness though, his effort is laudable as while working in community health centre, one deals with grassroots of society. A clean, neatly written prescription is likely to reduce confusion and help in dispensation of correct medicines. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

This doc writes super-neat prescriptions, and one is now viral

<p>He feeds his family of four by riding an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk) and running a small eatery, bringing home about $250 every month. His family is awaiting a new member - his wife is expecting their second child in the next few months and the financial situation couldn't have gotten tighter. \</p>

<p>He had just sought a loan for $3,800 to build a house and was soon to leave his hometown in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram and head for Malaysia to work as a cook. Soon, he could be richer by as much as $1.9 million (Rs15.75cr). &nbsp;</p>

<p>WION spoke to Anoop, the man from Kerala who has been all over the internet, for having won first place in a festive-special lottery ticket.</p>

<p>Early on Saturday (September 17), the 29-year-old spent $6.25 and purchased the Onam bumper lottery from a dealership near his residence in Kerala's capital city, Thiruvananthapuram.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-build-house-kerala-auto-driver-wins-onam-bumper-lottery-worth-250-million-rs25-cr-517570">'Will build house': Kerala auto driver wins Onam bumper lottery worth $3.1million (₹25 Cr)</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>"Our financial situation was tight, even then I went ahead and purchased the lottery as it would be my last chance for many years. My Malaysian employment contract requires me to stay there and work for two years at least and hence I wanted to give it (lottery) a final shot before I depart from Kerala," he recalls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anoop has also recently received approval for the loan that he had sought from a cooperative bank. He hoped to build a modest home with that sum and repay the loan with his earnings from Malaysia, where he would work as a cook at a restaurant serving Kerala cuisine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I myself ran a small eatery here, besides riding my auto. However, things didn't go well doing COVID and the eatery wasn't of much help. That's when I considered the Malaysian opportunity, where I'd earn about Rs.50,000 a month, which is more than double that I make today," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/canada-indian-student-shot-last-week-succumbs-to-injuries-517612">Canada: Indian student shot last week succumbs to injuries</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Riding an auto, he earns 20K a month, feeds a family of four…took a 3lakh loan to build a modest home, was to leave for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Malaysia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Malaysia</a> to cook at a hotel &amp; make 50K a month..wife is expecting their second child..tight finances ..<br />
He ends up winning 25cr -Anoop 🙏😊❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KeralaLottery?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KeralaLottery</a> <a href="https://t.co/tH9q8x3fGE">pic.twitter.com/tH9q8x3fGE</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1571812811004837891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Come Sunday (September 18) noon and much of these worries had vanished and Anoop became a media sensation. The salt-of-the-earth auto driver was the lucky one who possessed the first-prize winning ticket "TJ 750605".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The announcement of the winning tickets was made around 3:30pm and I couldn't believe what had unfolded and then I asked my wife to check if it was for real. Then, the media attention followed", he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From Sunday evening until Monday noon, his phone has been buzzing, journalists have been queuing up at his residence, it's been endless activity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anoop expressed boundless joy on the win and is happier for the fact that he can stay at home, be by his wife and witness the birth of his second child. The lottery win has meant that he wouldn't have to go to Malaysia and eke out a living, staying away from his loved ones. He wouldn't be needing the loan either.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He's on top of the world, yet Anoop laughingly says, "In reality, I am a pauper.. Our financial situation is that bad... I have deposited the lottery ticket in the bank, it is being said that it would take more than a month to receive the prize money... However, we are all happy about how things have turned out, so far we haven't even had time to celebrate as a family."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


He feeds his family of four by riding an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk) and running a small eatery, bringing home about $250 every month. His family is awaiting a new member - his wife is expecting their second child in the next few months and the financial situation couldn't have gotten tighter.

