The Thiruvananthapuram Cyber Police on 17 December 2025 registered a case against four individuals in connection with the creation and circulation of a parody song titled ‘Pottiye Kettiye’, which refers to the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple.

Set to the tune of the popular Ayyappa devotional song ‘Swamiye Ayyappo’, the parody gained widespread attention during the recently concluded local body elections after being used by the Congress (UDF) party in its campaign against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). The song’s circulation sparked controversy, with allegations that it distorted a sacred devotional composition and hurt religious sentiments.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the song was disseminated through online platforms, including YouTube, and was also circulated directly among members of the public and religious groups on or before 16 December 2025. The police stated that the act was carried out “with deliberate intent and prior knowledge” to insult religious sentiments, undermine faith, provoke religious emotions and incite disharmony.

The FIR named Kunjabdulla Chalappuram as the first accused, alleging that he created and released the parody beginning with the words ‘Pottiye Kettiye’ in a manner that insulted Ayyappa devotional songs and the sacred Sharana mantra. The police further stated that the content was intended to foster hatred among believers, disrupt communal harmony and disturb public peace.

The second accused, Danish Malappuram, rendered the song, while the third and fourth accused were responsible for filming and production. According to the police, all four jointly propagated the song through internet-based platforms.

Investigators said the track was produced by a Malappuram-based duo, Subair Pandalloor and Haneefa Mudikkode, as a promotional project for their studio. The lyrics were written by Kunjabdulla Chalappuram, also known as GP Chalappuram, and the song was sung by Danish Malappuram.

The complaint leading to the registration of the case was filed with State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar by Prasanth Kuzhikala, general secretary of the Thiruvabharanapatha Samrakshana Samithi. In his complaint, Kuzhikala alleged that the parody mutilated a sacred Ayyappa devotional composition and misused religious content for political purposes. He contended that linking Lord Ayyappa with an election campaign song amounted to an affront to faith and caused emotional distress to devotees.

The song gained wide circulation across Kerala and among Malayali communities abroad during the election campaign. United Democratic Front (UDF) Members of Parliament also used the song during a protest outside Parliament, demanding a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged Sabarimala gold smuggling case.

According to the FIR, the lyrics of the song refer to the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala, claiming that Unnikrishnan Potti, who is currently in judicial custody, was brought to the shrine to convert gold into copper, and that gold and money belonging to the deity were stolen by “comrades.”

Further investigation is underway.

Source: OnManorama

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The post Kerala Police File FIR Against ‘Pottiye Kettiye’ Parody Song Creators About Alleged Sabarimala Gold Theft; Song Was Used During Local Body Poll Campaign appeared first on The Commune.

Tensions have surfaced in Malappuram district following provocative slogans raised during a victory procession by United Democratic Front (UDF) workers, including members of the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, demanding that devotional songs played at Hindu temples be stopped.

The incident occurred at Edavanna in Malappuram district, near the Mahavishnu Temple at Kolappad, where early-morning devotional songs, including Suprabhatham, are traditionally played. The practice, common across Kerala, involves playing devotional music in temples during the early hours of the morning.

During a UDF victory celebration held after the alliance won a ward in the Edavanna panchayat, slogans were raised stating that songs played from temples should not be audible outside the premises and that such practices would be stopped. The slogans were raised in front of the Mahavishnu Temple during the procession.

Slogans raised during the event included statements asserting that loud devotional music from temples caused disturbance to residents and should not be allowed. The slogans were followed by chants of “UDF Zindabad.” Flags of both the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress were visible, and the procession was described as a joint UDF celebration involving workers from both parties.

The incident took place following UDF wins in the local body polls and it is noteworthy that the party is in the opposition in the Assembly. Critics say the slogans raised can be interpreted as indicating that if the UDF were to come to power in the state in future, practices such as playing devotional songs in temples would be curtailed.

Local sources stated that the Mahavishnu Temple at Kolappad has been playing early-morning devotional songs for years, typically around 5 AM, in a manner described as not causing disturbance. It was also stated that the temple committee had obtained the necessary police permissions to play the devotional music, and that the activity was being carried out in accordance with existing rules.

Despite this, UDF workers allegedly protested against the practice, claiming that the devotional songs caused inconvenience to local residents. The slogans were raised during the victory procession held after the UDF’s win in the ward, following which concerns were raised over interference with religious practices.

