The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 15, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Another wrong landing

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI MARCH 14. Close on the heels of a Saudi Airlines passenger jetliner making a wrong landing in the run way area closed for maintenance at the Chennai Airport yesterday, an Air France Freighter aircraft coming from Abudabi landed in the `displaced threshold area' today.

According to the airport sources, the Air France jumbo jet (AF-6744) landed in the 570-metre area of the main runway, which was also closed for maintenance. The wrong landing resulted in severe damage to one of its tyres. The incident occurred at 10-26 a.m. when the cargo plane arrived from the Pallavaram end of the runway. After the change of severely torn tyres, the plane took off at 1.30 p.m.

Man offers fingers for AIADMK

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli MARCH 14. Close on the heels of a Salem-based policeman sacrificing his fingers for the victory of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidates in the Lok Sabha elections, a labourer cut his fingers at Valliyoor last evening.

R. Ganesapillai (42) of the Valliyoor Samaththuvapuram offered his left thumb and left ring finger to Esakkiyamman temple near the Valliyoor bus-stand. People rushed him to a private hospital at Nagercoil, where the Minister for Housing, Anita R. Radhakrishnan, and the Nanguneri MLA, S. Manickaraj, arranged some financial assistance to meet the medical expenses.

Meanwhile, some people from the Samththuvapuram said Ganesapillai cut his fingers only to protest officials' inability to provide protected drinking water and uninterrupted power supply to their hamlet for the past several weeks.

Party to bear medical cost

The Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaa, today expressed pain and ``immeasurable agony'' at Ganeshapillai's act. In a statement here, she said the party would bear the cost of his medical treatment and requested the doctors to provide him specialised medical attention. Despite her appeals not to hurt themselves, the cadres and the people continued to resort to such acts to show their loyalty and affection to her.

Rice bags seized

By Our Staff Reporter

Krishnagiri MarCH 14 . Two hundred and seventy rice bags, smuggled in a lorry, were seized at Hosur in Krishnagiri yesterday. A team, conducting a search on the Hosur-Krishnagiri Road, found the lorry parked under suspicious circumstances. The rice was meant for supply in ration shops in Vellore and Tirupattur and was being smuggled to Bangarupettai in Karnataka for polishing and sale in the open market. The rice bags and the lorry were seized. Dayalan and Venkatesan of Vellore were arrested.

Fire in brick klin

By Our Staff Reporter

Krishnagiri MARCH 14. A fire broke out in a brick kiln at Bagalur in Hosur yesterday. The police said a short circuit reportedly triggered the fire. Fire service personnel from Hosur immediately extinguished the fire. The Bagalur police have registered a case.

Tax exemption sought for film

By Our Staff Reporter

VIRUDHUNAGAR MARCH 14. The Federation of Tamizhaga All Chambers of Commerce and Trade Association has sought entertainment tax exemption for Kamaraj, a Tamil film on the former Chief Minister, K. Kamaraj. In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, the federation president, V.V.S. Yogan, said Kamaraj was one of the leading freedom fighters and it was important that the present generation should know about his life and political service.

Ganja seized

By Our Staff Reporter

VIRUDHUNAGAR MARCH 14. The Virudhunagar district police today seized one kg of ganja and booked 80 persons on charges of possessing toddy and indulging in illegal sale of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) bottles. In the raids, led by the District Superintendent of Police, N. Arivuselvam, the entire police force in the six sub-divisions were pressed into service. The police destroyed 750 litres of toddy.

Rape case against teacher

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI MARCH. 14. The suicide of a Plus-Two student, Selvi, of Thathaiyangarpettai Government Higher Secondary School, on the eve of the Public Examinations, took a serious turn, with the police registering cases of rape and abetment of suicide against the Botany teacher of the school, Gunasekaran. The case, which was earlier recorded as suicide, was altered by the police after an enquiry with Selvi's classmates. Meanwhile, the Chief Educational Officer, V. C. Rameswaramurugan, said the teacher was placed under suspension pending enquiry.