He feeds his family of four by riding an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk) and running a small eatery, bringing home about $250 every month. His family is awaiting a new member - his wife is expecting their second child in the next few months and the financial situation couldn't have gotten tighter. \ He had just sought a loan for $3,800 to build a house and was soon to leave his hometown in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram and head for Malaysia to work as a cook. Soon, he could be richer by as much as $1.9 million (Rs15.75cr). WION spoke to Anoop, the man from Kerala who has been all over the internet, for having won first place in a festive-special lottery ticket. Early on Saturday (September 17), the 29-year-old spent $6.25 and purchased the Onam bumper lottery from a dealership near his residence in Kerala's capital city, Thiruvananthapuram. ALSO READ | 'Will build house': Kerala auto driver wins Onam bumper lottery worth $3.1million (₹25 Cr) "Our financial situation was tight, even then I went ahead and purchased the lottery as it would be my last chance for many years. My Malaysian employment contract requires me to stay there and work for two years at least and hence I wanted to give it (lottery) a final shot before I depart from Kerala," he recalls. Anoop has also recently received approval for the loan that he had sought from a cooperative bank. He hoped to build a modest home with that sum and repay the loan with his earnings from Malaysia, where he would work as a cook at a restaurant serving Kerala cuisine. "I myself ran a small eatery here, besides riding my auto. However, things didn't go well doing COVID and the eatery wasn't of much help. That's when I considered the Malaysian opportunity, where I'd earn about Rs.50,000 a month, which is more than double that I make today," he said. ALSO READ | Canada: Indian student shot last week succumbs to injuries Riding an auto, he earns 20K a month, feeds a family of four…took a 3lakh loan to build a modest home, was to leave for #Malaysia to cook at a hotel & make 50K a month..wife is expecting their second child..tight finances .. He ends up winning 25cr -Anoop 🙏😊❤️#KeralaLottery pic.twitter.com/tH9q8x3fGE — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) September 19, 2022 × Come Sunday (September 18) noon and much of these worries had vanished and Anoop became a media sensation. The salt-of-the-earth auto driver was the lucky one who possessed the first-prize winning ticket "TJ 750605". "The announcement of the winning tickets was made around 3:30pm and I couldn't believe what had unfolded and then I asked my wife to check if it was for real. Then, the media attention followed", he said. From Sunday evening until Monday noon, his phone has been buzzing, journalists have been queuing up at his residence, it's been endless activity. Anoop expressed boundless joy on the win and is happier for the fact that he can stay at home, be by his wife and witness the birth of his second child. The lottery win has meant that he wouldn't have to go to Malaysia and eke out a living, staying away from his loved ones. He wouldn't be needing the loan either. He's on top of the world, yet Anoop laughingly says, "In reality, I am a pauper.. Our financial situation is that bad... I have deposited the lottery ticket in the bank, it is being said that it would take more than a month to receive the prize money... However, we are all happy about how things have turned out, so far we haven't even had time to celebrate as a family." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Our financial situation was tight': Kerala man who won lottery worth $3.1million speaks to WION

<p>An auto-rickshaw driver, who was planning to go to Malaysia to work as a chef,&nbsp;won the ₹ 25 crore Onam bumper lottery in Kerala on Sunday,&nbsp;just a day after his application for a loan of ₹ 3 lakh was approved.</p>

<p>Even more interesting is that Anoop, hailing from Sreevaraham, bought the winning ticket by breaking his son's piggy bank just hours before the draw.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He claimed that he did not like the first ticket he picked, so he went with another one that ended up winning.</p>

<p>Anoop, who was overjoyed about the money and his trip to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysias-former-pm-najib-razaks-daughter-requests-for-his-proper-medical-care-515615">Malaysia</a>, said: "I told the bank when they contacted today about the loan that I no longer needed it. I also won't be travelling to Malaysia." He has been purchasing lottery tickets for the past 22 years and, according to Anoop, has previously won sums ranging from a few hundred to as much as 5,000.</p>

<p>"I was not expecting to win and therefore, I was not watching the lottery results on TV. However, when I checked my phone, I saw that I had won. I could not believe it and showed it to my wife. She confirmed that it was the winning number," he said.</p>

<p>"But I was still tensed, so I called a lady I know who sells lottery tickets and sent her a picture of my ticket. She confirmed that it was the winning number," Anoop said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/one-million-tonnes-of-rice-stuck-at-indian-ports-after-rice-export-ban-duty-imposition-515266">One million tonnes of rice stuck at Indian ports after rice export ban &amp; duty imposition</a></p>

<p>Anoop's take-home pay after taxes would presumably be around Rs 15 crore.</p>

<p>He responded that building a home for his family and paying off his accrued debts are his top priorities when asked what he plans to do with the lottery money.</p>

<p>In addition, Anoop stated that he will assist his family, engage in charitable endeavours, and launch a business in Kerala's hotel industry.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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An auto-rickshaw driver, who was planning to go to Malaysia to work as a chef, won the ₹ 25 crore Onam bumper lottery in Kerala on Sunday, just a day after his application for a loan of ₹ 3 lakh was approved.