The incident has been projected as an example of what critics described as targeted opposition to Hindu religious practices. It was also noteworthy that Malappuram district has numerous mosques where the azan is broadcast five times a day using loudspeakers, and where religious programmes such as swalaath and other gatherings are conducted using amplified sound, including during night hours.

Critics argued that while such practices at mosques continue uninterrupted, objections were being raised specifically against early-morning devotional songs played at temples. They also noted that the protest involved not only Muslim League workers but also Congress workers, making it a collective UDF action rather than an isolated incident.

The event seems to be a political messaging being conveyed by the UDF following its electoral gains, particularly in areas where the alliance secured victories with the support of religious organisations. Observers claimed that the incident reflected a broader pattern of interference with Hindu religious practices and temples in the district.

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The post “Stop Temple Songs”: Congress – Muslim League Victory Procession Targets Temple Suprabhatham In Malappuram appeared first on The Commune.

Recent local-body election results in Kerala have highlighted a series of BJP victories marked by cross-community voter support in select wards, reflecting the party’s expanding electoral footprint beyond traditional demographic boundaries. Official results and contemporaneous reporting show BJP candidates winning in Hindu-, Muslim- and Christian-majority localities, driven by a mix of candidate acceptance and constituency-specific issues.

Muslim Candidate Wins in Hindu-Majority Thrissur Ward

In Thrissur Municipal Corporation, BJP candidate Mumtaz Chinju won the Kannankulangara ward (Division 35), a division widely described in local reporting as having a Hindu-majority population. Mumtaz Chinju, a Muslim candidate, defeated candidates from the Congress and the Left, turning a ward that had previously been held by the Congress. She was the only Muslim candidate fielded by the BJP in the Thrissur Corporation election and has been associated with the party for several years.

Contrast this with 2021 polls when CPM fielded a Hindu candidate Nandakumar in a Muslim-majority taluka of Ponnani – As per Census 2011 data for Ponnani Municipality, about 68.31% of the population are Muslims and 31.02% are Hindus, making Muslims the clear majority. For the wider Ponnani taluk, Census data shows Muslims at about 59.85% and Hindus at about 39.44%

Protests erupted in parts of Malappuram and Kozhikode districts over the CPI(M)’s candidate selection for the upcoming Assembly elections. In Ponnani, hundreds of party supporters staged a march opposing the decision to field CITU national secretary P Nandakumar, demanding that local leader TM Siddique be named instead. Protesters carried banners and raised slogans questioning the leadership’s decision.

The fact that a Hindu-majority locality and the BJP members accepted the party’s decision to field a Muslim candidate and was also voted in by the majority Hindus tells a lot about the party and its supporters. Yes, Nandakumar won the Ponnani seat, but we need to take into account the initial protests too.

Senior BJP Leader Secures Kozhikode Corporation Seat

In Kozhikode Corporation, BJP leader Navya Haridas has continued to maintain a strong local-body presence. She previously contested the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and is a two-term councillor of the Kozhikode Corporation, having won the Karaparambu division in the 2015 and 2020 municipal elections. Reports indicate that she has once again secured electoral support at the municipal level, with detailed ward-wise results still being compiled.

Despite her previous loss or her projection to the national scene by contesting in an MP seat, Haridas has made a mark in the ground with her strong presence. Haridas was also made Mahila Morcha chief in July 2025.

Christian-Majority Munambam Votes BJP

A significant result emerged from the Munambam ward of the Pallipuram panchayat in Ernakulam district, an area with a substantial Christian population. BJP candidate Kunjumon Augustine won the seat. The victory is widely seen in the context of a prolonged local dispute involving the Kerala Waqf Board, which had declared over 400 acres of land in Munambam as Waqf property, a move that affected an estimated 500 families, many of them Christian.

Local and national reports indicate that residents felt the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) did not adequately address their concerns. In contrast, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the centre actively supported the residents, with the Union government passing the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which aimed to address similar land issues. The Munambam result is seen as a direct reflection of this political alignment on a pressing local issue.

