President to inaugurate Kerala Assembly's 'Festival on Democracy'
Thiruvananthapuram, July 25 : President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the "Festival on Democracy", a series of programmes organised by the Kerala Assembly in August to mark the conclusion of its diamond jubilee celebrations, Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan said on Wednesday.
Sreeramakrishnan told the media that the present series of programmes include a series of national level seminars, aimed at fostering, inculcating, sensitising, reiterating and thereby strengthening the values and ethos of democracy, as envisaged in the Constitution.
"On August 6, there will be a Legislator's conference on Challenges in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Independent India and taking part would be legislators from across the country. We are expecting two legislators from every state," he said.
He said among the other programmes that would be held as part of the concluding series include the National Women Legislator's Conference, National Student's Parliament, National Media Conclave on Democracy and Consensus Conclave on Kerala Development.
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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
