Thiruvananthapuram:

A special court for Pocso cases in the Kerala capital on Wednesday sentenced a 37-year-old man to imprisonment till his death for the brutal crime of harassing his daughter for several years right from when she was five years old.

Pocso court judge M.P. Shibu, after hearing all the sides, sentenced the man to jail till his death and also directed the District Legal Service Authority to pay the victim a sum of Rs 1.50 lakh from the fine that was collected from the accused.

The man, a casual labourer hailing from suburban Aruvikara in the state capital district, had remarried after his first wife passed away and his daughter, who was one-and-a-half-year-old then, was staying with them.

He was arrested last year after his daughter disclosed her ordeal to her teacher when she came to take her Class 10 public examination conducted by the state Education Department. Finding the girl deeply disturbed, the teacher asked her the reason, and the girl broke down, saying that on the previous day after she reached home after the examination, her father harassed her. The teacher informed the Child Line officials and on further questioning, the girl revealed that her father had been harassing her since she was five years old.

Then, the police got into the act, arresting the man and charging him under the stringent Pocso Act. During the trial, his second wife did her best to defend him but the prosecution broke through her defence and it was found out that she was not present when the child was harassed after her exam – the incident which led to his arrest.

With 28 special fast-track Pocso courts set up by the Kerala government across the state, the cases of sexual offences against children registered in these courts get cleared quickly and in this case, it took a year from the accused’s arrest to the verdict.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Author and columnist Shobhaa De has strongly criticised the “silence” in Bollywood and the disappearing act of Malayalam cinema director Mohanlal after a massive #MeToo movement hit Kerala’s film industry.

Over a dozen Malayalam cinema actors, directors and producers face rape and sex harassment charges after the Justice K Hema Committee report, which looked into issues faced by women in Kerala’s film industry, made it to the public.

Shobhaa De singled out Mohanlal for his ‘cowardice’ in resigning as chief of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA), instead of staying where he is and ensuring the survivors get justice. All members of the film body’s executive committee had also quit. “Stand up, be a man, tell your other team members to take responsibility and help those who are at the receiving end,” she said.

“The tragedy in this particular case is that for nearly five years the Justice Hemareport had been lying there, nothing had been done. There was a breakaway group started by some women in the Malayalam film industry who were completely disheartened by the pathetic working conditions, and it was a cosy men’s club controlled by 15-20 men, who had absolutely power over their working and personal life,” Shobhaa De told NDTV.

“In 2017 there was an abduction and rape case. What we are seeing today is a very strong and overdue reaction to the general rot in the Malayalam film industry. But it’s not unique to Malayalam cinema. It’s widespread. It’s happening in Bollywood, in Bengal, I’m sure in the film industry in Karnataka as well,” she said.

Shobhaa De pointed at the “patriarchal system” that has taken hold of the film industry as a huge factor behind the #MeToo cases.

“The way this industry works is it’s a patriarchal system in its nastiest, most toxic form. Women seem to be completely voiceless and powerless. So things must be changed. I’m extremely, in a way, disheartened, shocked that the all-powerful executive committee could do headed by Mohanlal was to resign en masse. How does it help?

“Good leadership is about saying they are going to stay right where they are and ensure some kind of action against the perpetrators of violence against women, sexual favours being exchanged, even something as basic as toilets (on the sets) being denied to women in the film industry. This is not only inhuman, but callous, it’s cold-blooded, it’s well-calculated. It’s not as if people were not aware of this pathetic condition. No one spoke up. Worse, no one did anything about it.

“I’m equally shocked that not a single strong, male voice has emerged out of Bollywood. Not a single male actor of any worth has spoken against what they are seeing in the industry. They are all colleagues. You stand by your colleagues when they need you and speak up when needed to speak up, whether men or women,” Shobhaa De told NDTV.

She said it seems to be a complicit agreement, that men across the board in the industry “not to damn each other and not to draw too much focus into what has been going on.”