BJP – A Party That Is Making Inroads Despite Demographic Divide

These results present specific instances where BJP candidates from minority religious backgrounds won in areas where the majority of voters belong to a different religion. In Thrissur, the win suggests voter support for a local party worker transcending communal identity in that ward. In Munambam, the outcome underscores how a potent socio-economic issue – land rights – can influence voting behaviour, leading a community to support a party traditionally not its primary political home.

While these are localized victories within Kerala’s complex political landscape, they provide concrete examples of the BJP making electoral inroads in specific wards through a combination of local candidate credibility and issue-based mobilization.

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The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered a decisive victory in Munambam in the Kerala local body elections, delivering a significant political breakthrough for the BJP in a ward that has been at the centre of a prolonged dispute involving the Kerala State Waqf Board.

Munambam has witnessed sustained protests for over a year by more than 500 Christian families who have opposed an alleged claim by the Waqf Board over their land, fearing eviction. The NDA’s emphatic win in the ward has been widely seen as a mandate in favour of the BJP’s stand against the disputed claim and its support for the affected residents.

Kerala BJP general secretary Anoop Antony Joseph described the result as “historic”, stating that the people of Munambam had responded to the BJP’s consistent support during the agitation. He said the Modi government and the BJP stood with the residents in their fight against what they allege is an illegal Waqf claim, and that the verdict reflected public endorsement of that position.

Historic victory for NDA in the Munambam ward in local body elections, where 500 Christian families face the threat of eviction due to illegal claims by Waqf.

Modi ji’s govt and BJP stood with the Munambam people in fighting the Waqf, and they have now chosen BJP as their… pic.twitter.com/6h4n9ux1hO

— Anoop Antony Joseph (@AnoopKaippalli) December 13, 2025

The Munambam victory is expected to provide a major boost to the BJP as it looks to expand its footprint in Kerala ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, in a state where the party has traditionally struggled to secure electoral space. The NDA has also posted strong performances in other key areas, including the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, where it is currently ahead in the constituency represented by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

NDA Gains Amid Tight Statewide Contest

Counting of votes for the Kerala local body elections 2025 is underway across the state, with early trends indicating a closely contested battle primarily between the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), even as the NDA shows signs of incremental gains.

Vote counting began at 8 AM on Saturday, 13 December 2025, at 244 counting centres under tight security. As per data available from the State Election Commission at 12.00 pm, the UDF was leading in 451 Grama Panchayat seats, while the LDF was ahead in 371 seats. The NDA was leading in 27 seats, with others ahead in 10 seats, out of a total of 941 Grama Panchayat seats.

Reacting to the trends, BJP leader Shaun George expressed confidence about the NDA’s performance, stating that the alliance was expecting stronger results in central and south Kerala. He added that sections traditionally aligned with the UDF and Kerala Congress were increasingly shifting their support towards the BJP.

Counting is continuing in several districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram and Kottayam, with final results expected later in the day as the process progresses.

Source: Mathrubhumi & India Today

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The post NDA Scores Major Breakthrough Win In Munambam; BJP Gains Ground In Kerala Local Body Polls appeared first on The Commune.

A temple festival (Kottikkalasham) in the Tennala panchayat turned controversial yesterday when workers associated with the United Democratic Front (UDF) were seen operating dangerous wood-cutting machinery and tools near children. The incident, captured on video, has raised serious safety concerns, though local police have indicated they are unlikely to file a formal case as those involved are reportedly minors.

The event occurred in Ward 15 of Tennala panchayat during a traditional child’s first haircut ceremony (Kottikkalasham), which is typically marked by music and celebration. However, attendees were alarmed when UDF workers arrived with and operated a petrol-powered wood-cutting machine (saw) and other sharp tools in close proximity to a young child.

According to a local report from Malappuram, UDF workers claimed the machinery was brought solely to create loud celebratory noises, similar to revving motorcycles with removed silencers. They asserted that safety chains were attached and sharp parts were covered, making the tools harmless.

This justification has been met with skepticism. Visuals from the event clearly show the machinery being operated dangerously close to a child. Critics argue that regardless of intent, the use of such industrial equipment at a crowded, family-oriented festival posed an unacceptable risk.

Police have not registered a case, citing the involvement of minors and the absence of a formal complaint. LDF workers initially considered filing one but withdrew, saying they did not want to jeopardise the future of underage boys during an election period.