An auto-rickshaw driver, who was planning to go to Malaysia to work as a chef, won the ₹ 25 crore Onam bumper lottery in Kerala on Sunday, just a day after his application for a loan of ₹ 3 lakh was approved. Even more interesting is that Anoop, hailing from Sreevaraham, bought the winning ticket by breaking his son's piggy bank just hours before the draw. He claimed that he did not like the first ticket he picked, so he went with another one that ended up winning. Anoop, who was overjoyed about the money and his trip to Malaysia, said: "I told the bank when they contacted today about the loan that I no longer needed it. I also won't be travelling to Malaysia." He has been purchasing lottery tickets for the past 22 years and, according to Anoop, has previously won sums ranging from a few hundred to as much as 5,000. "I was not expecting to win and therefore, I was not watching the lottery results on TV. However, when I checked my phone, I saw that I had won. I could not believe it and showed it to my wife. She confirmed that it was the winning number," he said. "But I was still tensed, so I called a lady I know who sells lottery tickets and sent her a picture of my ticket. She confirmed that it was the winning number," Anoop said. Also read | One million tonnes of rice stuck at Indian ports after rice export ban & duty imposition Anoop's take-home pay after taxes would presumably be around Rs 15 crore. He responded that building a home for his family and paying off his accrued debts are his top priorities when asked what he plans to do with the lottery money. In addition, Anoop stated that he will assist his family, engage in charitable endeavours, and launch a business in Kerala's hotel industry. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION live here:

"Will build house": Kerala auto driver wins Onam bumper lottery worth $3.1million (₹25 Cr)

<p>In recent times, it's a matter of individual liberty to decide about personal clothing and dressing, and any attempt at charting dos and don'ts is criticised and attacked fiercely. The idea of "contempt for individual freedom for dressing up" is a product of the Western world,&nbsp;that is, the society of so-called progressive mindsets and at first glance, our educated minds, roar in lambasting any pursuit, curtailing our sense of dressing. Bharat, being a nation with plurality, in culture as well as differences in climatic conditions, the attire worn by people in various regions, varied.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The southern state of Kerala, situated on the coastline of Hind Mahasagar, has a tropical climatic condition. On the same coastline, was the state of Travancore, ruled by Hindu king Raja Marthanda Verma and other Hindu dynasties. It was the only Hindu kingdom, other than Nepal, that remained independent from Muslim rule.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">A story from Kerala folklore had captivated people's attention recently and there has been much buzz about it, as well as a few films shot on the subject.&nbsp; The folktale narrates the prevailing custom in the earlier centuries, about the Breast Tax, imposed upon the women of lower castes, if they covered their breasts!!!&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The tax was known as Mulakkaram.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The story of a woman, from the Ezhava community of Kerala, named Nangeli, cutting off her breast and offering it to the revenue collector, when accused of covering them, has gained popularity recently. The Nangeli story further depicts, her dying of heavy bleeding and her husband Kandappan committing suicide in aftershock.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Imagining such a vicious custom, of disallowing the lower caste women to cover their breasts by the upper caste,&nbsp;and levying 'breast tax' if they dared to disobey, is a horrifying proposition in itself. As per the saga, those Ezhava women, who could not&nbsp;bare the humiliating exploitation any longer, chopped off their breasts and attained martyrdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Of numerous instances of brutality on the lower castes, documented in history, this one may be one of the most disgraceful occurrences. Shaming of lower castes and infuriating women's modesty is surely the worst kind of oppression, one can imagine.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">As we grasp the story, the picture floats into our minds, of a nobleman attired in exemplary affluent clothes and the women sitting beside, on an ornate throne, draped in the best silks from top to toe.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Now, we need to pause our imagination and ask a necessary question:&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Just because the story speaks of horrid atrocities on lower-class women, does it become valid and the Gospel truth? Let's fact-check the dressing style and norms before the 19th century in the tropical climate of Kerala.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">It is a widely observed pattern, that the traditional clothing in their daily lives, largely depended on the climate of the land. It was just a piece of cotton cloth draped around the centre (midriff) and it was the customary practice for men and women, per se, owing to the humidity. Another cloth hung over the shoulder (uttarayin) was sometimes donned by the women of upper castes, occasionally but was not used to cover the breast.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">A portrayal by the Dutch traveller Johan Nieuhof, paying a visit to the Queen of Quilon and showed her with her breast uncovered. Pietro Della Valle and John Hanry Grose, the travelogue of the 17th and 18th centuries, reported that the attire of both, man and woman in Kerala, did not wear upper clothing.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Another traveller Abbe Dubois noted in his manual "Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies" in 1815,&nbsp; that out of all the women, courtesans covered their bosom to attract clients!!! Covering the breast was considered a seductive act.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Keralian society has been largely Matrilinial. Their sartorial choice for clothing has been a rude shock, for followers of the Abrahamic religion, the Muslims and Christians as they were the only ones who preferred wearing blouses.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">The Anthropologist Fred Fawcett has noted that no native of Malabar, fancied wearing blouses or covering their breast but later, as people gained outside exposure, their habits changed. Initially, the English nurses were rebuffed by the native Tiyya women,&nbsp; when asked to cover their bosom with a piece of cloth, as they were not prostitutes!!!&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Similarly, in the autobiography of C. Keshvan, the tale of a young girl rebelling against her mother, to wear a blouse has been mentioned. (very similar to contemporary girls revolting to dorn revealing appraisal).&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">With all these observations antagonising the existence, of the said humiliating custom of "Breast Tax" prevailing in&nbsp;Kerala; it was essential to locate where these narratives originated from.&nbsp;</p>