“I don’t accept there’s apathy. This is a tipping point. This kind of conversation we didn’t hear for the last five years. This thing (report) that has been tabled is not something new… Bollywood hasn’t spared its women, and yet how many women do you hear speaking up? How many women are you hearing from the Bengal film industry?

“Where are the big stars from Bollywood? They didn’t even as much as say ‘we stand by the victims, we stand in solidarity with the victims of these atrocities which have been going on unchecked, unabated because of the men in the industry who call all the shots.

“Till that equation changes, I don’t see anything much changing because the money is controlled by the men, they decide who is in, who is out, who gets the job, who gets a role, which technician is cooperative, which women is willing to go to bed with a director, producer, a cameraperson.

“If not, if she is seen as a troublemaker, if she’s seen as a woman who stands up for her self-respect, she is out. Which means we are rendering a group of women who may be completely qualified to do the job, but would be discriminated against because they are not willing to trade their bodies for a job. You are impacting the work environment in a way that you’re leaving out women from earning their livelihood,” the top author and columnist told NDTV.

“This is unforgivable, unless action is taken. Action should be taken at a tribunal level. The perpetrators must be punished. It is time for action. This should not be some noise only to disappear,” she said.

Chennai:

Celebrated singer Chinmayi Sripaada, a key face of the “MeToo” movement in India, has expressed hope that the Hema Committee Report’s exposure of the dark underbelly of Kerala’s film industry will encourage more women survivors of sexual violence to come forward and report it. “Siddique and Ranjith, who have resigned, are not the only two in the Kerala film industry facing allegations of sexual offences,” she told NDTV in an exclusive interview. 

The Justice Hema Committee report — providing sordid details of sexual abuse, systemic harassment, and a “criminal nexus” within Mollywood — has opened a Pandora’s box of more complaints against senior artistes and directors. 

Shortly after its contents were made public, director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique, resigned from their positions in the Kerala Chalachitra Academy and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), amid allegations of misconduct.

On Monday, a junior artiste in the Malayalam film industry accused award-winning actor and director Baburaj of rape. Baburaj, who is the Joint Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors, or AMMA, has denied any wrongdoing.

Chinmayi highlighted the difficulties survivors face in seeking justice, including loss of livelihood and challenges in proving sexual offences. 

She underscored the need for a swift and sensitive justice system, citing her own experience of being banned from dubbing and facing a badly hit singing career after levelling molestation allegations against lyricist Vairamuthu and actor Radha Ravi.

The system, she said, makes it difficult for survivors to file police complaints, sharing her own experience of being molested several years ago and the taboo surrounding police stations at the time and the long period of trial.  

She praised the actors in Kerala who have spoken out against sexual abuse and expressed her desire for other people in industries to follow suit. 

Asked about women in many cases not coming forward to file police complaints, she said, “Most of it is circumstantial evidence. Even bruises get healed in a few days”. 

“We need a swift sensitive legal system from the very beginning. We can’t be carrying bodycam all the time. Violations like molestation happen in a jiffy,” she said. 

The ICC system was brought in to make the system faster but hasn’t worked, she said, underscoring that they “expected a lot from the National Commission for Women”. 

The political class and the film industry, she said, continue to associate with those facing “MeToo” allegations. “Politicians support men facing sexual harassment allegations because they are vote banks,” she added.

The Kerala government has formed a special team to investigate the atrocities faced by women in movie industry. The seven-member team was formed after a high-level meeting of senior police officials was called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The chief minister’s office said the special team will be headed by IG Sparjan Kumar and will include four senior women IPS officers of the state.

Over the last weeks, the Malayalam film industry has been rent by allegations of harassment and sexual abuse on women professionals.

The issue, which has been on the backburner for long, made headlines after the Hema Committee submitted its report after a XX-year investigation.

The 290-page report, commissioned by the Kerala government and headed by retired Justice K Hema in 2017  revealed systemic harassment, abuse, and a “criminal nexus” within the industry.

Shortly after its contents were made public,  director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique, have resigned from their positions in the Kerala Chalachitra Academy  and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), amid allegations of misconduct.