Police officials said they would review available videos and “take necessary action,” while acknowledging limitations in prosecuting minors. They emphasised that responsibility also lies with party leaders who failed to prevent the act despite prior police instructions regarding permissible items during celebrations.

UDF leaders described the incident as an “error by overexcited youngsters” and denied any pre-planning or leadership involvement. They said the act occurred spontaneously in the heightened atmosphere of kottikkalasham and assured it would not be repeated.

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The post Dangerous Tools At Kottikkalasham Festival: UDF Workers Under Fire After Saw Operated Beside Child In Malappuram appeared first on The Commune.

Kerala Police have uncovered one of the country’s largest fake degree rackets, arresting 11 people from multiple states and exposing a sophisticated network that may have issued counterfeit university certificates to more than 10 lakh persons across India.

The kingpin, Dhaneesh alias Dany, who had earlier been arrested in 2013 for similar offences, is accused of rebuilding and vastly expanding the operation after completing his jail term. Police said he ran the racket from a rented house in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, where he set up a clandestine printing press capable of producing high-quality fake academic documents.

A Multi-State Operation With Professional Printing Support

According to investigators, Dhaneesh employed skilled workers from Sivakasi, known for its printing industry, and coordinated with a wide network of agents operating across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Delhi and West Bengal.

The arrested individuals include Irshad, Rahul, Nissar, Jaseem, Shafeeq (40), Ratheesh (38), Afsal (31)

Each played specific roles, from printing and transporting fake certificates to distributing them through recruitment agencies targeting job seekers, especially those seeking overseas employment.

Certificates Routed Through Bengaluru for Secrecy

Police said certificates were printed with names of well-known universities and later customised with candidate details. To avoid detection, the documents were first sent to Bengaluru, then redistributed to agents in different states. Investigators seized hundreds of printers, computers, forged holograms, seals and stamps from Pollachi, Sivakasi, and other locations.

Nearly 1 lakh fake certificates linked to 22 universities outside Kerala were recovered.

BREAKING: A major fake certificate racket has been busted in Malappuram, 100% literate Kerala.

Police recovered over 100 forged degrees in medicine, nursing, engineering and mark sheets with counterfeit seals, allegedly linked to 28 universities.

A multi-state probe has led to… pic.twitter.com/gJUjtKbj8E

— Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) December 10, 2025

Lavish Lifestyle Funded by the Racket

Police said Dhaneesh used the profits to finance a luxurious lifestyle, purchasing a luxury residence in Malappuram, two five-star bars, apartments in Pune, and investments in Middle East businesses.

Each certificate reportedly sold for ₹75,000 to ₹1.5 lakh, allowing the accused to earn crores.

Dhaneesh was arrested in Kozhikode while attempting to flee abroad with his family. Jaseem, the transporter of the certificates, was arrested in Bengaluru, while several printing workers were detained in Sivakasi and Pollachi.

Tamil Nadu Leg of the Operation: Arrests in Sivakasi

In a coordinated crackdown, Kerala Police arrested three suspects in Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district, who were printing fake degrees and supplying them to passport holders seeking overseas jobs.

The arrested were identified as Jainulabdeen (40), son of Fakrudeen, Venkatesh (24), son of Selvam Kuppusami, and Aravind Kumar (24), son of Kanagaraj.

A computer, forged seals and fake certificates were seized. The trio were produced before a local magistrate and later handed over to Kerala Police for further investigation.

Universities to Verify Seized Certificates; Job Fraud Also Under Scanner

Police are now investigating whether any officials from the universities named on the certificates leaked templates or sensitive formats to the racketeers. The seized certificates will be forwarded to respective universities for verification.

Authorities are also tracking individuals who used these fake certificates to secure jobs, both in India and abroad.

Source: Mathrubhumi

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The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key constituent of the Congress-led UDF and a party that has long projected itself as secular, has come under scrutiny ahead of the local body elections after a video of IUML leader Ashraf Edneer went viral on social media. The clip has triggered allegations that the party is seeking votes on religious grounds.

The LDF election committee for Kasaragod municipality has submitted a formal complaint to the State Election Commission, alleging that the statements made in the video constitute a violation of election norms. The video shows Ashraf introducing UDF candidate Shahina Saleem, contesting from Ward 16 (Thuruthi), and describing her as a devout Muslim who prays five times a day and fasts during Ramadan.

