Thrissur: Youth who created terror atmosphere in Thrissur Vivekodayam School granted bail. Court-ordered admission to a mental health facility. The Department of Public Education has announced an inquiry into the matter. The Education Minister directed Director of Public Education Shanawaz S to submit the investigation report immediately. Former student Jagan came to the school with an air gun and created an atmosphere of terror in the school.

The incident took place in the city center school this morning. Jagan, a former student from Mulayam, reached the classrooms with an air gun and opened fire. The accused, who was taken into custody by the Thrissur East police, later created a ruckus at the police station. The accused reached the school around 10:30 in the morning and entered the classrooms on the first floor and opened fire. Three times in one class, he went into the next class and once shot upwards. The students said that at first they thought it was a joke, but when the shots rang out, they got scared.

He studied in the higher secondary section of the school and dropped out midway. It is also said that he used to cause many problems during his school days. The young man came to school in the morning demanding his hat. After leaving the classrooms, he reached the staff room and threatened the teachers. The teachers tried to persuade but did not relent. Then the teachers informed the police. Meanwhile, he ran through the back gate of the school and the police came after him and arrested him.

Thrissur East Police took the accused into custody. He also created a ruckus at the police station. The police stated that they are checking whether he has mental problems and whether he is addicted to drugs. The police said that this is an airgun bought from Thrissur Gun Bazaar for Rs 1800.

Thiruvananthapuram: Delegate registration for the 28th IFFK organized by the Kerala State Film Academy from December 8 to 15 in Thiruvananthapuram will begin on Wednesday, November 22 at 10 am. Delegate registration can be done through the link provided on the website www.iffk.in. The delegate fee is Rs.1180 inclusive of GST for general category and Rs.590 inclusive of GST for students. Registration can also be done directly through the delegate cell set up at Tagore Theatre, the main venue of the fair.

About 180 films from different countries will be exhibited in the eight-day fair. The show will be held in 15 theatres. Packages such as international competition section of films from Asian, African and Latin American countries, latest films by contemporary filmmakers, films that have won accolades at leading film festivals, world cinema section, Indian Cinema Now, Malayalam Cinema Today, Cuban films in country focus section and homage section that pays tribute to obscure film talents. Included in the 28th IFFK. More than 100 guests from different foreign countries including directors, technicians and jury members will participate in the fair.

Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu will be honored with the ‘Spirit of Cinema’ award at the opening ceremony to be held at Nishagandi on December 8. As part of the fair, there will be open forum, meet the director, in conversation, exhibition and cultural events.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An extreme low pressure has weakened to a depression over North Tripura.  The Central Meteorological Department said it is likely to weaken again in the next 6 hours.  The Cyclone is located over the southwest Bay of Bengal and Sri Lanka.  The Meteorological Department also stated that another cyclonic trough is located over southeast Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

 Chance of moderate rain with thunder in next 5 days in Kerala.  Central Meteorological Department informs that there is a possibility of heavy rain at isolated places on November 18-20.

Kottayam: Film-serial actor Vinod Thomas (47) was found dead inside his car.  The body was found in a car parked near Pampadi Dream Land Bar.  The body was found at 8.30 pm.

 Vinod reached the bar at 11 am on Saturday.  But when no one came out of the parked car, the body was found during the inspection.  A police team led by Pampadi SHO Suvarnakumar reached the spot and took further action.

 He has acted in films like Ayyappanum Koshiyum, Oru Murai Vanth Parthaya, Natholi Oru Chiri Meenalla, Happy Wedding, June, and  Ayal Shashi.

Along with introducing new features, WhatsApp has changed its policy. WhatsApp has updated its terms of service regarding chat backup on Android devices. WhatsApp chat backups on Google Drive will no longer be free.

The new policy is already applicable to WhatsApp beta users. WhatsApp chat backups on Android will henceforth be subject to Google’s 15GB storage limit. From early next year, WhatsApp chat history backups on Android will join this limit.

Google Accounts offer their users a total of 15GB of storage space for Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. Users who want to claim more storage space will have to pay for Google One Storage.

Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister KN Balagopal said that the distribution of welfare pension has started and now there is a bigger campaign than when it was not paid for 18 months.  He also reminded that previously, two and three months are given together.  

 At the same time, he stated that it has been decided to pay the amount due for green coconut procurement.  It has been decided to settle the rubber subsidy till the end.  

 Asha workers were paid full honorarium.  The Center has not yet given any amount to the National Health Mission.  It has been decided to provide all of them.  Finance Minister KN Balagopal added that in two and a half years of this government, Rs 23350 crore has been disbursed as welfare pension.  The campaign is now going on which was not there during the UDF government when the pension was suspended for 18 months.  If the Center had paid at least half of the amount due to Kerala, the state would not have had such arrears. 

Kochi: One more person who was undergoing treatment died in the Kalamassery blast.  Praveen (24), a native of Malayatur, died.  With this, the death toll in the blast has risen to six.

 Praveen is the son of Sally, who died earlier due to injuries in the blast, and the brother of twelve-year-old Libina.  After the blast, Praveen was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi in critical condition.  Praveen’s body caught fire while trying to save his sister Libina.

 Praveen’s brother Rahul was also injured in the blast.  Sally and her children Libna, Praveen and Rahul came together to the Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting in Kalamassery.  Praveen was an employee of a private ship.