Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment.
Articles by Vishnu Varma
A suspicious husband, an interstate labourer and a blameless victim
How a police team cracked a 17-year-old murder that rocked a small Kerala village, despite shoddy investigation by earlier teams and the murderer's red herrings
Published on Sep 28, 2023 05:42 PM IST
Six detained for smuggling gold worth ₹3cr at Calicut airport
The six accused have been identified as Sameer, Abdul Sakkeer, Azeez Kollandavida, Ligeesh, Muhammad Midlaj and Muhammad Basheer
Published on Sep 26, 2023 01:18 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
‘Misquoted’: IUML MP after remark on Muslim women’s support to BJP
The MP on Friday claimed that he made the remarks in a sarcastic tone and that he was ‘misunderstood’.
Updated on Sep 23, 2023 03:26 AM IST
‘Was being sarcastic’: IUML MP on Muslim women with BJP post triple talaq law
The MP on Friday claimed that he made the remarks in a sarcastic tone and that he was ‘misunderstood’
Published on Sep 22, 2023 03:41 PM IST
FIR filed against worker from UP for assault on minor in Kerala
While playing, the tyre reportedly hit the migrant worker named Salman a couple of times who took offence and grabbed the stick from the boy’s hand and beat him with it
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 01:14 AM IST
Kerala: No new Nipah cases in last six days, restrictions lifted
The Kozhikode district administration on Thursday lifted restrictions after no fresh cases of Nipah virus were reported in Kerala for a sixth straight day
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 03:25 AM IST
After ICMR nod, Kerala to conduct tests to detect Nipah virus
On Wednesday, no fresh Nipah infections were reported in the state with 61 more samples of high-risk contacts testing negative
Published on Sep 21, 2023 01:01 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kerala minister sticks to caste discrimination allegations, rejects priest’s explanations
Kerala's Minister for Temple Affairs and SC/ST Welfare, K Radhakrishnan, has stuck to his allegations of caste discrimination at a temple in Kannur district, despite counter-clarifications from the temple's priest and a body of chief priests. No case has been filed by the police in connection with the incident. The minister, belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, alleged that two priests of the temple declined to hand him the flame used to light a bigger lamp and instead put it on the ground. The priest claimed he was only maintaining sanctity by not touching anyone during the rituals.
Updated on Sep 21, 2023 01:00 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Nipah virus not confirmed in samples taken from 36 bats, says Kerala CM
Bat samples mainly collected from areas close to the home of the 47-year-old who tested positive for the virus, and subsequently died, in Maruthonkara panchayat of Kozhikode district
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 11:51 AM IST
Efforts on to ensure release of Indians held in kuwait: Muraleedharan
Local media reports, citing the relatives of the nurses, said that they have been working at the particular clinic for many years and have valid visa and sponsorship documents.
Updated on Sep 19, 2023 12:54 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Social activist Gireesh Babu found dead at home in Kerala
Gireesh Babu, a prominent social and RTI activist, was found dead at his home in Kochi. He had filed legal challenges in corruption cases in Kerala.
Updated on Sep 19, 2023 12:51 AM IST
Kerala high court stays proceedings against Mohanlal in ivory possession case
The Kerala high court has stayed trial proceedings in the ivory possession case against actor Mohanlal for six months. The court has ordered the actor to appear before the trial court on November 3. The case dates back to 2011 when elephant tusks were found at the actor's residence. The forest department had issued an ownership certificate for the tusks, which was later challenged. In 2020, the state government attempted to withdraw prosecution but was denied by the magistrate court.
Updated on Sep 19, 2023 12:47 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kerala youtuber rejects charge of sexually harassing woman from Saudi Arabia
Suban claimed that the woman had cooked up the allegations against him as she wanted ‘reach’ or attention on social media
Published on Sep 18, 2023 12:31 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kozhikode: Locally grown fruits record decline in sales due to Nipah outbreak
The Nipah outbreak causes plummeting sales of local fruits like rambutan, guava, and dragon fruit, leading to financial losses for farmers and retailers.
Updated on Sep 17, 2023 07:30 AM IST
Nipah virus: Health department tightens restrictions in Kerala
All 38 wards of Feroke Municipality and seven wards of Kozhikode Municipal Corporation have been declared as containment zones, the collector said.