What’s happening in Kasargod, Kerala is honestly shocking.

Congress is going around saying, “Our candidate prays 5 TIMES a day… she FASTS… she follows ISLAMIC beliefs… so vote for her.”

Is this election or a religious quota?
This is the level of vote-bank politics in… pic.twitter.com/LLFG8a7qx3

— MAHARATHI (@MahaRathii) December 2, 2025

LDF leaders claim this amounts to appealing for votes using religious identity. In his complaint, T. M. A. Kareem, secretary of the LDF committee in Kasaragod municipality, stated that presenting a candidate primarily through her religious practices creates an indirect comparison with rival candidates and could mislead voters by implying they are less religious.

Ashraf, however, has denied the allegation, saying the viral clip is a selectively edited portion of a 30-minute speech delivered at a women’s meeting on 30 November 2025. He told TNIE that the full speech focused on women’s empowerment, development issues, and the municipality’s socio-political needs, and that the IUML does not engage in communal politics. According to him, the remarks highlighted in the clip were meant to emphasise values, not to use religious practices as a tool for canvassing.

The episode has revived debates around the IUML’s ideological positioning. Social critic and political analyst Hameed Chennamangaloor said the issue underscores a longstanding inconsistency between the League’s public claim of secularism and its political conduct. He argued that a political party can be considered secular only when it avoids invoking religion in its operations, something he believes the IUML has not adhered to. He added that projecting candidates through their religious observance reduces political merit to a question of piety rather than governance.

Advocate C. Shukoor, known for his affinity to the CPM, described the incident as constitutionally and morally serious. He noted that the Constitution prohibits appeals to religion during election campaigns and said the focus should be on ideology, development, inclusivity, and constitutional values. He also criticised the trend of relying on communal and counter-communal narratives, arguing that both the BJP and the IUML are following parallel strategies that weaken the democratic process. Shukoor added that internal dissatisfaction within the League is growing over such approaches.

(Source: The New Indian Express)

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The post Kasargod: “Prays 5 Times A Day, Fasts, Follows Islamic Beliefs, Vote For Her”, Video Showing Congress-Ally IUML Leader Campaigning For UDF Candidate Leads To LDF Complaint To SEC appeared first on The Commune.

The Kerala Police have registered a case under non-bailable sections against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her under the pretext of marriage and coercing her into terminating a pregnancy. The case, initially filed at the Valiyamala police station, was later transferred to the Nemom station for further investigation.

According to the complaint, the woman met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday evening and submitted a detailed account of alleged sexual abuse, threats, and forced abortion. The Chief Minister’s Office immediately handed over the complaint to Law and Order ADGP H. Venkatesh, following which the police recorded the woman’s statement and registered the FIR.

The FIR states that Rahul allegedly abused the woman on three separate occasions in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad after promising marriage and that the acts were secretly recorded. When she became pregnant, the MLA allegedly pressured her to terminate the pregnancy, telling her it would affect his political prospects. She told investigators that she was forced to take abortion pills without a medical prescription and suffered severe bleeding. The complaint further alleges that when she resisted, she was blackmailed using the videotaped incidents.

The woman is said to have produced audio, video and text message evidence to support her complaint. Police officials confirmed that a lookout notice has been issued to prevent the MLA from leaving the country. Thiruvananthapuram Rural SP S. Sudarshan is currently leading the investigation, though the case may be transferred to the Crime Branch or to a special team headed by a woman IPS officer.

The complaint marks a significant setback for the Congress ahead of the local body elections. The developments have also deepened internal discord within the party, where senior leaders are divided over Mamkootathil’s future.

This is not the first allegation faced by the MLA. An SIT had previously registered a case based on third-party complaints of cyberstalking, though the investigation stalled as the victim did not file a formal complaint. Earlier, an actress had also alleged that the MLA misbehaved with her, after which several sexual harassment accusations surfaced, ultimately leading to his suspension from the Youth Congress.

Despite the controversies, the local body election campaign saw Mamkootathil re-emerge publicly as he canvassed for Congress candidates in Palakkad. While the party did not involve him in organisational meetings, certain leaders, including MP K. Sudhakaran, had indicated support for his return to active politics.

