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Thursday, Apr 29, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Nedumaran, wife acquitted

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI APRIL 28. A judicial magistrate court here today acquitted the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, P. Nedumaran, and his wife, in a case booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

In his 20-page verdict, J. Chandran, judicial magistrate, Alandur, said the prosecution had not proved the guilt of Mr. Nedumaran and Parvathy Nedumaran beyond reasonable doubt. Later, Mr. Nedumaran told mediapersons that justice had triumphed. That the Tamil Nadu Government had foisted the cases on him to wreak vengeance was amply evident from the fact that he had been acquitted in four cases.

The case dates back to 1993 when two books ``Kaaviya Naayagan Kittu'' written by Mr. Nedumaran and another publication ``Ilangai Inapprachnai Adippadaigal'' authored by one Thirunavukkarasu were seized at the airport when the publications were to be sent to Frankfurt. Mrs. Nedumaran was the publisher of the books. Since Mr. Thirunavukkarasu was stated to be absconding, the case against him was split. The prosecution filed the charge sheet against the accused under Section 10 of the Act for knowingly supporting a banned organisation, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The magistrate said there was no evidence to prove that both the accused had lent support to the LTTE in anyway. Though customs officials said that the publications contained objectionable material, they did not file any complaint against the books. The publications had not been banned by the Tamil Nadu Government or the Union Government. Though the prosecution case was that the books were objectionable, no evidence was available to show which portions were so. There were no independent witnesses. No evidence was available to show that the prosecution had obtained the Union Government's sanction to prosecute the accused, mandatory under the Act, said the judge.

Rajagopal moves High Court

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI APRIL 28. The Saravana Bhavan Hotels owner, P. Rajagopal, convicted in the `Prince Santhakumar murder case' and sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment, has moved the Madras High Court for bail and for suspension of the sentence.

Justice A.K. Rajan, before whom the appeal came up today, admitted it and ordered notice to the Velachery police. The matter was then posted for April 30.

While Mr. Rajagopal has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, in addition to a fine of Rs. 55 lakhs, his eight other co-accused have been imposed sentences ranging from three to nine years and varying degree of fine amounts.

In his present appeal, Mr. Rajagopal contended, ``the trial judge ought to have seen that the case was based on circumstantial evidence where the prosecution failed to prove all the links in the chain of circumstances beyond doubt.''

He claimed that the evidence of Jeevajothi could not be believed in view of the enormous delay in filing of the complaint. He said the prosecution had failed to establish the identity of the deceased to be that of Santhakumar by any kind of evidence. He prayed for the suspension of the sentence and, as an interim relief, sought bail.

Peravai to support DPA

By Our Staff Reporter

SALEM APRIL 28. The Veera Vanniyar Peravai has decided to support the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in the Lok Sabha elections.

The State general secretary, S.R. Parthiban, said here today that the decision was announced after getting concurrence from the Peravai's founder leader, S. Jagatratchagan.

Injured owl treated, released

By Our Staff Reporter

Udhagamandalam APRIL 28. An owl with injuries, which was found near the Raj Bhavan here, was translocated by forest officials. The Wildlife Warden in-charge, A.K. Ulaganathan, told The Hindu here today that Uma Rao, wife of the Tamil Nadu Governor, came across the owl being pinned down by some crows on Tuesday. The police personnel on security duty handed over the bird to forest officials who after treating its wounds at the local veterinary hospital released it in a forest area near Finger Post.

Mr. Ulaganathan said an injured flying squirrel was found on Tuesday near the Club Road here. After its wounds were treated it was released in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.

Idols found in temple tank

By Our Staff Reporter

Thanjavur APRIL 28. Eight small bronze idols of Gods and Goddesses were discovered in the Vasishteswaraswamy temple tank at Thittai near Thanjavur today.

The idols, kept in a carrybag, were found when villagers desilted the tank.

The idols include Poornikambal (6.5 inches height), Subramanya (six inches), Valanchuzhi Vinayagar (two inches), Indanchuzhi Vinayagar (two inches), Subashini (2.5 inches), Saraswathi (2.5 inches) and two Annapoorni idols (two inches).

Ramu, Thanjavur tahsildar, collected the idols and kept them in the taluk office.

3 policemen, accused killed

By Our Staff Reporter

Sivaganga APRIL 28. Four persons were killed and two others sustained injuries in a road accident at Cholanathapuram near Muthanenthal under the Manamadurai police limits in the early hours of today.

According to police sources, an inspector, Ravichandran (42), a sub-inspector, Subburam (54), Pandi (55), constable and driver of the vehicle, and an accused, Muniyasamy (36) of Karayur of Rameswaram, were killed when the vehicles carrying them dashed against a stationary sand-laden lorry. Muniyasamy was an accused in a bomb blast case. The police team was on its way back to Madurai after arresting him.

Two critically-injured constables, Ramasamy and Muniyasamy, were admitted to the Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital.

`Inform CBI of bribe demand'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI APRIL 28. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has appealed to the public to pass on to it information about employees of Central government offices and organisations and public sector undertakings demanding bribes for doing official duty. The public can contact the CBI on phone (28273186, 28270992, 28255899 and 28251798 and 28206200) or write to the Superintendent of Police, CBI, Anti-Corruption Branch, III Floor, Shastri Bhavan, 26, Haddows Road, Chennai-600 006, says an official release.

Bar association office-bearers

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI APRIL 28. The following have been elected office-bearers of the Madras Bar Association: K.R. Tamizhmani (president), M. Jaichandran (secretary), S.M. Loganathan (treasurer) and D. Rajendran (Librarian). The executive committee members are: Vijayakumari Natarajan, T.S. Signanam, K. Ramu, S. Vijayakumar and V. Bharathidasan.

The resolution was adopted at a general body meeting held on April 26 on the association premises.

Stamp on Baji Rao Peshwa

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI APRIL 28. The Department of Posts today released a commemorative stamp on the General and statesman ``Baji Rao Peshwa'' in the denomination of Rs. 5.

Stamps, first day covers, information sheets are available for sale at all philatelic bureau/counters, according to a release from the Chief Postmaster-General, Tamil Nadu Circle, Chennai.

Nagercoil, Bangalore specials

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, APRIL 28. To meet the summer rush, Southern Railway will run special trains from Chennai to Nagercoil and Bangalore.

The Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil special will leave Chennai Egmore on April 30 at 7.45 p.m. and arrive at Nagercoil at 10.30 a.m. the next day. It will leave Nagercoil on May 2 at 3.30 p.m. and arrive in Egmore at 6.30 a.m. the following day. The train will stop at Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Villipuram, Vriddhachalam, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Kodaikanal Road, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sattur, Kovilpatti, Vanchi Maniyachchi and Tirunelveli. The special from Nagercoil will also stop at Mambalam.

The special from Chennai Central to Bangalore will leave on May 3 at 11.15 p.m. and arrive in Bangalore the following morning at 7.35 a.m. The train will stop at Arakkonam, Katpadi, Ambur, Jolarpettai, Bangarpet, Krishnarajapuram and Bangalore Cantonment.

Advance booking begins tomorrow.

Rescheduled

The summer special from Chennai Central to Ajmer that was scheduled to leave tomorrow at 3.30 p.m. has been rescheduled to leave Chennai at 6.30 p.m. due to late running of pairing train, said an official release.

Child rehabilitation

By Our Staff Reporter

THANJAVUR APRIL 28 .

Abandoned children below 18 years can be handed over to the Child Welfare Committee here for rehabilitation.

The chairman, C. Subramanian, said the committee would give such children education and keep them in orphanages. It would also help in adoption of children. Those who found children in distress could contact the `child line 1098', he said.

The four-member committee operates from the Child Home of the Social Welfare department on Tuesdays, Thursday and Friday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Workshop

By Our Staff Reporter

THANJAVUR APRIL 28 . An intensive theatre workshop for school children will be conducted by the South Zone Cultural Centre here from May 1 to 3.

The Director, K. Phanindra Reddy, said the workshop was meant for children in the age group of 11-14. Various aspects of drama such as acting, body movements, mimicry, make-up, stage setting, sound and light would be taught. K. Ravindran, Professor, Drama, Tamil University, would be the director of the workshop.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI APRIL 28 . The level in the Mettur dam stood at 26.05 feet today. The inflow was 264 cusecs, and there was no discharge.

Sterilisation camp

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli April 28 . The Department of Animal Husbandry will conduct a free sterilisation camp for pet dogs at Sripuram Veterinary Hospital tomorrow.

An official statement said the camp, organised to mark the World Animal Husbandry Day, would benefit people in and around Tirunelveli.

Deer caught

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL April 28 . A sambar that strayed into a college here was caught by the Fire and Rescue Service personnel, and handed over to the Forest department on Sunday.

Sources said residents of Moovendar Nagar near here noticed a sambar wandering into their locality, and made a vain bid to nab it. The deer ran for life, lost its way to the forest and meandered into the college. The residents around the college informed the Fire Service personnel.

Power shutdown

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL April 28 . There will be no power supply between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday in the following areas served by the Andipatti sub-station: Andipatti, Palakombai, Yethakoil, Rajadhani, M. Subbulapuram, T. Subbulapuram, Rengasamudram and nearby areas.

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