Minister Pramod Madhwaraj pays fine for riding bike without helmet

Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 7: The Managing Director of Muthoot Finance company was injured after miscreants allegedly pelted his car with stones here on Tuesday morning following which one person was reportedly taken into custody.

George Alexander Muthoot, who suffered head injury has been admitted to a private hospital, police said.

A section of employees have been agitating against the Muthoot management over dismissal of 160 staff from the company's 43 branches across the state in December.

The protest is being held under the aegis of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

While the Muthoot management alleged that "CITU goons" were behind the attack that occurred at around 9 am in front of IG office here, the union leaders have maintained that they have no role in the incident.

Reacting to the incident, Labour Minister T P Ramakrishnan said he does not think any of the Muthoot employees were behind the attack.

"The employees were protesting peacefully. Violence is not part of their protest. Even now, in today's incident, I don't think any of the Muthoot employees attacked the MD.

However, it was the management of the company which had always provoked them by not implementing the decisions taken at conciliatory meetings," the Minister said.

If the management was prepared to change its stance, all the issues would be resolved, he said.

CITU leader Ananthavattom Anandan told reporters that they do not believe in such type of violent mode of agitation.

An official of the Confederation of Indian Industries Kerala chapter condemned the incident, saying "it is a matter of great concern".

Well known businessman and founder chairman and CEO of V-Guard Industries, Kochouseph Chittilappilly condemned the attack and said it was unfortunate that such incidents still continue in the state.

“Earlier also such incidents have taken palace. It's highly condemnable. The union leaders will now claim that the incident took place without their knowledge. But without the backing of union, such incidents will never happen,” he said.

Kerala-headquartered Muthoot Finance is the largest gold financing company in India.

Mysuru, Jan 5: The ongoing pilot project on documentation of all unprotected monuments in Mysuru taluk has yielded significant results with over 100 sculptures recovered from the rural hinterland.

Launched by the Karnataka Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, the project will help map and document the number of monuments in the Taluk. Based on their importance, they will be added to the protected list.

Sources in the Archaeology department said so far the team has completed mapping of monuments in two Hoblis--Varuna and Jayapura.

Mangaluru, May 5: The principal of St Agnes College, Mangaluru, Sr Dr Jeswina AC attained superannuation after 28 years of dedicated and fruitful service.

Sister Dr Venissa AC, the associate professor of the department of Economics, has been appointed by the Apostolic Carmel Educational Society Management as the principal of the college. Sister Roopa Rodrigues AC. has been appointed as the vice principal.

Sr Dr Venissa AC was earlier serving as the vice principal at St Agnes College.

The college and the management has thanked Sr Dr Jeswina AC for the dedicated services she has rendered to the college.