Thiruvananthapuram, July 19: Kerala’s passion for football reached a new high on Sunday as the state government declared a holiday on Monday for all educational institutions, allowing students to stay up and watch the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina without worrying about attending classes the next morning.

The holiday covers schools under the General Education Department as well as colleges, universities and professional institutions under the Higher Education Department.

The decision was taken following directions from Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan after thousands of football enthusiasts, particularly students, appealed through social media for a holiday.

The final is scheduled to kick off at 12.30 a.m. IST on Monday, making it difficult for students to attend classes after a late-night match.

Football enjoys an unmatched following in Kerala, where the sport is often celebrated with a passion rivalled only by cricket in other parts of the country.

In the days leading up to the final, towns and villages across the state have been transformed into football arenas, with giant cut-outs of international stars towering over roadsides, junctions and playgrounds.

Supporters of Spain and Argentina have erected massive banners, flags and decorative arches, while local fan clubs have organised public screenings, rallies and celebrations, creating a festive atmosphere across Kerala.

The overwhelming response from football fans played a key role in the government’s decision. Several schools in Ernakulam had already announced a holiday on their own after receiving requests from students and parents.

The state government’s announcement brought uniformity to the decision, ensuring that students across Kerala could enjoy the championship match.

Higher Education Minister Roji M. John announced that all higher education institutions, including professional colleges, would remain closed on Monday. He said the decision would enable students to watch one of world football’s biggest sporting events without the inconvenience of travelling to campuses after a sleepless night.

General Education Minister N. Samsudheen also confirmed a holiday for schools under his department through a social media post, opening his message with the playful words, “Happy now, kids?”

He said the government had considered the sentiments of football-loving students before taking the decision.

With public viewing centres, giant screens and football-themed celebrations planned across the state, Kerala is set to witness another unforgettable night as lakhs of fans unite to cheer their favourite teams in the FIFA World Cup final.

New Delhi, July 19: In a terrifying case from Delhi, a man has been accused of sexually assaulting his own 13-year-old daughter in the Jahangirpuri area of the National Capital, officials said on Sunday, adding that the accused is currently absconding.

According to the police, a case has been registered under the POCSO Act following a complaint at Mahindra Park police station by the mother of the victim. Following this, the father was reported to be on the run.

The complainant stated that her father, Shakir Ali, resides at Badli Village with her grandmother, while she lives with her mother and her 10-year-old brother in Jahangirpuri.

The survivor alleged that on July 7, her father came to their residence when her mother and brother were not at home.

“During this time, he allegedly established forcible physical relations with her against her will and threatened to kill her and her mother if she disclosed the incident to anyone,” she was quoted by the police as saying.

“The accused is absconding, and efforts are being made to trace and apprehend him,” officials said.

Further details in the case are awaited.

This comes just months after a man was arrested for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old stepdaughter in Delhi.

The minor girl was pregnant after being subjected to the heinous crime by her stepfather.

When the police reached the spot, they took the girl to a safe environment.

In the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the accused, who was residing with the victim, had been sexually assaulting the girl for over a year.

The officials shifted the girl to a hospital where the doctors confirmed that she was about five months pregnant.

New Delhi, July 19: In a decisive operation aimed at protecting children from online sexual exploitation and strengthening digital safety, the capital’s Central District Police arrested 10 accused in a coordinated enforcement drive against accessing, uploading, and circulating Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM), officials said on Sunday.

An official statement said that the operation was initiated following detailed analysis of digital indicators and international cyber tip-line inputs, which pointed towards illegal online activities involving CSEAM. Subsequent technical verification confirmed the transmission of prohibited material, leading to the registration of criminal cases and coordinated action across the district.

To ensure simultaneous action against multiple identified targets, dedicated police teams were constituted across all police stations in the Central District. The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of Delhi’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Crime) Rohit Rajbir Singh.

According to investigators, the police teams conducted coordinated field operations at different locations over the last five days based on technical intelligence, digital scrutiny, and electronic tracing, which resulted in the identification and apprehension of the accused persons.

A total of 10 FIRs have been registered under the relevant provisions of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and the Information Technology Act at various Police Stations (PS), including – PS IP Estate, PS Paharganj, PS Jama Masjid, PS Kamla Market, PS Patel Nagar and PS Chandni Mahal.

Accordingly, a total of 10 accused persons have been arrested during the coordinated drive.

The arrested accused were found to be directly linked to the uploading and circulation of Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM). Their identities are being dealt with in accordance with the ongoing investigation and applicable legal provisions.

Police said that mobile phones used by the accused persons and other digital hardware used in the commission of the offences have been seized during the investigation.

All seized devices have been secured and are being subjected to comprehensive forensic examination.

Further investigation into the case is underway as technical experts are conducting detailed forensic analysis of the seized electronic devices and auditing additional digital footprints.

Sustained legal proceedings are also underway, and the teams are continuously monitoring additional internet footprints. As the technical analysis of the remaining datasets progresses, further arrests are likely in these cases, officials said.