Ranjith, a prominent filmmaker and the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, had resigned after a Bengal actress accused him of inappropriate behaviour. Ranjith has denied the allegations, claiming that he is the “real victim”.

The Hema Committee report revealed numerous instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry, prompting calls for action against the guilty.

Thiruvananthapuram:

The much-awaited Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry has recorded explosive accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of female professionals, and has alleged that a “criminal gang” was controlling the industry where unyielding women are squeezed out.

The panel report also alleged there was a “power nexus” consisting of a handful of producers, directors, actors and production controllers.

The Kerala government constituted the panel after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep to study issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema.

The report released on Monday sheds light on the widespread and persistent sexual harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry, with many alleging they were subjected to unwanted advances even before commencing work.

The women actors who are ready to compromise are given code names, and those who are not ready to yield are pushed out of the field, as per the report.

The report highlighted the widespread nature of the issue, sparking concerns about the safety and well-being of women in the industry.

“It has come out in evidence that certain men in cinema, who are well-known and well-reputed for their ability as artist, director or whoever he be in the film industry have shocked certain women in cinema by sexual harassment and physical advances made by them towards them,” the expert panel report said.

A copy of the report was given to the media under the RTI Act after five years of its submission to the government.

In a series of shocking and shameful revelations, the report stated that female actors faced harassment, including instances where the doors of their rooms were knocked on by intoxicated individuals in the film industry.

Many of them, who suffered sexual harassment, were reluctant to complain about this to the police due to fear, it said.

“The sky is full of mysteries, with the twinkling stars and the beautiful moon. But scientific investigation revealed that the stars do not twinkle, nor does the moon look beautiful,” the report said.

“Do not trust what you see; even salt looks like sugar,” the opening lines of the report said.

As per the report, submitted by the three-member panel, the major issue which women face in the film industry is sexual harassment.

“It is the worst evil which women in cinema face in the film industry. The women in cinema are most reluctant to speak out about the sexual harassment which they are subjected to, even to other women or close relatives,” it said.

The commission said it was “shocked to hear the sexual harassment stories” revealed to it by women working in the Malayalam film industry.

“The offer to act or for doing any other job in cinema comes to a woman coupled with demand for sexual favours. As I already mentioned, the woman would be asked to adjust and compromise, thereby she is asked to surrender to sexual demands,” the report said.

“In most of the hotels, where they are staying, the doors are knocked by the men working in cinema who could be mostly under intoxication. Many women have stated that knocking will not be polite or decent but, they repeatedly bang the door by force,” the report detailed.

The panel said even though many sexual acts committed against women in cinema come under the IPC and under the definition of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act (POSH), the women who suffered the atrocities prefer to keep silence.

“An artist added that if they take up the matter before the court or the police, they will face worse consequences, including threat to life. The artist added that threat to life will not only be against the victims but even their close family members will be in danger,” the report said.

The report has categorically mentioned that the police should register FIRs against crimes that are being committed in the industry, and many are not coming out fearing for their lives.

The publication of the report, initially scheduled for July 24, was put on hold by the Kerala High Court following a plea from a Malayalam film producer.

The court later dismissed the plea on August 13 and directed the government to release the report within a week.

However, the publication was delayed again due to a plea from an actress, which was heard by the High Court on Monday. The government finally released the report on Monday evening.

State Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan said the government has taken note of the findings and recommendations of the Justice Hema Committee.

The government would convene a cinema conclave in the next two months to discuss and resolve the issues in the film industry, he said.

The opposition Congress expressed shock over the findings of the committee and sought to know whom the government tried to protect by keeping the report without releasing it.

“The action of the government and the chief minister who kept the report in cold storage so far was a criminal offence,” Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly V D Satheesan told reporters in Kochi.

Actor Siddique, who is also the president of actor outfit AMMA, said they would study the report in detail and take necessary steps to address the issues.

