The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 11, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Another acid attack on girl

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL JAN.10. In a recurring incident in Kanyakumari district, two girl students sustained burns in an acid attack at Vellamadam near here today. The target was Zeena Kumari, a B. Pharm student who already bore the brunt of an acid and bleaching powder attack last year. A standard III student, who was playing with her, also sustained burns.

According to sources, a youth, identified as Lawrence, angry at Zeena Kumari `turning hostile' to his associate, Jones, flung acid on the girl when she was playing with Sandhya in front of her house and fled. The girls were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital at Asaripallam here, and in the evening referred to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

Last year Jones threw bleaching powder at Zeena Kumari's face and fled. A few months after she recuperated, he trailed her to her college at Vadakankulam, near here, and flung acid at her face. Zeena Kumari later left for Chennai to escape further attacks. She returned to her native place only recently. About a year ago, two teenaged sisters sustained burns when a youth threw acid at them as they were returning home from school.

Complaint against headmaster

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE JAN. 10. The Kavindapady police are investigating a complaint against the headmaster of the local panchayat school for allegedly beating up a pupil, resulting in a fracture in his hand.

The police said the class teacher of Musthafa on Friday asked to remain in front of the institution and note down the names of pupils who were leaving during the lunch recess and also to watch the black-topping work near the school. Musthafa did accordingly. Noticing him standing in front the school, the headmaster beat him up. The boy was later admitted to the Kavindapady Government Hospital where a minor fracture in his hand was detected. His father, Hyder Ali of Perunthalaiyur, a labourer, preferred a complaint with the police.

Undergraduate exam results

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 10. The results of the undergraduate examinations conducted by the Madras University's Institute of Correspondence Education, in October 2003, will be published on January 12. It will be available on the following web sites at 8 p.m. that day: www.southindia.com; www.webulagam.com; www.chennaidarling.com; www.chennaionline.com and www.universityofmadras-ice.ac.in, says a university release.

The marks statement will be sent to candidates by Speed Post/Registered Post, to their residential address. Candidates should make arrangements to receive the same by giving necessary authorisation, if they were unavailable during the time of delivery.

Customs official held

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI JAN. 10. A special CBI team arrested a superintendent of the Department of Customs, Tuticorin, when he allegedly accepted a bribe of Rs. 10,000 from the representative of a clearing and forwarding agent yesterday.

According to sources, customs personnel conducted a surprise check at the Old Harbour in Tuticorin on October 30 last on specific information and seized 7.715 kg of heroin, kept concealed in salt bags meant for export to Sri Lanka. The police later arrested Dhanasekaran (31), Pushparaj (40), Kodeeswaran (45), Sakthivel (35), Murugan and the clearing forwarding agent, Rama Thiyagarajkumar (23). When Mr. Thiyagarajkumar's bail application was dismissed, he approached the customs superintendent, Maayaandi, through his representative, Murugappan, "to settle the issue amicably". As per the "accord" reached between Mr. Murugappan and Maayaandi, the Customs department would not oppose the bail application if Thiyagarajkumar gave Rs. 30,000.

However, Mr. Murugappan recorded all telephonic conversation between him and Mr. Maayaandi and handed it over to the CBI officials.

Training in SC/ST law ends

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN.10. A training programme for police officers in the enforcement of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act ended here on Saturday. The importance of the special legislation and the role of officers in its effective implementation were highlighted.

It was pointed out that the training for the Deputy Superintendents (DSPs) and the "special briefing", for Superintendents of Police (SPs) would equip them better with the nuances of the law and the rules framed thereunder to handle the cases registered under the Act.

At the valedictory function, I.K. Govind, Director-General of Police, said there was an increasing awareness among the weaker sections and the law needed to be implemented sincerely. Letika Saran, Additional Director-General, Training, said the SPs had a special role to play in the enforcement of the Act and they had to be aware of it.

