FIR against BJP candidate Tejasvi Surya for canvassing amidst voting

Kochi, Mar 1:Adheringto a policy of "zero tolerance" towards clergy who sexually exploit minors, Pope Francis has expelled a Kerala priestconvicted of rape from all priestly duties and rights, according to church officials.

Syro-Malabar Church priest Robin Vadakkumchery is currently serving a jail term for impregnating a 16-year-old girl in Mananthavady diocese.

"Vadakkumchery has been dispensed from the exercise of priestly duties and rights. That means he has been reduced to the state of a layman", a Church official told PTI.

He was suspended from priestly duties soon after the news about his crime was reported in early 2017.

A POCSO court in Thalassery last year had sentenced Vadakkumchery to 20 years of Rigorous Imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs three lakh on him.

The priest, 50, was the vicar of the local church in Kottiyur in Kannur district and manager at the school where the victim was studying.

He was arrested two years ago while trying to flee to Canada.

The Vatican's action came two years after Pope Francis made it clear that all bishops should adhere to a policy of "zero tolerance" for clergy who sexually exploit children.

Bengaluru, Jan 5: Lambasting Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa over the proposal to rename Ramanagara as Nava Bengaluru, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said that such a move will be an insult to Lord Ram, after whom the district is named.

In a series of tweets, Kumaraswamy accused that renaming the district was a pretext to sell its fertile irrigated land to capitalists. Yediyurappa also wants to settle a score with me by renaming it, he alleged

"If Yediyurappa wishes to develop Ramanagara, he should release the funds allocated in the budget. If you want to develop it further, you will find support from me and my people. But, don't set fire to the districts' culture and identity by changing its name," he tweeted.

Mangaluru, Jan 3: A young entrepreneur reportedly jumped off the Netravati bridge near Thokkottu on the outskirts of the city today morning.

The youth who allegedly committed suicide has been Navesh Kottari, 30, a resident of Ullalbail. He was the proprietor of N J Shamiyana.

The incident took place at around 6:30 a.m. Police and fire brigade rushed to the spot after sometime and launched search operation for the body in the river Netravati.

The body was retrieved in the afternoon.