Updated on Sep 17, 2023 12:19 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
A familiar fear in Kozhikode as Nipah resurfaces
Five years later, Nipah has returned to Kozhikode, and while fear persists, there is now a greater sense of familiarity, with some fatalism
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 12:07 AM IST
In Kerala, 1 more tests positive for Nipah, tally at 6
A 39-year-old man in Kerala has tested positive for the Nipah virus, bringing the total number of infections to six. The man contracted the virus after coming into contact with a previously infected patient who later died. The Nipah virus is highly pathogenic and often fatal, causing brain swelling and respiratory distress. There is currently no cure or vaccine for the virus. The Indian government is working to evaluate preventive measures to tackle the outbreak.
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 12:05 AM IST
One more person tests positive for Nipah in Kerala, total cases now at 6
Restrictions have been tightened in Kozhikode district where all the cases have been reported. Schools and other educational institutions are shut
Published on Sep 15, 2023 09:49 AM IST
Nipah outbreak: Bats spotted at farmland owned by index case, say officials
Fruit bats are considered the natural carriers of the Nipah virus which spreads through contact with body fluids of infected animals.
Updated on Sep 15, 2023 09:01 AM IST
Nipah virus: Past outbreaks, scrutiny helped in case detection
Nipah is mainly a zoonotic disease — when a pathogen jumps from a non-human host to humans — with some documented cases of transmission among humans
Published on Sep 15, 2023 12:43 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Covid era-like containment zones back in Kerala as Nipah resurfaces
The panchayat is also holding daily meetings, co-ordinating with the police, and officials from the state’s animal husbandry and health departments
Updated on Sep 15, 2023 04:56 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kerala shuts schools as Nipah virus fears mount
Authorities in Kerala are working to contain the spread of the Nipah virus, with around 950 people potentially exposed. Five people have tested positive for the virus, with two deaths. The government has set up containment zones and closed educational institutes in the affected area. Testing is being carried out on those in contact with the infected individuals, and experts from three organizations have arrived to assist with treatment and surveillance. The Nipah virus causes fatal encephalitis and can be transmitted through contact with infected animals or contaminated food.
Updated on Sep 15, 2023 12:09 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Nipah: Preparing facilities, identifying high-risk contacts, says Kerala health min
Authorities declared containment zones in seven villages of the Kozhikode district, closing down schools, banks and other institutions
Published on Sep 13, 2023 12:27 PM IST
2 die as Nipah resurfaces in Kerala, Centre rushes team
The state minister said three of the five samples that had been sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology lab in Pune came back positive
Updated on Sep 12, 2023 11:56 PM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
Kerala reports 2 suspected Nipah virus deaths in Kozhikode, state on high alert
Four people, including three children, who were in contact with the first deceased on August 30 are currently under treatment. The condition of one of the children is said to be critical
Published on Sep 12, 2023 10:13 AM IST
Moideen, Sudhakaran appear before ED in two different cases
Moideen is being quizzed by ED officials for the first time in connection with alleged fraud at the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank in Thrissur district
Published on Sep 12, 2023 01:18 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
LDF, UDF trade barbs over charges of conspiracy bid in solar scandal
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan demanded that the state government allow the CBI to probe the allegations of criminal conspiracy in the case
Published on Sep 12, 2023 01:17 AM IST
Vishnu Varma, Kochi
ED summons CPM MLA, Congress state chief in two separate cases in Kerala
MLA Moideen was quizzed in connection with alleged fraud at a cooperative bank while Congress chief Sudhakar was questioned in a cheating case
Updated on Sep 11, 2023 03:48 PM IST
No role in bank fraud, says former CPI(M) MP
Former CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP PK Biju underlined that if summoned by the ED as part of probe into the case, he would certainly go and clarify his position
Published on Sep 11, 2023 12:56 AM IST
Kerala top police officer suspended over ‘role’ in Mavunkal cheating case
Lakshman, who was arrested by the Crime Branch of the Kerala police in August on charges of conspiracy, cheating and forgery, is out on anticipatory bail approved by the Kerala high court
Published on Sep 09, 2023 01:24 AM IST
