National

Kottayam Ragging Incident: VD Satheesan Claims SFI Connection to the Accused

Published

1 year ago

February 15, 2025

On Friday, VD Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, accused members of the Student Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI-M, of being involved in the ragging incident at a nursing college in Kottayam. He claimed that the Kerala Government Nursing Students Association (KGNSA) has connections to the SFI.“It is well-known that they are SFI activists, yet they continue to deny it,” Satheesan stated during a visit to Kottayam. He emphasized that the individuals responsible for the ragging are affiliated with both the SFI and the pro-Left KGNSA.

Additionally, Satheesan referenced a prior incident involving a student’s death at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad, allegedly linked to ragging, asserting that SFI members were implicated but faced no consequences. “In the Pookode ragging case, SFI members were accused, yet they were permitted to sit for exams, and the only ones suffering were the victim’s family,” he alleged. The SFI, however, has denied any association with those accused in the current case.

PM Arsho, the state secretary of SFI, insisted that the accused have no affiliations with any organization under the SFI’s jurisdiction. In response, Higher Education Minister R Bindu announced that the government would take stringent action against those involved in the Kottayam ragging incident, promising that the offenders would face maximum penalties.

The Kerala Students Union (KSU) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) held protests outside the nursing college on Friday, demanding severe action against the accused. Earlier, on Wednesday, police arrested five third-year students from the Government College of Nursing in Kottayam following a complaint from a first-year student about severe ragging.

Reports indicate that the first-year students faced extreme harassment, including being stripped and subjected to physical abuse involving heavy dumbbells. Allegations also include the use of a geometry divider to cause injuries after the victims were tied to their hostel beds and having lotion poured on their wounds.

Disturbing footage from the Kottayam Government Nursing College has surfaced, showing a student tied up and subjected to torture. The video depicts him being stabbed with a compass, with lotion applied to his injuries, while senior students are seen laughing and mocking him. These recordings, taken by the senior students themselves during the incident, feature them ridiculing the distressed student while he cries out in pain.

National

Ex-IAS Officer Dhanendra Kumar Dies in Delhi House Fire

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2026

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: Former IAS officer and the first chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Dhanendra Kumar, died after a fire broke out at his house in Delhi’s Hauz Khas area on Thursday night. He was 80.

According to police, the fire was suspected to have started after an air conditioner blast inside the house. At the time of the incident, five people, including family members and domestic staff, were present in the house.

Firefighters and police teams rushed to the spot and rescued the people trapped inside. Dhanendra Kumar and his son were taken to a nearby hospital. Kumar died during treatment due to smoke inhalation. His son suffered injuries and is now out of danger.

Police said no foul play is suspected in the incident. The house was badly damaged in the fire.

Dhanendra Kumar was a 1968 batch IAS officer. During his long career, he served in several important positions in the central and Haryana governments. He worked in ministries such as Defence, Road Transport, and Culture.

He also served as the first chairman of the Competition Commission of India from 2009 to 2011. He played an important role in strengthening competition laws and economic reforms in the country.

Even after retirement, he remained active in public policy and corporate affairs.

National

Woman Found Dead Six Months after Marriage

Published

2 weeks ago

May 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Lucknow: A young woman was found hanging at her in-laws’ house just six months after her marriage in Lucknow. The deceased has been identified as Shweta Singh.

According to her family, Shweta married Bhupendra Singh on November 22, 2025. Her father, Umesh Kumar Singh, alleged that her husband and his family harassed her regularly for dowry and demanded a car. He also claimed that Shweta faced mental torture from her husband and in-laws after marriage.

The incident took place at her in-laws’ house in the Thakurganj area of Lucknow. Shweta was rushed to a hospital, but doctors declared her dead.

Her parents suspect murder and alleged that the family tried to present the death as suicide by hanging the body. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Shweta’s husband and his family under Sections 80 and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Police said the accused family members are absconding, and a search operation is underway. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further action will be taken after the report arrives.

National

Army Helicopter Crashes In Ladakh, All Three Officers Injured But Safe

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: Three Indian Army officers survived after their helicopter crashed in the Tangste region near Leh in Ladakh. The accident took place on May 20. Officials confirmed the incident on Friday.

The helicopter belonged to the Army’s ageing Cheetah fleet. A Lieutenant Colonel and a Major were flying the chopper. Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3rd Infantry Division, was travelling as a passenger.

All three officers suffered injuries in the crash. However, they survived the accident in the difficult mountainous region. A selfie clicked by Major General Mehta after the crash has now gone viral on social media. The photo showed the three officers sitting on rocks near the badly damaged helicopter.

Many people called their survival a miracle because of the harsh terrain and the risks involved in flying the old Cheetah helicopters in high-altitude areas.

The Indian Army has ordered an official inquiry to find out the reason behind the crash.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of the Cheetah helicopters. These helicopters were introduced in the 1970s and have been used for decades in difficult operations, including Operation Meghdoot in Siachen Glacier in 1984.

In recent years, several accidents involving the Cheetah fleet have been reported. The helicopters are now being slowly replaced by the indigenous Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The Army has reportedly ordered six limited-series-production LUHs. The new helicopters can fly at a top speed of 220 kmph and have an operational range of 350 km.

Despite its age, the Cheetah helicopter is still considered one of the best helicopters for high-altitude flying operations.