All you need to know about South India, all in one place! The South First faithfully & fearlessly reports news on varied issues that matter to you.

Judge's son hit-and-run: Mistakes were made, admits Chennithala Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has demanded the cancellation of bail granted to a minor accused in a fatal hit-and-run case under the Cheranalloor police station limits in Ernakulam. The victim, a roadside eatery owner, was reportedly returning home with groceries after closing his shop when he was hit by a vehicle and later died. Chennithala criticised the initial police response and said he had urged the DGP to review the case. He also called for strong action and said the vehicle owner should face legal action if warranted. youtube.com/shorts/hMqfGshOC…

#Karnataka: #Bengaluru Development Minister #KrishnaByreGowda on Monday set a two-month deadline to complete delayed white-topping work on Hennur-Bagalur Road, directing officials to deploy a second contractor to speed up construction. Inspecting the road on October 26, Byre Gowda said the existing 4.6-km project would be extended by 400 metres, taking the total stretch to about 5 km. “The contractor is doing quality work, but is moving very slowly,” he told reporters, adding that a second contractor would be brought in within seven to 10 days to work from the opposite direction. “Why should people not criticise us when the road is in this condition?” he asked, warning that the unfinished stretch posed safety risks, including two-wheelers skidding. “We cannot visit a site, make promises and then allow those promises to remain merely words,” he said, adding that he would personally supervise the work. According to a Greater Bengaluru Authority press release, the minister also directed officials to improve drainage, widen footpaths wherever feasible, repair damaged footpath slabs and scientifically redesign congested junctions based on traffic volumes. He called for alternative routes and traffic arrangements during construction to minimise commuter inconvenience. Officials were also asked to expedite pending land acquisition and coordinate road widening, drainage and white-topping to avoid repeated excavation. Byre Gowda said the proposed 18-km corridor from the Ring Road to the airport was being developed in phases, with land acquisition pending in some sections. The inspection was attended by KR Puram MLA Byarathi Basavaraj and GBA officials.

#Keralam : CAG flags poor upkeep of public toilets, gaps in meat safety checks The Comptroller and Auditor General (#CAG) has recommended an online platform or mobile app for the public to report unhygienic and non-functional #publictoilets by uploading photographs, while calling for exclusive toilet facilities for persons with disabilities at all ‘Take a Break’ centres, particularly those in tourist destinations. The recommendations figure in the #CAG’s Audit Report on Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) in Keralam for the period ended March 2024, tabled in the Assembly on October 26. A function-based audit of the construction and maintenance of public toilets, including ‘Take a Break’ units, found that several projects remained incomplete or non-functional despite substantial financial allocations. Deficient planning, inappropriate site selection, lack of essential facilities such as water and electricity, and inadequate maintenance arrangements were among the reasons identified. Even operational toilets in busy public places and tourist destinations lacked basic amenities and were found to be unhygienic due to poor upkeep, the report said. These shortcomings reflected weaknesses in planning and implementation and resulted in public funds not delivering the intended benefits. The audit covered 34 selected local self-government institutions in Alappuzha and Idukki districts during 2021-22 to 2023-24. The sample comprised two district panchayats, eight block panchayats and 24 grama panchayats. The CAG has also called for accountability to be fixed on officials responsible for failing to enforce penal provisions against unauthorised slaughterhouses and meat stalls. It recommended ensuring the presence of veterinary surgeons at #slaughterhouses to certify the health of livestock and the quality of meat. The report highlighted gaps in the system for monitoring #cattle brought into the state. Although the Animal Husbandry Department had 19 border checkposts to monitor the health of incoming cattle, only two veterinary doctor posts had been sanctioned, and both remained vacant as of September 2025. None of the checkposts had quarantine facilities. Staff relied on health certificates presented by transporters, purportedly issued by the state from which the cattle had been brought. The audit noted that prescribed random checks on animal health were not being conducted. This left the health status of cattle unverified and posed a risk to public health, as meat from animals potentially unfit for consumption could enter the market.