<p>N R Krishna, talked about the 'brave woman' in his tome, 'Ezhava : Than and Today' in 1957 but he mentioned no names of either Nangeli or her husband. Later, C. Vasava Pannikar wrote more elaborately using the two-line anecdote of&nbsp; N R Krishna but with certainty about the issue, in his biography, 'S. Padmanabhan Pannikar' in 1976.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Then, in the year 2000 CE, S N Sadasivan described the issue at length in "Social History of India' and specified the period around 1840 CE.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Eventually, the journalist C. Radhakrishnan named the characters Nangeli and Kadappan and added the story of suicide by the husband to add spice to it. The story was first published in Pioneer on March 8,&nbsp;2007. Its Malayalam translation was published on the same day in Mathrubhumi and Malayala Manorama. Later in 2012, it was published in the SBD Kaviyoor bulletin and then in the canvas of Murali T.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Around the same time,&nbsp;it appeared in Vagabond, BBC and Times of India.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Now let's, dwell on what is meant by Mullakaram and Thallakaram.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">"Mula" denotes breast in Malayalam. Thallakaram is the poll tax, Head tax or Capitation Tax. Poll attributes to per head, hence it implies as Tax bestowed upon an individual, man or woman, as it is popularly being done globally. Generally, the women were charged lesser taxes than the men. To delineate the differentiated tax structure on basis of gender, the Thallakaram (tax in Malayalam) was addressed as Mullakaram (tax on woman, and she is illustrated as the one with Mula (breast).&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">As the Cock and the Bull story depicts, the fake narrative, if repeated, again and again, would turn into popular truth. Baffling, the unfortunate false anecdotal has been swallowed worldwide as the tenet and widened the caste differences.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Recently, a painting by Murali T.on the subject, followed by a film by Yogesh Pagare and a couple of other films on the topic, called Stan Tax, which has highlighted the Dalit-Adivasi and Pichda section of the society being targeted and undoubtedly the villain among them has been the Hindu priest. The easiest target, naturally.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">As I mentioned at the beginning of this article that it has been a Western authoritative notion to enforce every ideologue of ethics, as per their beliefs. In earlier eras, the 'uncovered bosom' was an exasperated blow to Victorian morality, hence the very natural norm, was utilised as a tool to widen the gap between Upper castes and Lower castes and eventually, poison the minds of Dalits and pursue them into religious conversion.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Similar to this, it is also believed that Tipu Sultan, the king of Mysore, attacked the king of Travancore, to stand in solidarity with the lower castes, who were subjected to the brutal atrocity of "Breast Tax".&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">This is again, a fake narrative, as the attack of Tipu Sultan was to devastate one of the only Hindu kingdoms, which had remained independent and refrained from being under Islamic rule. Moreover, the colossal wealth of Padmanabh Temple was a poke in the eyes of other kingdoms and a matter of envy. Again, demeaning the Hindus and creating a rift between the castes, would enhance the conversion.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">For centuries, Bharat has been a victim of not just political imprisonment but also social devastation, caused by the toxicity of castism.</p>