Women in Cinema Collective, an outfit of women professionals in the industry, expressed happiness over the releasing of the report and thanked the panel members, media, women organisations and the lawyers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kochi:

 Supreme Court judge Justice B R Gavai on Friday inaugurated the country’s first exclusive Digital Court for handling cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

At an event held at the High Court auditorium here, Justice Gavai also launched an online dispute resolution platform, We-Solv Virtual Solution Maker, which will facilitate online deliberations by all the stakeholders.

He also inaugurated a Model Digital Court Room conceived by the Kerala High Court, specifically designed to overcome the limitations of traditional court rooms.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also attended the event, inaugurated the Special Courts in Ernakulam and Alappuzha which are dedicated to handle cases under the SC/ST(Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the BUDS Act (Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019) respectively.

Referring to the advent of technological interventions after the COVID-19, Justice Gavai said the Supreme Court started virtual hearings within 48 hours of lockdown.

“As all of you are aware, when Justice Chandrachud, as his lordship then was, had dealt with a public interest litigation, that too virtually with regard to the supply of oxygen to various states. And therefore, this technology provided solace to the millions of Indian citizens who otherwise would have been deprived of the right to access to justice,” Justice Gavai said.

He said justice should not be denied to a person on account of his incapacity to pay a lawyer.

“Also, justice should not be denied to him/her because of his/her geographical reasons, because he/she cannot reach the higher courts. And we have seen that on account of the invention of technology, even a person sitting in the remotest part of the country can directly appear before the Supreme Court.

“I am sure that these inventions would also help in providing easy and affordable justice to the last citizen of this country so that our dream of social and economic justice along with political justice is realised,” Justice Gavai said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Vijayan said technology is part and parcel of our day-to-day life.

“At such a time, it is imperative that all organs of the government adapt more and more to technological advancement. While we embrace technology and the solutions it offers, it is also important that we take the necessary precaution in dealing with the challenges it poses as well,” he said.

During the event, state Law Minister P Rajeeve inaugurated the newly constructed security-cum facilitation block at the high court complex and Finance Minister K N Balagopal inaugurated the CCTV surveillance system.

Nandan Nilekani, the mentor of PUCAR, the knowledge partner of the Open and Networked Court System also spoke during the occasion.

Supreme Court Justices Rajesh Bindal and C T Ravikumar, Kerala High Court Acting Chief Justice A Muhammad Mushtaq, Kerala High Court judges, Justice A K Jayashankar Nambiar and Justice V Raja Vijayaraghavan, Advocate General, K Gopalakrishna Kurup, among others who took part in the event.

Chief Justice of India, Justice D Y Chandrachud was supposed to inaugurate the event, but he cancelled, reportedly due to ill health.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Thiruvananthapuram:

The second phase of the search for the missing persons in the Wayanad landslide disaster commenced on Sunday with the operation being carried out in six zones where the survivors will help in locating the spots.

The six zones include Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchiri Mattam. However, the operations in the risky terrain of Soochippara and downstream of the Chaliyar River will resume on Monday. At least 413 people lost their lives and 152 are still missing after the massive landslides hit Wayanad district of Kerala during the early hours of July 30.

Kerala Police, State Fire and Rescue Service personnel, survivors of the landslides, relatives of victims and volunteers of various service and youth outfits are part of the search operations.

Hundreds of civil volunteers, including women, are in the search teams and have crisscrossed the hilly regions. The Bailey Bridge, constructed by the Indian Army, is proving a boon to the locals and those involved in the relief and rescue mission.

Those people who registered for the work before 9 a.m. on Sunday were allowed to join the search operation.

The relatives and survivors from the relief camps are included in the search team to assist the rescue workers in identifying the places.

Cadaver dogs are also in the team to trace the spots where human remains are trapped under the debris.

Excavators will be used to remove the earth to search for the bodies after Cavadar dogs trace the spot, said officials.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the relatives are being made part of the search operations to find people who are still missing as all other possible means have been exhausted.

