Kochi: Investigation team files charge sheet in Dheeraj murder case. Idukki DySP Emmanuel Paul filed the charge sheet in the District Sessions Court. The indictment alleges that political animosity was the cause of the killings. The accused have also been charged with destroying evidence as the key evidence in the case, the knife, could not be found. The charge sheet was filed on the 81st day after the incident. The list of defendants includes eight KSU-Youth Congress activists. Six of them were directly involved in the murder. Jerin Jojo, Jitin Uppumakkal, Tony Thekkilakkadan, Nitin Lucas, Soimon Sunny, Jasin Joy, and Alan Baby are the two to eight accused. There are a total of 143 witnesses in the case.

Nikhil Paili, the first accused and Youth Congress Vazhathoppu constituency president, first stabbed Abhijit and then Dheeraj with a knife kept in his pocket. The cause of death was Dheeraj’s left chest injury and rupture of coronary arteries. The accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code with conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, assault, destruction of evidence, concealment of weapons, and prevention of Scheduled Caste Violence. The 1600-page charge sheet was filed in six volumes.

Malappuram: A third accused in the murder case of Manjeri Municipal Councilor Abdul Jaleel has been arrested. The main accused, Shuhaib, was arrested. Shuhaib (28), a native of Nellikuth, was arrested from Tamil Nadu. Another man was taken into police custody on Thursday in connection with the murder. Shamsir, a native of Nellikuth, was taken into custody.

On Tuesday night, a group on a bike attacked Abdul Jaleel, a local leader of the Muslim League and a member of the 16th ward of the Manjeri municipality. The attack took place following a dispute over parking at Manjeri Payyanad.

Abdul Jaleel underwent two emergency surgeries on his head and forehead but could not save his life. He died at a private hospital.

Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalees like to travel alone or in groups. KSRTC is responsible for taking the public to the jungles, bald hills, waterfalls, historical sites, and sea views as per the wishes of the travelers. KSRTC launched its first budget tour in 2021 on Kerala’s birthday. The Chalakudy-Malakappara journey was the first.

Although on a trial basis, KSRTC decided to organize trips from various depots to tourist destinations after the success of the trip. KSRTC is conducting budget tour packages in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Forests.

There are currently nine major tourism packages of KSRTC in the state. These include Malakappara, Nelliampathi, Wayanad, Jungle Safari, Monrothuruthu, Munnar, Vagamon, Sagararani, and Alappuzha packages from various depots. In addition, KSRTC operates tour package services from some depots to nearby dams, beaches, and elephant farms.

There are also two- and three-day tour packages that depart from 6 am and return in the evening. The Malakkappara service was the highest revenue earner for KSRTC in terms of tour packages. Munnar, Kothamangalam Jungle Safari, and Nelliampathi are close behind.
During the Women’s Travel Week held from March 8 to 13 on the occasion of Women’s Day, KSRTC made 100 trips with only 4500 women traveling. Palakkad, Kannur, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts had the highest number of women participants.

The KSRTC budget tour package generated revenue of Rs 1,96,62,872 from various services during the four months. In 763 trips, 36,749 passengers arrived at various destinations.

Budget tour packages are regularly updated on KSRTC’s Verified Official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KeralaStateRoadTransportCorporation. KSRTC hopes to offer more tour packages during the holiday months of April and May.

Thiruvananthapuram: The fare of KSRTC city circular buses in Thiruvananthapuram city with fare of  Rs 10  has been extended till June 30, Transport Minister Antony Raju said.
If you take a ticket for Rs 10, you can travel any distance on the city circular bus. City Circular 7 exists through interstates connecting major government offices, hospitals, and schools in the city.
Buses on each route are given special colors so that passengers can quickly identify them. The minister said the city circular service would be extended to more places.

Kollam: The Jayanti Janata Express service, which was halted at covid, has been resumed. Apart from the schedule change, the new service will replace Mumbai CST to Pune.

Train No. 16382 Kanyakumari-Pune Jayanti Special will leave Kanyakumari at 8.25 am yesterday. The train will reach Pune on April 1 at 10.20 pm. 16381 Pune-Kanyakumari Jayanti Special will leave Pune at 11.50 pm on April 1 and reach Kerala on April 3. The Kanyakumari-Pune journey will have stops at Chalakudy, Iringalakuda, Vadakkancherry and Ottapalam stations. The Pune-Kanyakumari service will have no stops at these stations. On the way to Kanyakumari, there are stops at Tripunithura and Thiruvananthapuram Petta stations. In the return direction, the Pune-Kanyakumari service will leave Thiruvananthapuram Central at 9.25 am.

Jayanthi will also be the first non-reserved coach to launch a service from Kerala to North India after covid. The service is as new LHB coaches.