Published Oct 27, 2026 | 4:06 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2026 | 4:06 PM
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the government is considering a separate law to regulate the rapidly growing spa sector.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said the government will launch a comprehensive initiative, ‘Cyber Safe Keralam’, to curb cybercrime and address concerns over rising violent tendencies among children.
Replying to a question raised by MLA V Muraleedharan during Question Hour in the Assembly, Chennithala said the government viewed the issue seriously, particularly amid complaints that exposure to crime-themed films and online games was influencing children’s behaviour.
He said online gaming was also contributing to increased aggression among children and cited instances of suicides linked to gaming-related concerns.
He pointed to a case in Alappuzha in which a 13-year-old girl allegedly watched online as her friends murdered her grandfather, describing it as an indication of the gravity of the problem.
Sivankutty Chettiar, the 65-year-old man the Home Minister had been referring to, had been killed by three minor boys while his granddaughter allegedly watched the murder through a video call.
“I am not attempting to disparage any nation. However, children are watching crime-themed films from different countries, including Korea. Such exposure may affect their mental state or foster criminal tendencies,” the minister said.
He stressed the need to address the possible impact of digital content on children and said the police force would be further modernised as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen cybercrime prevention and law enforcement.
The proposed ‘Cyber Safe Keralam’ initiative is aimed at tackling emerging cyber threats while addressing broader concerns about children’s exposure to violent content and its possible influence on their behaviour.
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(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