Two students drowned

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli MARCH 14. Two students were drowned in a well near Kadayanallur this afternoon when they were taking bath. The police said A. Moudhu Kani (18), a Plus-1 student of Achchamputhur and I. Ibrahim (16), a Standard VIII student of the same area, had gone to a well outside their village to take bath. One of them fell into the well accidentally, and the other who trying to rescue his friend, too drowned.

Man dies after consuming liquor

By Our Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM MARCH 14. D. Murugan (32) of Melpathi near here died today on way to hospital after consuming illicit arrack. M.Veerapandi and Kathavarayan also from the same village were treated in a private hospital. It is learnt that the three had gone to Poyambakkam and bought arrack sold in packets there. Murugan fell unconscious after consuming the liquor and he died on way to hospital.

Women commit suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

KARUR MARCH 14 . A 30-year-old woman committed suicide today on coming to know that her friend had taken life on Saturday.

The police said V. Meena (28), married to Velu of Rayanur near here for five years, consumed poisonous seeds on Saturday morning, unable to bear a chronic stomach pain. She later died at a private hospital here.

On coming to know this, her friend and neighbour, Lakhsmi (30), married to Raja for five years, consumed poison and died at the government hospital here today. An inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Officer has been ordered.

Man murders pregnant wife

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI MARCH 14 . A 23-year-old pregnant woman was murdered by her husband here today.

The police said Singamuthu (28) indiscriminately stabbed Mariammal with a sharp weapon at around 3 a.m. in his house, following a quarrel. She died immediately. Both got married only nine months ago.

Singamuthu was arrested. An RDO enquiry was ordered.

Fatally knocked down

By Our Staff Reporter

THANJAVUR MARCH 14. A 25-year-old man was fatally knocked down by a lorry on Medical College Road here today. The victim, Selvam (25) of Keelavasal, died on the spot.

Veterinary camps

By Our Staff Reporter

PERAMBALUR MARCH 14 . About 4,200 domestic and farm animals were treated at free veterinary camps conducted by the Animal Husbandry Department at Ayilur and Kodalikaruppur village recently.

Free medicines were distributed to the cattle owners. Symptoms of various diseases affecting cows and goats were explained to farmers.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI MARCH 14 . The level in the Mettur dam stood at 24.87 feet today. The inflow was 124 cusecs and the discharge was 251 cusecs.

Man found murdered

By Our Staff Reporter

Tuticorin MARCH 14. The Pasauvanthanai police are on the look out for the culprits, who murdered an autorickshaw driver on Saturday night.

The police said G. Periyasamy alias Raja (23) of Malayankulam under the Sankarankoil police station limits in Tirunelveli district was settled at Eppothumventraan in Tuticorin district.

As he failed to return home, his relatives searched for him and found his autorickshaw parked in a secluded place west of Cholapuram.

His body, with cut injuries on the head, nape and face, was found lying in a pool of blood amidst thorny bushes at Pungavarnaththam, about two km from his vehicle.

Bootlegger nabbed

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli MARCH 14. The Saernthamaram police today arrested a bootlegger, who had gone underground after a case was registered against him in 1995.

The police said Thirumalai (55) of Kanmanipuram under the Saernthamaram police station limits was allegedly engaged in bootlegging and selling illicit arrack in his area.

As the police registered the case, he went underground.

However, the police received information about his movements in and around Puliyangudi and a special team arrested him when he was standing in the Puliyangudi bus stand.

Woman commits suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

Tuticorin MARCH 14. A woman allegedly committed suicide on Saturday near Udankudi owing to poverty.

The police said M. Annapushpam (40), a labourer of North Kaalankudiyiruppu under the Udankudi police station limits, had been reportedly jobless for the past several weeks.

Driven by poverty and hunger, she consumed poisonous seeds.

Though she was taken to a nearby hospital, she died.

Farm labourer killed

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli MARCH 14. A farm labourer was killed in a road accident when a speeding TNSTC bus hit him on Saturday.

The police said Subramanian (33), of Mela Seval, was going to the refugee camp at Subramaniapuram under the Munneerpallam police station limits.

When he tried to cross the road, a TNSTC bus proceeding to Madurai from Papanasam hit Subramanian, killing him on the spot.

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