Following news of the latest FIR, Rahul Mamkootathil posted on Facebook claiming innocence and stating that he would prove his case legally.

(Source: The New Indian Express)

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The school play ‘Veerannattyam’, which sparked controversy for portraying women characters from Hindu epics in a derogatory manner, has been barred from participating in the State School Kalolsavam. The decision follows protests by Hindu Aikya Vedi and other organisations, which accused the performance of insulting Hindu culture.

The play was staged earlier this week at the Malappuram Revenue District School Arts Festival in Wandoor, where it won first prize in the High School drama category. The Kottoor AKM Higher Secondary School management has now announced that action will be taken against the teacher, Shoukath, who directed the performance.

According to Hindu Aikya Vedi State President R.V. Babu, the school has agreed to issue a public apology through a press release. He stated that this decision came after discussions involving leaders of the Hindu Aikya Vedi and RSS with the school management. Officials who participated in the meeting included state secretaries P.V. Muralidharan and V.S. Prasad, district general secretary Pradeep Tavanur, working president Chiroli Chandran, district secretary Arjunan Valanchery and RSS Malappuram Khand Karyawah Suresh Babu.

Content of the Play Draws Strong Criticism

Protesters alleged that Veerannattyam depicted Hindu culture as oppressive towards women, and claimed that characters such as Draupadi, Gandhari, Urmila and others were shown as powerless and marginalised. Video clips circulating online appeared to show dialogues suggesting that the Ramayana and Mahabharata were “anti-women” texts. Some lines reportedly questioned the value of Hindu epics, prompting strong reactions from cultural and religious groups.

Several organisations argued that the performance encouraged schoolchildren to deliver objectionable lines about Hindu traditions. Hindu Aikya Vedi and other groups alleged that the play’s script was deliberately crafted to portray Hindu culture negatively.

Organisers Say Festival Will Continue

Despite the cancellation of the play’s entry to the state event, organisers of the Malappuram district Kalolsavam said the festival will continue as scheduled. They clarified that earlier complaints will be evaluated and decisions taken accordingly, and urged the public not to misinterpret the play or distort the writer’s intentions on social media.

Background and Comparisons to Earlier Controversies

The controversy gained traction after comparisons were drawn to previous cases involving religiously sensitive content in Kerala’s education sector. Critics pointed to the Kithab play which addressed Muslim women’s rights and was removed from a state-level competition following government intervention as evidence of unequal standards in handling such material.

Organisations opposing Veerannattyam also cited past instances where works accused of portraying Hindu beliefs negatively received official recognition, including the novel Meesha and the film Vedane, which won state awards despite criticism from certain groups.

Competing Play Receives Second Prize

Adding to the debate, cultural reviewers noted that another drama based on the life of historical figure Iravi which received positive audience feedback was placed second in the Higher Secondary category. Some protesters have alleged that Veerannattyam won first place because of the themes it presented rather than its artistic merit.

Demand for Accountability

Various Hindu organisations have demanded clarification from the Education Department on how such content was approved for performance by minors at a district-level school festival. Some have also called for an investigation into what they describe as the use of inappropriate or abusive dialogue by underage performers.

The school management said further internal action would follow after a detailed review. The play will not advance to the state-level Kalolsavam.

(Source: Janam)

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A madrasa teacher has been arrested by the Thirunelly police in connection with the sexual assault of an eleven-year-old student, bringing to light another case of child sexual abuse within a religious educational institution in Wayanad, Kerala.

The accused has been identified as Meleppad Thodiyil Muhammed Shafiq (32), a resident of Karakkamala. According to police officials, Shafiq was taken into custody following a detailed investigation and surveillance that lasted nearly a month.

“The police had been receiving confidential complaints about the accused for some time. Our investigation revealed that he had visited the child’s home on multiple occasions and sexually abused the minor,” a police source told Manorama News. The arrest was made based on evidence and witness statements collected during the probe.

This is not the first time Shafiq has faced such serious allegations. Police confirmed that there have been previous complaints of a similar nature against him in other sexual assault cases.

The accused, who previously taught at another local madrasa, was produced before the Mananthavady court and has been remanded into custody. Investigations into other Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases linked to him have also been intensified.

(Source: News18 Malayalam)

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