Kochi: Death sentence to Asfaq Alam accused in brutal murder of five-year-old girl in Aluva. The court also stated that he does not deserve any punishment less than death. Ernakulam POCSO Court Judge K Soman pronounced the sentence. The sentence was announced 110 days after the crime. The court has stated that the case is rare among the rare.

Public Prosecutor G Mohanraj had opined that the defense argument that Asafak’s age should be taken into account as he is 28 years old is not justified. As the accused is only 28 years of age, there is a possibility of repentance and hence the defense requested that the sentence should be relaxed.

The court had earlier held the accused Asfaq Alam guilty in the case. Four reports had already been submitted as requested by the court before sentencing.

Last July 28, accused Asafaq Alam took the five-year-old child of a couple from Bihar and brutally raped and killed her.

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has banned nine Meiti terrorist organizations in Manipur for their anti-national activities.  The ban is for five years.  Among those banned were the People’s Liberation Army, its political form the Revolutionary People’s Front, the United National Liberation Front and the Manipur People’s Army.  The action is under UAPA.

 However, immediate action will not be taken against their activists.  This is because any action against the activists in the current situation will be used to escalate the conflict in Manipur.

Kannur: Clash between Maoists and Thunderbolt in Kannur Ayyankunn. The encounter took place in the forest area of ​​Urupumkutty.  An eight-member Maoist group opened fire on the Thunderbolt team which was conducting a search.

 The encounter started around 9.30 am.  While searching the forest, the Thunderbolt team found the tent where the Maoists were hiding.  ATS DIG Putta Vimaladhitya said that the Maoists then opened fire on the police.  The DIG also stated that a case has been registered under sections including UAPA.

 The DIG also said that it is not possible to confirm whether the Maoists were injured at this time.  A search is in progress in the forest for the Maoists.  Maoist presence in Aralam Ayyankunnu area has been confirmed earlier as well.

Thiruvananthapuram: The suspension of IG P Vijayan, who was facing action in connection with the Elanthur train arson case, has been canceled.  Vijayan was suspended for leaking the travel information of the accused in the arson case.  Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in charge of the Home Department, issued an order withdrawing the suspension.  However, the departmental investigation against Vijayan will continue.  He was under suspension for the last six months in connection with the case.  The suspension was ordered to be withdrawn after repeated requests by the Chief Secretary.  IG P Vijayan was suspended from service on May 18 for allegedly leaking the travel details of the accused in the Elanthur train arson case to the media.

 The action was based on the report of ADGP in charge of law and order.  Vijayan denied the allegations against him.  A committee headed by the chief secretary asked the government to re-examine the matter after two months and withdraw the suspension, but the government refused.  The home department, which sought an explanation from the state police chief on the matter, again postponed the withdrawal of the suspension.

The DGP gave a report confirming the allegations.  In the departmental inquiry, the IG and the investigating officer will have an opportunity to explain.  The Chief Secretary again recommended that the suspension, which has been going on for three-and-a-half months, should not be extended, but the government did not take any action.  The recommendation was finally accepted last day.

The Chief Minister said that the state is taking the problem of the homeless seriously and will build more houses through the LIFE scheme. He was speaking while handing over the keys of 25 houses built by CPIM to the affected people in Kottayam Kootikal.

The Government has launched the Life Scheme to help those who do not have the financial capacity to build a house. About four lakh houses have been completed as part of it. The government is not satisfied with them alone. More houses will be built. People are important and should solve as many problems as possible. The government is making exemplary interventions.  Life project is ahead.”- said the Chief Minister.

Thiruvananthapuram: The police closed the case against the NSS Nama Japa procession in the myth controversy. The court accepted the report concluding the further investigation.

 The NSS held a Namajapa procession in protest against Speaker AN Shamseer’s Ganpati statement.  A case has been registered against NSS Vice President M Sangeetkumar and about a thousand known people.