The search operations took a brief break on Friday afternoon as the area was handed over to the SPG after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the disaster-hit Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions of the northern hilly district of Kerala.

PM Modi visited the landslides-hit Wayanad district and assured that the Central government will “spare no effort” in helping Kerala in relief and rehabilitation while describing the tragedy as “nature displaying its furious form”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

At least 151 people have died and about 186 others were injured after a series of landslides hit Kerala’s Wayanad district amid heavy rain yesterday.

Here Are 10 Updates On Kerala Landslides

New Delhi:

State governments should not intrude into matters beyond their constitutional jurisdiction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday criticising the Kerala government for appointing a secretary for “external cooperation”.

Citing provisions in the Constitution, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that matters relating to foreign affairs are the “sole prerogative” of the central government.

On July 15, the Kerala government issued an order giving K Vasuki, secretary in the labour and skills department, the additional charge of “the matters connected with external cooperation”.

“The Constitution of India under the seventh schedule, list 1 (or the) Union list, item 10, clearly specifies that foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country, are the sole prerogative of the Union Government,” Jaiswal said.

“It is not a concurrent subject and definitely not a state subject. Our position is that state governments should not intrude into matters that are beyond their constitutional jurisdiction,” he said.

On Monday, BJP parliamentarian P P Chaudhary raised the issue in Lok Sabha and described the Kerala government’s action as “unconstitutional” and an “encroachment” on the responsibilities of the Centre.

“Is the Kerala government treating itself as a separate nation,” he asked.

The BJP lawmaker said external cooperation meant dealing with various nations, Indian embassies and missions abroad, functions that formed part of the Union List as per the allocation of business rules.

“As per the allocation of business rules, these functions can only be performed by the Government of India through the Ministry of External Affairs,” the MP from Pali in Rajasthan said.

“So, the action on the part of Kerala government by issuing such an order and appointing an IAS officer as foreign secretary is unconstitutional, and it is an encroachment on the union list,” he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A 14-year-old boy from Pandikkad in Malappuram tested positive for Nipah on Saturday. The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune confirmed the infection.

“NIV, Pune has confirmed the infection. Residents of Malappuram should remain vigilant. The boy is in critical condition and has been shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital,” state Health Minister Veena George said. 

“The timings of the child’s travel will be released with the route map. People who travelled with the child should inform the department using the Nipah control rooms. The control rooms will assist people with tests and clear their concerns,” the minister added.

The Kerala health department shared that 214 individuals who had contact with the teenager are under observation. Among them, 60 are categorised as high-risk. Those being monitored will be isolated, and samples from the high-risk group will be collected and tested promptly. A 24-hour control room has been set up at the government rest house in Malappuram. The district collector, police chief and other officials will meet to decide whether to impose restrictions within a 3-kilometre radius of the outbreak’s epicentre.

Earlier, in 2018, at least 17 people from the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts died due to the Nipah virus. Amid the rising concerns over the spread of the virus, listed below are the causes, symptoms and treatment:

Causes:

Transmission: The Nipah virus is primarily spread from fruit bats to humans. Contact with infected bats, their saliva or contaminated food can transmit the virus. Human-to-human transmission has also been observed, particularly through respiratory droplets and bodily fluids.

Symptoms:

Initial symptoms often include fever, headache and muscle pain, with an incubation period ranging from 5 to 14 days post-exposure.

As the disease progresses, symptoms can escalate to encephalitis (brain inflammation), seizures and confusion. Respiratory issues such as cough and sore throat may also appear.

In severe cases, the virus can lead to coma and death, with a mortality rate ranging from 40% to 75% depending on the outbreak.

Treatment:

There is no specific antiviral treatment for the Nipah virus. Health officials often focus on supportive care, including maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and addressing symptoms as they arise.

Prevention:

The World Health Organization recommends to minimise contact with fruit bats and pigs, especially in outbreak areas. Ensure food is thoroughly cooked and avoid consuming raw or partially cooked fruits.

Good hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing and using personal protective equipment, are essential in preventing the spread of the virus.