During the training, the SPs and DSPs were briefed on the various provisions of the legislation and the relevant case laws. The focus was on fulfilling the aspirations of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. A.X. Alexander, Additional Director-General, Social Justice CID, said a total of 193 DSPs and 49 SPs in the districts and the Commissionerates underwent the training, which began in October last. The training was organised in 10 sessions.

M. Chidambarasamy, Deputy Inspector-General, Human Rights and Social Justice CID, spoke.

Two arrested

NAGERCOIL JAN.10. R. Rajan of Kelaperuvilai and Guhanathan of Irullappapuram was arrested on a charge of extortion and attempt to murder.

According to the police, the duo accosted a cable TV operator, Ramesh, at Asaripallam here on Thursday and purportedly told him that they were sent by an antisocial presently lodged at the Palayamkottai Central prison and demanded money.

But Ramesh declined. Hence, the duo hacked him with sickles and fled. He was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital at Asaripallam.

Meanwhile, the police arrested them on Friday.

Held with gun

Madurai jan.10. The `Q' branch police on Friday arrested Rajagopal (55) for possessing a country-made gun at M. Gobinakkenpatti Vilakku near T. Kallupatti.

According to the police, the `Q' branch Sub-inspector, Kannan, frisked him who was hailing from Kottanipatti in Peraiyur police station limits, when he was moving in a suspicious manner.

He was booked under the Arms Act and remanded to judicial custody.

Level in dams

Madurai jan.10. The level in the Periyar dam stood at 113.10 feet with an inflow of 19 cusecs and a discharge of 575 cusecs. The level in the Vaigai dam stood at 51.30 feet with an inflow of 269 cusecs and a discharge of 930 cusecs.

The combined Periyar credit was at 2487 mcft.

Public libraries for 12 villages

NAGAPATTINAM DEC. 10. The Department of Public Libraries has sanctioned opening of libraries in several rural areas in Nagapattinam district.

While new libraries will be opened at Nandiya Nallur, Tiruvilayattam, Enankudi, Palaiyur, Aavarani Puducheri, Kovil Pathu, Perambur, Manganallur, Vazhuvur, Orathur, Themangalam and Vanathirajapuram, part time libraries functioning at Peruncheri, Umbalamcheri and Manakudi will be upgraded into rural libraries, according to the Collector, M.Veera Shanmugha Moni.

Last year, six rural libraries were opened at Pushpavanam, Parasalur, Perumal Pettai, Sankaran Pandal, Kuravapulam and Vanagiri and two part-time libraries at Seruthur and Kariyapattinam upgraded as rural libraries, he said in a release.

Bank's feat

PERAMBALUR DEC. 10. The Ariyalur Cooperative Urban Bank has been adjudged the best among the urban banks in the district, for having earned a profit of Rs, 7.39 lakhs during 2002-03.

The bank's another achievement is that it has been sanctioning loans to its members from its own funds, without availing itself of any credit from other funding agencies. The bank was started in April 1924, and has 5,261 members. As of December 2003, it has registered a working capital of Rs. 8.32 crores, and has mobilised deposits to the tune of Rs.7.66 crores. The members have contributed a share capital of Rs. 40.4 lakhs.

During the year, the bank sanctioned advances to the tune of Rs. 5.86 crores, jewel loans to the tune of Rs.2.72 crores, and Rs. 1.81 crores in housing loans.

The bank planned to construct additional buildings, for which Rs. 10 lakhs was earmarked.

Relief given

PERAMBALUR DEC. 10 . The Deputy Speaker, A. Arunachalam, on Thursday gave away a cash relief of Rs. 15,000 to the kin of S. Ganesan (67) of Metthal, who died after he was stung by honey bees recently.

Power shutdown

PUDUKOTTAI JAN. 10. Power supply will be suspended from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the following areas, for maintenance works to be take up at served by the SIPCOT sub-station: Narthamalai, Vadaseripatti, Andakulam and parts of Pudukottai town.

Mettur level

Tiruchi Jan. 10. The level in the Mettur reservoir stood at 30.7 feet today. The inflow was 347 cusecs and the discharge nil.

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