Kochi Dec 26 PTI Christmas day celebrations by migrant labourers from the north east part of India at Kizhakkambalam area of Ernakulam district turned violent leading to several policemen being brutally assaulted and two police jeeps badly damaged with one set on fire police said on Sunday Rural SP K Karthik told the media that two cases have been lodged in connection with the incident on December 25 night and the investigation was going on to identify all those involved in it and to collect evidence It is a long process he added He also said that 8 policemen including a Circle Inspector were injured in the violence and some of them also required surgery but presently their health condition was stable Earlier in the day around 150 workers who are employees of Kitex and residing in a housing camp built for them by the company were taken into custody in connection with the incident Visuals of the violence which went viral on social media showed a large group of people surrounding the police vehicles climbing on top of them pelting them with stones and then thrashing them with sticks leaving the vehicles in shambles Subsequently after the policemen retreated to safety the workers set fire to one of the vehicles Kitex Managing Director Sabu Jacob later told the media over the phone that the workers had brutally assaulted the police officers including a Circle Inspector who had reached the spot to resolve the arguments between two groups of labourers on Saturday night He said that initially the camp security and the supervisors tried to intervene and resolve the issue but they too were assaulted and thereafter the police was called However when the police arrived the uncontrollable workers brutally attacked the officers who were forced to retreat to safety leaving their vehicles behind Jacob said that there was no criminal intent behind what happened and claimed that drugs were brought into the camp and some of the workers were probably under its influence leading to them becoming uncontrollable He said his company would cooperate with the investigation PTI HMP ROH ROH

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], September 7 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the government has decided to withdraw total lockdown on Sundays and night curfew between 10 pm and 6 am.

Kochi Aug 31 PTI Can someone availing COVISHIELD vaccine at their own expense be allowed to take the second dose four weeks after the first or do they have to wait for 84 days was an issue being examined by the Kerala High Court which on Tuesday reserved its order in the matterThe issue came before the high court through a plea moved by Kitex Garments Ltd seeking permission to administer the second dose of COVISHIELD vaccine to its workers without having to wait for 84 daysKitex in its plea has said that it has already vaccinated more than 5000 of its workers with the first dose and has arranged for the second dose at a cost of nearly Rs 93 lakh but was unable to administer the same due to the prevailing restrictionsJustice P B Suresh Kumar after hearing arguments on behalf of the Centre state government and Kitex said he will pronounce his decision on September 2Advocate Blaze K Jose appearing for Kitex said he argued before the court that the government can impose the 84 days gap between the two doses if someone is availing the vaccine through themHowever if a person was paying for it from his pocket he should be allowed to take the dose after four weeks which is the minimum prescribed gap between two doses for the vaccine to be effective Jose told the courtHe said the 84 days gap was prescribed for maximum efficacy but the second dose can be taken after four weeks also though the efficacy may not be that highJose said that he told the court that people going abroad including athletes participating in Olympics were allowed to take the second dose after four weeks from the first and they did not have to wait for 84 daysThe Centre has opposed the plea by contending that the 84-day gap between two doses of COVISHIELD was fixed to increase the efficacy of the vaccine as recommended by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 NEGVAC and was also based on the technical inputs provided by the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group NITAG PTI HMP ROH ROH

Kochi Aug 24 PTI The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre whether the 84-day gap between two doses of COVISHIELD was based on availability of the vaccine or its efficacyThe query to the central government came from Justice P B Suresh Kumar while hearing a plea by Kitex Garments Ltd seeking permission to administer the second dose of COVISHIELD vaccine to its workersThe judge also said that if efficacy was the reason for the gap then he was worried as he was administered the second dose within 4-6 weeks of the first doseThe court said if availability was the reason for the gap then those who are able to afford to buy it like Kitex has they should be allowed to take the second dose without waiting for 84 days as per the prevailing protocolThe court further said if efficacy was the reason then the scientific data in support of it be also providedWith the direction the matter was listed for hearing on August 26 after the lawyer for the Centre sought time till Thursday to seek instructionsEarlier on August 12 the high court had asked the Kerala government why it was permitting the second dose of vaccine only after expiry of 84 days from the first doseThe court had also asked the Centre what was the reason for increasing the gap between first and second dose of COVISHIELD from the earlier 4 weeks to 12-16 weeksOn Tuesday the state government said it was following the COVID vaccination guidelines issued by the CentreSubsequently the lawyer for the Centre sought more time to answer the courts queryKitex in its plea has said that it has already vaccinated more than 5000 of its workers with the first dose and has arranged for the second dose but was unable to administer the same due to the prevailing restrictions PTI HMP ROH ROH

Kochi The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre whether the 84-day gap between two doses of COVISHIELD was based on availability of the vaccine or its efficacyThe query to the central government came from Justice P B Suresh Kumar while hearing a plea by Kitex Garments Ltd seeking permission to administer the second dose of COVISHIELD vaccine to its workersThe judge also said that if efficacy was the reason for the gap then he was worried as he was administered the second dose within 4-6 weeks of the first doseEarlier on August 12 the high court had asked the Kerala government why it was permitting the second dose of vaccine only after expiry of 84 days from the first doseThe court had also asked the Centre what was the reason for increasing the gap between first and second dose of COVISHIELD from the earlier 4 weeks to 12-16 weeks