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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 21, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Hijack threat at Madurai airport

MADURAI MAY 20. Tight security arrangements were made at the airport here following a hijack threat to two scheduled flights today.

The Madurai district police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel threw a cordon around the airport after an unidentified caller threatened that the Indian Airlines Madurai-Chennai-Mumbai (IC-672) and the Deccan Airlines Madurai-Chennai (DA112) flights would be hijacked.

The call was made to the Special Branch office around 10 a.m. A posse of police personnel was posted at the airport to conduct anti-sabotage checks and enforce strict access control. After routine frisking, surprise checks were made on registered and personal baggage of passengers just before they boarded the aircraft.

"Door frame metal detectors were installed at the main entrance and the movement of visitors restricted. Police personnel were also positioned around the airport as a precautionary measure," the Superintendent of Police, Avi Prakash Sinha, told The Hindu .

The Indian Airlines flight, which arrived a couple of hours late, took off shortly after 4 p.m.. The Deccan Airlines aircraft left at 4.45 p.m., police sources said.

Alarm bell foils bank robbery

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM MAY 20. With the alarm bell going off, an attempt to rob the Indian Bank branch at Kondalampatti here in the early hours today was foiled.

The police said the thieves (their number is yet to be ascertained) entered into the bank, breaking open the wooden door on the first floor of the building. After breaking the iron grill door of the safe room, they attempted to break open the locker, which contained pawned jewels and money. However, the alarm bell got activated and the robbers fled.

On hearing the sound, the locals alerted the police. The Superintendent of Police, Pon. Manickavel, formed a special team to nab the culprits.

Gang held, weapons seized

Last night, the police prevented a robbery in the city, arresting seven car-borne persons and seizing deadly weapons.According to sources, a team led by the Annadhanapatti sub-inspector, Boopathy Rajan, while patrolling the areas of Seelnaickenpatti, stopped the luxury car, and the unconvincing answers given by the occupants aroused suspicion. The police found deadly weapons in the car, which was also seized. Interrogation revealed that the seven-member gang was preparing for a robbery in the house of a businessman in the city.

Undertrials observe fast

Coimbatore May 20. Al-Umma undertrials in the serial blasts case and prisoners of minority communities numbering 18 observed a one-day token fast at the Coimbatore Central Prison here today urging the All-India Congress Committee president and Congress Parliamentary Party leader, Sonia Gandhi, to accept the post of prime ministership. According to police sources, the agitators condemned the Bharathiya Janata Party and the allies of the National Democratic Alliance for opposing prime ministership for Ms. Gandhi.

Brothers drowned in well

Tirunelveli May 20. Two brothers, including a standard IV student, were drowned in a well in a village near Mukkoodal last evening.

The police said C. Ajeez Samraj (17) and his younger brother, C. Kanagaraj (9) of Odaimarichaan village, went to the well to take bath. When Kanagaraj accidentally fell into the well and was drowned, Samraj, in a bid to rescue his brother, jumped into the well. However, the boys were drowned, as they could not swim.

3 killed in car-bus collision

KARUR MAY 20. Three persons died and two others were injured in a car-bus collision near here early this morning.

The police said S. Ranjani (46), her son S. Santhosh (17) and driver Loganathan, all from Chennai, were killed when their car and the private bus collided at R.Pudukkottai on the Karur-Tiruchi highway.

Ranjani's husband, Seshadri (53), a chemical engineer and consultant based in Chennai, and their other son, Girish (19), were admitted to a private hospital. The condition of Mr. Seshadri is said to be critical.

10 more hospitalised in Erode

ERODE MAY 20. Ten more women and children of Pallipalayam were today admitted to the Erode Government Headquarters Hospital for diarrhoea and vomiting. The Joint Director of Medial Services, Captain Venkatachalam, said special doctors were deployed for treating the affected. There was no cholera incidence in and around Erode, but owing to water contamination some people were affected with the diarrhoeal disease. On Tuesday, more than 100 persons were brought to the hospital for diarrhoea but most of them were discharged yesterday.

Bader Sayeed nominated

CHENNAI MAY 20. The Tamil Nadu Government has nominated Bader Sayeed as a member of the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board. The notification was issued on Wednesday.

Ms. Sayeed resigned as chairperson of the Board as she was contesting the Lok Sabha elections as a candidate of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Rear Admiral visit

NAGAPATTINAM MAY 20. Rear Admiral R.P. Suthan, Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command, today inspected the naval detachments at Kodiakarai (Point Calimere), Thopputhurai, Nagapattinam and Mallipattinam.

Naval sources told The Hindu that Rear Admiral came by a Navy helicopter this morning and left for Mandapam and Rameswaram in the afternoon, after holding a meeting with the Navy commander at Nagapattinam.

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