<p dir="ltr">I do not propose that Caste differences were non-existent but regrettably, the tales related to it, have been fabricated with the least historical evidence and resulted in, woefully damaging the social fabric.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

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In recent times, it's a matter of individual liberty to decide about personal clothing and dressing, and any attempt at charting dos and don'ts is criticised and attacked fiercely.

In recent times, it's a matter of individual liberty to decide about personal clothing and dressing, and any attempt at charting dos and don'ts is criticised and attacked fiercely. The idea of "contempt for individual freedom for dressing up" is a product of the Western world, that is, the society of so-called progressive mindsets and at first glance, our educated minds, roar in lambasting any pursuit, curtailing our sense of dressing. Bharat, being a nation with plurality, in culture as well as differences in climatic conditions, the attire worn by people in various regions, varied. The southern state of Kerala, situated on the coastline of Hind Mahasagar, has a tropical climatic condition. On the same coastline, was the state of Travancore, ruled by Hindu king Raja Marthanda Verma and other Hindu dynasties. It was the only Hindu kingdom, other than Nepal, that remained independent from Muslim rule. A story from Kerala folklore had captivated people's attention recently and there has been much buzz about it, as well as a few films shot on the subject. The folktale narrates the prevailing custom in the earlier centuries, about the Breast Tax, imposed upon the women of lower castes, if they covered their breasts!!! The tax was known as Mulakkaram. The story of a woman, from the Ezhava community of Kerala, named Nangeli, cutting off her breast and offering it to the revenue collector, when accused of covering them, has gained popularity recently. The Nangeli story further depicts, her dying of heavy bleeding and her husband Kandappan committing suicide in aftershock. Imagining such a vicious custom, of disallowing the lower caste women to cover their breasts by the upper caste, and levying 'breast tax' if they dared to disobey, is a horrifying proposition in itself. As per the saga, those Ezhava women, who could not bare the humiliating exploitation any longer, chopped off their breasts and attained martyrdom. Of numerous instances of brutality on the lower castes, documented in history, this one may be one of the most disgraceful occurrences. Shaming of lower castes and infuriating women's modesty is surely the worst kind of oppression, one can imagine. As we grasp the story, the picture floats into our minds, of a nobleman attired in exemplary affluent clothes and the women sitting beside, on an ornate throne, draped in the best silks from top to toe. Now, we need to pause our imagination and ask a necessary question: Just because the story speaks of horrid atrocities on lower-class women, does it become valid and the Gospel truth? Let's fact-check the dressing style and norms before the 19th century in the tropical climate of Kerala. It is a widely observed pattern, that the traditional clothing in their daily lives, largely depended on the climate of the land. It was just a piece of cotton cloth draped around the centre (midriff) and it was the customary practice for men and women, per se, owing to the humidity. Another cloth hung over the shoulder (uttarayin) was sometimes donned by the women of upper castes, occasionally but was not used to cover the breast. A portrayal by the Dutch traveller Johan Nieuhof, paying a visit to the Queen of Quilon and showed her with her breast uncovered. Pietro Della Valle and John Hanry Grose, the travelogue of the 17th and 18th centuries, reported that the attire of both, man and woman in Kerala, did not wear upper clothing. Another traveller Abbe Dubois noted in his manual "Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies" in 1815, that out of all the women, courtesans covered their bosom to attract clients!!! Covering the breast was considered a seductive act. The Keralian society has been largely Matrilinial. Their sartorial choice for clothing has been a rude shock, for followers of the Abrahamic religion, the Muslims and Christians