The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 13, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Life term for rape

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli Feb. 12. An additional sessions court here has sentenced a youth to a life-term for outraging the modesty of a teenager. According to prosecution, S. Sangilipandi (36) of Iluppayurani in Tuticorin district raped the teenager of Thomas Nagar on January 16, 1999. Yousuf Ali, second additional sessions judge, also imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000 on him.

Jeweller robbed

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI Feb. 12. A jeweller from Kerala was robbed of 31 sovereigns by two unidentified persons who posed as customs officials here last night. According to the police, Mohammed Hanifa (30) hailing from Thrissur, was going round jewellery shops on South Avani Moola Street, seeking orders for his products. He carried 252 grams of sample ornaments. The impersonators intercepted him and wanted to `search' his belongings for any narcotic substance. Even as one of them was frisking him, the other stealthily pulled out the ornaments. Only after the duo left the place, did Hanifa realise that he had been duped.

Heroin seized

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL FEB.12. Narcotics Intelligence Bureau personnel today seized 450 gram of heroin and arrested two persons at the Kannivadi junction. Car used for smuggling was also seized. However, the driver, Murugan, escaped.

The arrested were Surendran (42) of Palghat and R. Vijayan (32) of Thirukalur in Kerala. As the car did not stop when the team intercepted it for a check, they stopped it after a chase. The arrested said they planned to smuggle the heroin to Rameswaram.

Policemen suspended

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE Feb.11. Balakrishnan inspector, and two sub-inspectors attached to the Gudiyatham taluk police station have been placed under suspension following `illegal detention' of a woman prohibition offender on Tuesday night. Srilakshmi Prasad, Deputy Inspector-General, Vellore Range, who visited the station, also found that it was not maintained properly. She immediately ordered the suspension of Mr. Balakrishnan and the SIs, Annadurai and Ayyasamy.

Vasan inspects Kamaraj statue

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai Feb. 12. A nine-foot bronze statue of Kamaraj was installed at the Kamaraj Arangam here today. The statue, sculpted by prominent sculptor, Mani Nagappa at a cost of Rs. 4.6 lakhs, would be unveiled by the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, at a function here tomorrow.

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, G.K. Vasan and the All-India Congress Committee Secretary, Daljit Singh, inspected the statue installation.

HC notice on electricity tax

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI Feb. 12. The Madras High Court has restrained the State Government from collecting a five per cent electricity tax on high-tension service connections. When a batch of writ appeals from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers Association, Shanmugaraja Spinning Mills of Erode and others came up for hearing, the First Bench comprising the Chief Justice B. Subhashan Reddy and Justice S. Sardar Zackria Hussain granted the interim injunction and ordered notice to the Energy Secretary, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission and others. The Government enacted the Tamil Nadu Tax on Consumption or Sale of Electricity Act, introducing electricity tax on various categories of consumers. The Energy Secretary by a June 13, 2003 order, imposed tax on electricity consumed for own use in case of licensees having captive generation plants, and also in case of others. It came into effect on June 16, 2003. The present batch of appeals was necessitated by a single judge of the High Court dismissing their writ petitions challenging the order on January 29, 2004.

Boy killed in accident

By Our Staff Reporter

RAMANATHAPURAM FEB. 12 . A private bus fatally knocked down an eight-year old boy, Kabil Raj, son of Mahendaran of Nadumanaikadu near Sundaramudaian while he was going to school on Wednesday.

According to the police, a tourist bus bound for Rameswaram from Madurai knocked down Kabil Raj, a Standard III student near a bus-stop at Sundaramudaian. Later, he was rushed to the Ramanathapuram Government Headquarters Hospital where he succumbed.

The police have registered a case.

Woman commits suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

RAMANATHAPURAM FEB. 12 . An aged woman committed suicide by hanging at her house on Wednesday.

According to sources, Muniammal (70) of Keelakkarai committed suicide owing to severe stomach pain.

The police have registered a case and are investigating.

Lok Adalat

By Our Staff Reporter

THENI FEB.12 . The Lok Adalat, convened by the Periakulam Legal Services Authority at the Periakulam Court for hearing pending cases in Indian Bank branches in Theni and Govindapuram, has settled 84 financial disputes to the tune of Rs.3.86 lakhs including spot recovery of Rs.1.13 lakhs from old non-performing assets accounts, according to a release from the Indian Bank recently.

Power shutdown

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL FEB. 12 . There will be no power supply between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on

Saturday in the following areas owing to maintenance work at Dindigul sub-station: Dindigul town, Thadikombu, Chettinaickenpatti, Kurumbapatti, Ponmandurai, Viralipatti, and Seelapadi nearby areas.

Kills wife, self

By Our Staff Reporter

PERAMBALUR FEB.12 . A 68-year-old person, who allegedly murdered his wife today himself committed suicide near Jayamkondam.

The police said G. Rajangam had a tiff with his wife Pappa (60) following which she left for their daughter's place near Jayamkondam this morning. An incensed Rajangam went to his daughter's house and allegedly chopped off Pappa's head. Then, he committed suicide by hanging himself. The police have registered a case and are investigating. The couple had 14 children, of which eight are alive.

Raid on hotels

By Our Staff Reporter

THANJAVUR FEB.12 . In surprise raids conducted by Health department officials at 10 hotels in Kumbakonam on Wednesday, eight hotels were found to have operated without proper licence for long. Suitable action would be taken against the owners, a release from the Deputy Director of Health, Thanjavur district, said.

A health team has been formed to monitor hygienic and other conditions of hotels in Kumbakonam for the Mahamaham festival.

Workshop

By Our Staff Reporter

THANJAVUR FEB.12 . The Regional Design and Technical Development Centre of the Ministry of Textiles, Union Government, is conducting a design development workshop on pattern casting in metal at Swami Malai near Kumbakonam from February 13 to February 27.

A release issued here today said the main objective of the workshop was to introduce box casting technique, using wooden and metal models as patterns and developing utility-oriented products for suiting the domestic and export market demand.

Thirty selected artisans in metal craft in and around Swami Malai would participate in the workshop which will be conducted at the Shilpakoodam of Sri Devasenapathy Sthapathi, No. 19/9, Rajaveedhi, Swami Malai.

G.Vidya Shankar Sthapathi, sculptor, would inaugurate the workshop and K. Kamaraj Sthapathy Superintendent, VTI Training Institute, preside.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI FEB.12 . The level in the Mettur reservoir stood at 30.94 feet today. The inflow was 220 cusecs and discharge nil.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu