The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 26, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Forum's plea to parties

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI MARCH 25. The People's Forum for Human Rights has urged political parties to unanimously reject candidates with a criminal background. In a statement here today, the State convener, S. Pandian, said the parties should make public the achievements of their candidates in public service, individual income and family income. A system providing power to the people to recall inefficient candidates should be in place. The Election Commission should create a fund for poll expenditure and offer tax exemptions for industries contributing to it. All candidates, whether they belonged to big or small parties, should be given equal time to canvass for votes over radio and television. Mobile booths should be operated to help the aged and the physically disabled.

Mr. Pandian called for formation of independent committees, comprising members of the public, women, advocates, social workers and non-governmental organisations, and empowering the panels to submit reports on the election activities of the parties to the Supreme Court.

Live cartridges amid scrap

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry March 25. The police are probing the source of 7,735 live cartridges of AK 47 which a private steel industry at Tettampakkam, an interior village in Pondicherry, said it found in a box among 145 tonnes of scrap it had received from Kuwait.

Factory authorities filed a police complaint saying the box was found while segregating materials on Wednesday. The scrap in containers was received through the Chennai port on March 20.

The box with the cartridges has been deposited in court custody.

A police communication said expert opinion was being sought from the Forensic Laboratory in Hyderabad.

The factory said it was importing scrap from various countries for conversion into steel rods.

`Avoid inflammable materials'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI MARCH 25. Inflammable materials such as thatched pandal and ornamental decorations made of `zari' and cloth should not be put up at marriage halls, says the Tamil Nadu Kalyana Mandapam Owners Association.

This resolution was adopted at a meeting of its district office-bearers here on Sunday.

The meeting was held in the context of the fire tragedy at a Srirangam kalyana mandapam in January this year.

The association said circuit breakers should be installed in all marriage halls. Users of mandapams should also be told to use to the extent possible night vision cameras. Hall owners should make clear to the users that if the advice was not heeded, the owners could not be held responsible for fire accidents.

Dry chemical powder, extinguishers, wet gunny bags, sand and water should be kept ready in the halls. Domestic LPG cylinders should not be used in functions in marriage halls. Only commercial gas cylinders should be used and exhaust fan fitted in the kitchen, according to an association release.

Lorries seized, 6 held

By Our Staff Reporter

SALEM MARCH 25. The Civil Supplies CID has made a breakthrough in the case of "missing rice consignment," arresting six persons of the Salem Marketing Society, which supervises the lifting and distribution of rice from godowns to ration shops in the district. A special CID team seized four lorries, which were part of the six vehicles which "vanished" with about 100 tonnes of rice meant for ration shops in the Omalur block. Talking to The Hindu , a senior police official said that of the six arrested, one was a movement clerk and the others were loadmen belonging to the society. Though the rice could not be recovered, the police secured one Durai from Salem who reportedly bought it. A sum of Rs. 60,000 in cash also was seized from him.

Woman succumbs to burns

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE March 25. The police have registered a case following the death of a 21-year-old woman of burns in the Cuddalore Government hospital today.

The police said Kanimozhi was found by her neighbours struggling for life, with both legs tied and mouth gagged, in a nearby building under construction at Periya Cholavalli Colony near Nellikuppam. The police said Kanimozhi was married to Thangasami of Kachakadu, who is employed at Dubai, two years ago.

Soon after marriage he had gone to Dubai, and ever since, Kanimozhi was living with her parents, Ramachandran and Chandra. The incident occurred when Kanimozhi went out to attend nature's call, the police said.

Ailing elephant dies

By Our Staff Reporter

Udhagamandalam March 25. An ailing, three-year-old male wild elephant, which was treated for dehydration on Tuesday and put back on its feet, died today.

For about a week the animal had been separated from its herd and was seen moving listlessly near a private resort and the Maravakandy river close to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. It was emaciated and lying on the Masinagudy-Singara road.

Forest officials and a veterinarian of the Animal Husbandry Department, Sivasubramaniam, and the Deputy Director of the India Project for Animals and Nature, Nigel Otter, intravenously fed the animal with a mixture of multi-vitamins and medicines on Tuesday.

However, on seeing it near Kalhallah near Singara in a weak condition, veterinarians were sent to the spot on Wednesday. Various options including escorting the animal to a place near a reservoir with the help of kumkis (working elephants) and blood transfusion were contemplated. However, before a life saving plan could be implemented, the animal died. Arrangements were made for an autopsy.

Fishermen detain mechanised boats

By Our Staff Reporter

Ramanathapuram March 25. Around 300 fishermen of the Country Boat Operators' Association at Nambuthalai near Thondi detained 17 mechanised boats along with fishermen belonging to Soliyakudi and Jegathapattinam today on a charge of trespassing into their territorial water for fishing.

According to the police, fishermen belonging to Soliyakudi and Jegathapattinam were casting their nets near Thondi, when the country boat operators encircled the mechanised boats in the mid-sea. Later, they were brought to Thondi. Police and revenue officials held discussions with Nambuthalai fishermen and the detained fishermen were released after they gave an assurance that they would not catch fish near Thondi in future. However, all 17 boats were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Ramanathapuram for further action.

Auction

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli March 25. The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation has decided to auction cartons and paper wastes being generated in the bars of the Indian Made Foreign Liquor shops in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts.

According to the TASMAC District Revenue Officer and Senior Regional Manager, C.N. Maheshwaran, the aspirants can get tender forms from the office of the District Manager, TASMAC, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts by paying Rs. 100. The filled-in applications should reach the office before 12 noon on March 29.

Two noon meal organisers suspended

By Our Staff Reporter

Tuticorin March 25. The Collector, K. Rajaraman, has placed two noon meal organisers under suspension following discrepancies found in accounts and materials.

According to an official statement, the irregularities came to light when the officials conducted surprise checks in the noon meal centres of the Margocshius Higher Secondary School, Nazareth and the Panchayat Union Primary School at Thaerkankulam.

On the recommendations of his sub-ordinates, Mr. Rajaraman suspended Jayaseeli of Nazareth and Mary Annet Pushparani of Thaerkankulam on March 19.

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