as they were the only ones who preferred wearing blouses. The Anthropologist Fred Fawcett has noted that no native of Malabar, fancied wearing blouses or covering their breast but later, as people gained outside exposure, their habits changed. Initially, the English nurses were rebuffed by the native Tiyya women, when asked to cover their bosom with a piece of cloth, as they were not prostitutes!!! Similarly, in the autobiography of C. Keshvan, the tale of a young girl rebelling against her mother, to wear a blouse has been mentioned. (very similar to contemporary girls revolting to dorn revealing appraisal). With all these observations antagonising the existence, of the said humiliating custom of "Breast Tax" prevailing in Kerala; it was essential to locate where these narratives originated from. N R Krishna, talked about the 'brave woman' in his tome, 'Ezhava : Than and Today' in 1957 but he mentioned no names of either Nangeli or her husband. Later, C. Vasava Pannikar wrote more elaborately using the two-line anecdote of N R Krishna but with certainty about the issue, in his biography, 'S. Padmanabhan Pannikar' in 1976. Then, in the year 2000 CE, S N Sadasivan described the issue at length in "Social History of India' and specified the period around 1840 CE. Eventually, the journalist C. Radhakrishnan named the characters Nangeli and Kadappan and added the story of suicide by the husband to add spice to it. The story was first published in Pioneer on March 8, 2007. Its Malayalam translation was published on the same day in Mathrubhumi and Malayala Manorama. Later in 2012, it was published in the SBD Kaviyoor bulletin and then in the canvas of Murali T. Around the same time, it appeared in Vagabond, BBC and Times of India. Now let's, dwell on what is meant by Mullakaram and Thallakaram. "Mula" denotes breast in Malayalam. Thallakaram is the poll tax, Head tax or Capitation Tax. Poll attributes to per head, hence it implies as Tax bestowed upon an individual, man or woman, as it is popularly being done globally. Generally, the women were charged lesser taxes than the men. To delineate the differentiated tax structure on basis of gender, the Thallakaram (tax in Malayalam) was addressed as Mullakaram (tax on woman, and she is illustrated as the one with Mula (breast). As the Cock and the Bull story depicts, the fake narrative, if repeated, again and again, would turn into popular truth. Baffling, the unfortunate false anecdotal has been swallowed worldwide as the tenet and widened the caste differences. Recently, a painting by Murali T.on the subject, followed by a film by Yogesh Pagare and a couple of other films on the topic, called Stan Tax, which has highlighted the Dalit-Adivasi and Pichda section of the society being targeted and undoubtedly the villain among them has been the Hindu priest. The easiest target, naturally. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article that it has been a Western authoritative notion to enforce every ideologue of ethics, as per their beliefs. In earlier eras, the 'uncovered bosom' was an exasperated blow to Victorian morality, hence the very natural norm, was utilised as a tool to widen the gap between Upper castes and Lower castes and eventually, poison the minds of Dalits and pursue them into religious conversion. Similar to this, it is also believed that Tipu Sultan, the king of Mysore, attacked the king of Travancore, to stand in solidarity with the lower castes, who were subjected to the brutal atrocity of "Breast Tax". This is again, a fake narrative, as the attack of Tipu Sultan was to devastate one of the only Hindu kingdoms, which had remained independent and refrained from being under Islamic rule. Moreover, the colossal wealth of Padmanabh Temple was a poke in the eyes of other kingdoms and a matter of envy. Again, demeaning the Hindus and creating a rift between the castes, would enhance the conversion. For centuries, Bharat has been a victim of not just political imprisonment but also social devastation, caused by the toxicity of castism. I do not propose that Caste differences were non-existent but regrettably, the tales related to it, have been fabricated with the least historical evidence and resulted in, woefully damaging the social fabric. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The myth about 'Breast Tax'