#Telangana: A 35-year-old man was killed, and two others were seriously injured after a speeding car rammed into a group of pedestrians at Tatikallu in Nakrekal mandal of Nalgonda district on Sunday night. The accident occurred on the main road at Tatikallu, when a car reportedly headed from Nalgonda towards Warangal lost control and ran into three people on the sidewalk. The impact was so severe that the victims were flung into the air before landing on the road. The deceased was identified as Bantu Venkanna, a resident of Yadgarpally in the Miryalaguda mandal. He died on the spot. Locals who rushed to the scene shifted the injured to the nearby hospital. The entire sequence was captured by a CCTV camera in the area, and is being widely circulated on social media platforms. Nakrekal police inspected the spot and registered a case against the driver. They are probing to determine whether overspeeding, negligent driving or drunk driving was behind the crash. Further details awaited

#TamilNadu: #Coimbatore student Akilan’s death case transferred to #CBCID The investigation into the death of Coimbatore school student Akilan has been transferred to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) for further investigation. According to an order issued by Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal on October 26, 2026, the case registered at the E-2 Peelamedu police station (Crime No. 446/2026) has been transferred to the CB-CID. The order directs the Coimbatore City Commissioner of Police to hand over the original case file and all related records to the CB-CID. The CB-CID has been asked to appoint an investigating officer and take up further investigation. The transfer comes amid a continuing protest demanding justice for Akilan, with protesters calling for the arrest of the teachers allegedly involved and seeking a CB-CID probe into the case.

DK Shivakumar warns Bengaluru IT firms over allegations of denying jobs to Kannadigas Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has warned Bengaluru’s IT companies of action if they are found deliberately sidelining Kannadigas in recruitment. The warning follows a viral video in which a woman alleges that companies reject candidates who mention Kannada on their resumes, hire fewer locals and recruit from campuses in other states at lower salaries. Appealing to the state government, she says Kannadigas are losing job opportunities in their own state. Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has urged affected candidates to file complaints. youtube.com/shorts/bivE80ATy…

AP: Five-year-old girl allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered in Prakasam; villagers block Ongole–Chirala road thesouthfirst.com/andhraprad…

Woman bus conductor suffers serious leg injuries after passenger allegedly pushes her thesouthfirst.com/telangana/…

Hindutva interpretation of Indian history ignores evidence to promote Hindu Rashtra, says Romila Thapar thesouthfirst.com/topright/h…

WhatsApp honeytrap: Retired Army captain arrested for allegedly leaking military secrets thesouthfirst.com/tamilnadu/…

Rahul Gandhi 'not guilty' in defamation case over 2018 Amit Shah remarks Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was acquitted in a 2018 criminal defamation case over alleged remarks against then-BJP president Amit Shah. The verdict was delivered by a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in the day, vehicles in Rahul Gandhi’s convoy were involved in a collision on the Purvanchal Expressway while he was travelling from Lucknow to Sultanpur to attend the court proceedings. Reports said five vehicles at the rear of the convoy were involved in the accident, with an ambulance also reportedly caught up in the collision. Rahul Gandhi’s car was unaffected, and he was safe. Several party workers and security personnel were reportedly injured. The defamation case stemmed from remarks Gandhi allegedly made against Amit Shah during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election campaign. The complaint was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. youtube.com/shorts/ZgMs-v4hT…

#Keralam: #Madhu’s family seeks home, job; CM promises help Malliyamma and Sarasu, the mother and sister of Madhu, the tribal youth lynched in Attappadi in 2018 over allegations of stealing food, met Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan at the Kerala Assembly complex around 11 am on Monday, seeking a secure home and a job for Sarasu. The Chief Minister assured them that a house would be built within a month, once a suitable plot of land was identified. He also promised to take steps to arrange employment for Sarasu at the earliest. Madhu, 27, was beaten to death by a mob on February 22, 2018, after being accused of stealing rice and groceries from shops near Mukkali in Attappadi. A poor tribal youth who had studied up to Class VII and was described as mentally challenged, he had been living in isolation in a cave in the Attappadi forests. The post-mortem examination revealed severe injuries, including trauma to the back of his head, fractured ribs and 42 wounds across his body. Sixteen people were charged in the case. The Mannarkkad court convicted 14, acquitting the other two. Thirteen of the convicts were sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment on April 5, 2023, for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while another was convicted of assault. Later, in May, the Kerala High Court acquitted the first accused, Mecheri Hussain of Pakkulam in Thavalam, while upholding the trial court's verdict against the other accused. The family then stated that they will challenge the acquittal in the Supreme Court of India.

