Lesly Joseph

Kozhikode

Reporter at The New Indian Express

Journalist @xpresskerala

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Articles

Police mistake crystal sugar for meth, 2 Kerala men jailed for five months

1 week ago | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

KOZHIKODE: It was last November that Biju Mathew and Manikandan were arrested by Kozhikode Nadakkavu police with what officers alleged was methamphetamine. The two were remand for five months. Last month, however, they were released after chemical tests revealed that the material seized from them was actually crystal sugar. Biju, a 49-year-old from Kolichal in Kasaragod, is a Gulf-returned driver who went on to drive a private bus on the Kanhangad-Panathur route for decades.
Tribal arts festival in Kerala turns melting pot of cultures

2 months ago | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

MANANTHAVADY: Over the past two nights, the Valliyoorkavu temple premises in Mananthavady witnessed an extravagant gathering of tribal artists. Not just from Wayanad district but from different parts of the country. If anything, ‘Gothraparvam-2025’ proved a melting pot of tribal cultures, filled with traditional tribal arts, music, dance, and more. More than 200 artists participated in the event organised by various tribal organisations on Thursday and Friday.
Murders surge as drug mafia grips Thamarassery in Kerala's Kozhikode district

2 months ago | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

KOZHIKODE: The people of Thamarassery, still reeling from the murder of Subaida, who was hacked to death by her drug-addict son Ashiq at Adivaram, have now witnessed yet another brutal crime. On Tuesday evening, 26-year-old Yasir, reportedly addicted to alcohol and drugs, hacked his 23-year-old wife, Shibila, to death in front of their three-year-old daughter at Kakkad, following a family dispute. The incident has left the local residents and families in shock.
‘MDMA overdose leads to multiple organ failure, death within hours’

2 months ago | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

KOZHIKODE: The postmortem examination of Shanid Saleem, 28, who died after swallowing a packet of MDMA to escape from the police in Thamarassery on Saturday, confirmed overdose as the cause of death. Thamarassery DySP K Susheer said the postmortem held at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (MCH) on Sunday revealed he Shanid swallowed a packet containing 9g of ganja and another having MDMA in liquid form. The packet of MDMA was found torn, while the other was intact, he said.
Kerala man swallows MDMA while fleeing police, dies within hours

Mar 8, 2025 | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

KOZHIKODE: A 28-year-old man, Shanid Saleem, from Ambayathode in Kozhikode, died while undergoing treatment after swallowing MDMA packets while attempting to escape police in Thamarassery. The incident occurred on Friday when a police patrol noticed Shanid behaving suspiciously. Spotting the officers, he swallowed two packets of MDMA and attempted to flee. The police chased him down and arrested him.
Elephant attack at Kerala temple: Major tragedy averted, say eyewitnesses

Feb 13, 2025 | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

KOZHIKODE: The toll of the tragedy at Manakulangara Bhagavathy Temple, Kuruvangad, on Thursday, would have been much higher had the elephants rushed straight at the crowd or if it all happened a little later. The festival is quite popular and attended by hundreds of people. Since Thursday was the last day of the festival, a large number of devotees had been arriving at the temple, said Bindu P B, Anela-Kuruvangad ward councillor.
Wayanad landslide victims get Rs 750 crore in Kerala budget, Youth Congress calls allocation 'inadequate'

Feb 7, 2025 | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

KALPETTA: The last full budget of the second Pinarayi government has highlighted the much-needed rehabilitation of the victims of one of the country’s biggest disasters, the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide. Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced a Rs 750-crore plan that was decided by the cabinet meeting last month. He mentioned that the funds for rehabilitation of Wayanad landslide victims will be met from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and through sponsorships.
Tiger attack in Wayanad: Radha fifth victim from ST community

Jan 24, 2025 | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

MANANTHAVADY: The death of Radha, a member of the Kurichiya tribe, in a tiger attack at Pancharakolli on Friday has taken the number of people who died in wildlife attacks in Wayanad in the past one year to seven. Radha is the fifth person from a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in the district to die in a wild animal attack in the district in the period.
Tribal woman’s death in tiger attack in Wayanad triggers protests

Jan 24, 2025 | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

MANANTHAVADY : Enraged local residents held protests after a tribal woman was killed in a tiger attack near Priyadarshani Estate in Pancharakolli, Mananthavady, on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Radha, 47, a coffee-plantation worker and wife of Achappan, a temporary watcher with the forest department and a relative of Indian cricketer Minnu Mani. The attack occurred at 8.30 am when Radha was on her way to the plantation where she works.
Suicide note released by Wayanad DCC treasurer’s kin reveals controversy

Jan 6, 2025 | newindianexpress.com | Lesly Joseph

KALPETTA: The family of Wayanad DCC treasurer N M Vijayan and his son, who died by suicide, have released more letters and a suicide note written by the leader, putting the Wayanad DCC leadership in a spot. The letters and notes were found stored under Vijayan’s eldest son Vijesh’s bed. Vijesh handed over the note to the police on Monday.