<p>A bizarre video went viral on social media platforms of an ugly brawl that apparently erupted at a wedding function in the southern Indian state of Kerala over 'papad'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Papad' (or 'papadam', or 'appalam') is fried in deep oil or baked with dry heat until crunchy. It is a popular side dish&nbsp;in India, served in many cuisines across the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>'Papad' can be made from flour, such as rice, chickpeas, tapioca, and millet. Sometimes potatoes are also used.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local media reports mentioned that in Alappuzha city, an unpleasant spat broke out, that eventually converted into a fist fight, over not giving 'papad' at the marriage feast to the guests.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poo-transplants-to-help-patients-struggling-with-superbugs-511792">Poo transplants to help patients struggling with superbugs</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Reports also mentioned that six people were injured.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fight started&nbsp;when some members of the groom's family reportedly requested extra 'papad' but they were denied, which led to a verbal altercation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fight escalated quite fast as in the viral video, people were seen hitting each other with shoes and 'chappals'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, people used chairs and tables also to attack each other.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-truth-social-app-not-approved-by-google-play-store-511765">Donald Trump's Truth Social app not approved by Google Play Store</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Watch the video here:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In the great 100% literate state of Kerala, a fist fight broke out at a wedding after friends of the bridegroom demanded papad during the feast. This triggered a verbal spat and ended up in an ugly brawl. No wonder Mallus belo papad. 😆 <a href="https://t.co/HgkEUYMwfy">pic.twitter.com/HgkEUYMwfy</a></p>
— Rakesh Krishnan Simha (@ByRakeshSimha) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRakeshSimha/status/1564349331591024640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">WWE for papad ! By the way who won the brawl ! And biggest question where is da papad da ! <a href="https://t.co/7Ci34LAxSS">https://t.co/7Ci34LAxSS</a></p>
— Guess who (@Rajvbhagat16) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rajvbhagat16/status/1564780697046265857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p>Reports mentioned that the shocking incident took place at a marriage hall in Muttom in Alappuzha. A case has also been registered by the Alappuzha Police against 10 people who were apparently being identified.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by The Hindu,&nbsp;an official said, "A few friends of bridegroom asked for more papad, which the employees of the catering agency refused to serve. A war of words ensued. Later the groups clashed and threw chairs."&nbsp;</p>

<p>In India, weddings are usually grand events where the host's reputation is linked with the grandeur. It is assumed by the hosts (mostly the bride's side) to treat the guests nicely and serve the best food to them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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A bizarre video went viral on social media platforms of an ugly brawl that apparently erupted at a wedding function in the southern Indian state of Kerala over 'papad'.

A bizarre video went viral on social media platforms of an ugly brawl that apparently erupted at a wedding function in the southern Indian state of Kerala over 'papad'. 'Papad' (or 'papadam', or 'appalam') is fried in deep oil or baked with dry heat until crunchy. It is a popular side dish in India, served in many cuisines across the country. 'Papad' can be made from flour, such as rice, chickpeas, tapioca, and millet. Sometimes potatoes are also used. Local media reports mentioned that in Alappuzha city, an unpleasant spat broke out, that eventually converted into a fist fight, over not giving 'papad' at the marriage feast to the guests. ALSO READ | Poo transplants to help patients struggling with superbugs Reports also mentioned that six people were injured. The fight started when some members of the groom's family reportedly requested extra 'papad' but they were denied, which led to a verbal altercation. The fight escalated quite fast as in the viral video, people were seen hitting each other with shoes and 'chappals'. Later, people used chairs and tables also to attack each other. ALSO READ | Donald Trump's Truth Social app not approved by Google Play Store Watch the video here: In the great 100% literate state of Kerala, a fist fight broke out at a wedding after friends of the bridegroom demanded papad during the feast. This triggered a verbal spat and ended up in an ugly brawl. No wonder Mallus belo papad. 😆 pic.twitter.com/HgkEUYMwfy — Rakesh Krishnan Simha (@ByRakeshSimha) August 29, 2022 × WWE for papad ! By the way who won the brawl ! And biggest question where is da papad da ! https://t.co/7Ci34LAxSS — Guess who (@Rajvbhagat16) August 31, 2022 × Reports mentioned that the shocking incident took place at a marriage hall in Muttom in Alappuzha. A case has also been registered by the Alappuzha Police against 10 people who were apparently being identified. As quoted by The Hindu, an official said, "A few friends of bridegroom asked for more papad, which the employees of the catering agency refused to serve. A war of words ensued. Later the groups clashed and threw chairs." In India, weddings are usually grand events where the host's reputation is linked with the grandeur. It is assumed by the hosts (mostly the bride's side) to treat the guests nicely and serve the best food to them. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'WWE for papad': Ugly brawl erupts at wedding function in Kerala over extra 'papad' - Watch

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