Professor TJ Joseph, a victim of an attack by members of the banned group Popular Front of India, reflects on the incident and its aftermath. Despite losing his hand in a brutal assault in 2010 over a misunderstood exam question, he has found peace through atheism and aims to free others from blind faith. Joseph faced isolation from the church and community, financial hardship, and the loss of his wife to depression. He has since written an autobiography, 'A Thousand Cuts', and plans to continue writing. The recent NIA court verdict found six additional accused guilty, bringing the incident back into focus.

The Kerala legislative assembly faced disruption as the opposition boycotted a session over the suicide of a 77-year-old disabled man, allegedly due to the CPIM-led government's delay in paying disability pension. Finance Minister KN Balagopal rejected the call for a debate on the issue, while Opposition Leader VD Satheeshan criticized the government's spending priorities and handling of the suicide note. The Kerala High Court has registered a suo motu case to protect the interests of the deceased's physically disabled daughter.

Fifteen men associated with the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) were found guilty of murdering Advocate Rajnith Srinivas, the state secretary of the BJP OBC Morcha, by Mavelikara Additional Sessions Judge VG Sridevi. The murder took place on December 19, 2021, in Alappuzha Vellakinar, and the sentence will be pronounced on Monday. The prosecution presented extensive evidence, including 156 witnesses, documents, photographs, and scientific evidence. Despite the defendants' requests for case transfer and concerns over security, the trial proceeded with heavy police protection due to threats against witnesses and prosecution lawyers.

The swearing-in ceremony for KB Ganesh Kumar and Kadanapally Ramachandran marks a significant reshuffle in the Kerala cabinet, following a pre-agreed pact. Amidst tensions between the Kerala Governor and Chief Minister, the Left Front anticipates Kumar and Ramachandran to oversee the transport and port departments, respectively. The reshuffle follows the resignations of Ahmed Devarkovil and Antony Raju. The article also highlights criticism of the Nava Kerala Sadas campaign and ongoing protests against the SFI governor.

Facing ongoing violence, Congress cadres are calling for an all-out offensive against CPIM party supporters in the final leg of the chief minister's Yatra, ending on December 24, indicating a shift from Gandhian non-violence to more aggressive tactics.

Police efforts to manage traffic at the Sabarimala temple for the third consecutive day have sparked political concerns as the opposition criticizes the government's inadequate arrangements for pilgrims. Devotees experienced delays, with some waiting over 15 hours for darshan. The Kerala High Court directed crowd control measures, but pilgrims still faced long waits and insufficient facilities. The opposition leader VD Satheeshan and BJP state president K Surendran condemned the government's handling of the situation. The Devaswom Board and police blamed each other for the virtual queue system's failure. The High Court is considering appointing a legal team to assess the situation, while Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan acknowledged the unprecedented rush and limitations, assuring efforts to prevent incidents.

The CUSAT stampede, which resulted in four student deaths and over 60 injuries, has raised questions about the violation of fest norms set after a 2015 accident. Documents suggest that the Dhishna 2023 organizers flouted regulations prohibiting professional performances and fundraising on campus. The Kerala High Court had emphasized strict enforcement of these guidelines. R Sasikumar from Save University Campaign alleges that the Students Welfare Director and the Vice Chancellor are responsible for the event's safety failures. The university has blamed the principal, Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, for not officially informing authorities about the event's scale and celebrity participation, leading to his removal pending an inquiry.

The CUSAT stampede at Cochin University's annual festival resulted in four deaths and over 60 injuries. An expert committee has been formed to investigate. Documents reveal that the principal had requested additional security, but the police claim they received no such request. The incident highlights potential negligence in crowd control measures by the university's higher authorities. The police and university officials have conflicting accounts regarding the communication and security arrangements for the event.

Environmental activists from Kerala Nadi Samrakshana Samiti faced a hostile mob while inspecting a quarry in Thenaruvi, Kakkadampoyil, where a check dam co-owned by MLA PV Anwar was located. The Kerala High Court was informed that the dam had been demolished, but evidence suggests otherwise. The incident has sparked a debate between the need for ecological preservation and the desire for development through tourism. Some villagers support the nearby theme park and resort for economic reasons, while others, including environmentalists and local residents, express concerns about the environmental impact and safety hazards. A collective of villagers from various political parties has planned a strike to address these issues. Environmentalist C R Neelakantan reported clear violations at the quarry site, including diverted streams and steep mining slopes.

The High Court criticized Kerala Police for seizing equipment from the Malayalam Online Portal Marunadan Malayali based on a defamation case filed by CPIM MLA PV Srinijan. The court found the police's actions unacceptable and ordered the return of the equipment. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan condemned Delhi Police's raids on NewsClick, calling it an attack on media freedom, while the Editor-in-Chief of Marunadan Malayali accused Vijayan of hypocrisy. BJP spokesperson Sandeep Vachaspati argued that the raids on NewsClick were justified due to national security concerns, contrasting with the Kerala government's actions against critical media.