#TamilNadu: Protest seeking justice for Dalit student Akilan continues for sixth day in #Coimbatore A continuous sit-in protest demanding justice for Akilan, a Dalit school student who died in Coimbatore, continued for the sixth consecutive day on October 26, with protesters demanding the arrest of teachers allegedly linked to the case. Meanwhile, the victim’s family members and leaders of various progressive organisations met Ramya Bharathi, Inspector General of Police for the West Zone and Coimbatore City Police Commissioner, and submitted a petition seeking the transfer of the case to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). The petitioners called for an independent investigation into the student’s death and urged the authorities to take action against the teachers concerned. Those who participated in the meeting included C. Padmanabhan, Coimbatore district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist); Arumugam, state treasurer of the Communist Party of India; T. Chellakannu, state president of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front; Coimbatore Ravikumar, state vice-president of the front and general secretary of the Adi Tamilar Peravai; Nagai Thiruvalluvar, leader of the Tamil Puligal Katchi; Venmani, leader of the Dravidar Tamilar Katchi; district secretary T. Nagaraj; and Dinesh Raja, district secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). The protesters continue to demand justice for Akilan and action against those allegedly responsible for the incident.

#Keralam: Nilambur LAC to lead Keralam’s ‘Hridayaragam’ health campaign #Nilambur in #Malappuram district will be the first Assembly constituency in Keralam to begin the pilot implementation of #Hridayaragam, the state government’s campaign to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Health Department, which announced the campaign in July under the tagline ‘From the Heart’, has directed the Director of Health Services to immediately constitute a district implementation team for Nilambur and coordinate field-level activities. The team will prepare a detailed micro-plan covering population-based screening, risk categorisation, deployment of health personnel, and arrangements for equipment, consumables and other resources required to roll out the programme. The State Implementation Monitoring Committee will review the plan and submit it to the Principal Secretary (Health) within 10 days, according to a department order issued on October 24. Hridayaragam aims to screen everyone above the age of 18 and ensure timely diagnosis, treatment and follow-up for those found to have NCDs. The campaign will use digital health infrastructure and an intensified, campaign-mode approach to improve disease management, reduce complications and deaths, and minimise out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. #Diabetes, #hypertension, #cardiovasculardiseases, #stroke and #cancer are among the leading causes of illness and death in Keralam, the department noted. The rising burden of these diseases, linked to changing lifestyles, dietary habits and an ageing population, has underscored the need for wider screening and sustained follow-up. The pilot programme was initially announced for three Assembly constituencies: Vattiyoorkavu in #Thiruvananthapuram, #Idukki in Idukki district and Nilambur in Malappuram. The Director of Health Services has also been asked to instruct the District Medical Officers concerned to form implementation teams and prepare micro-plans for Vattiyoorkavu and Idukki. A State Implementation Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Director of Health Services, has been constituted to oversee the campaign. Its members include health officials, representatives of the National Health Mission, the State NCD programme and e-Health, along with district-level programme and others.

Prakash Raj slams Modi over chat with AI avatar of Swami Chinmayananda Actor Prakash Raj criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his interaction with an AI avatar of Swami Chinmayananda, who died in 1993. Mocking the conversation, Raj questioned the use of artificial intelligence to recreate a deceased spiritual leader, while raising concerns over alleged vote chori and the issues facing India's youth. He said citizens could no longer be fooled and accused the government of diverting attention from bigger issues facing the country. youtube.com/shorts/K0M27xW4M…

Remarks against Amit Shah: UP court acquits Rahul Gandhi in 2018 defamation case thesouthfirst.com/beyond-sou…

#TamilNadu: #MadrasHighCourt dismisses #KNNehru’s plea to review order directing registration of case The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister K.N. Nehru seeking a review of its earlier order directing the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to register a case against him over alleged irregularities in appointments in the Municipal Administration Department. The case relates to allegations that bribes amounting to ₹634 crore were collected for the appointment of 2,538 assistant engineers and junior engineers in the department during the previous #DMK regime. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had written to the authorities regarding the alleged corruption. Citing the ED's communication, AIADMK MP Inbadurai filed a petition before the High Court seeking directions to the DVAC to register a case. In February 2026, the High Court directed the DVAC to register a case against Nehru and others. Nehru subsequently filed a review petition challenging the order. On October 26, 2026, the High Court refused to review its earlier order and dismissed Nehru's petition.

Preferential treatment for ‘VIP patients’ takes up vital resources and delays care for others, AIIMS surgeons warn thesouthfirst.com/health/pre…

The Owaisi paradox: From Hyderabad to Uttar Pradesh thesouthfirst.com/opinion/th…

Jagdeep Dhankhar at RSS event: Some questions and a ‘political conspiracy’ thesouthfirst.com/opinion/ja…