The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

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

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

By Our Special Correspondent

Panel term extended

CHENNAI AUG. 12. The Election Commission has extended till August 31 the term of the committee appointed to enquire into the alleged deletion of names from the electoral roll.

A release from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said the committee headed by P.J. Thomas, Kerala CEO, was to submit its report by August 7. The committee wanted to make another round of visits to some districts.

Assault case adjourned

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM AUG. 12. Selvi D. Jayasurya, judicial magistrate, Mayiladuturai, today posted to September 3 the trial against Vaiko, general secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Ko.Si. Mani, former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Minister, and K. Idumbaiyan, Communist Party of India leader, for allegedly assaulting the then All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, R. Tamaraikani, at Siddharkadu near Mayiladuturai during a byelection campaign on May 19, 1984.

Velu Kubendhiran, counsel for Mr. Vaiko told The Hindu that charges were framed against them on July 15 under Sections 147 and 148 (unlawful assembly and with deadly weapons), 323 (causing simple hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC. The trial, scheduled to begin today, had to be adjourned following court boycott by lawyers. However, two witnesses turned up today.

5 PMK men held

SALEM AUG. 12. Five Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) men were arrested today for an alleged attempt to attack the office of the Tamil daily, Kalai Kadir, here in the early hours of Sunday. They were remanded to custody.

The police said Shanmugam (23), Selvaraj (37), Irusagounder (41), M.S. Mohammed Salim (30) and Mohan (32), armed with deadly weapons, tried to enter the office premises. As they could not gain entry, they damaged the front gate.

Based on a complaint from the management, the Annathanapatti police made the arrests under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs. 50,000) and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Junior mutt head removed

MADURAI AUG. 12. G. Swaminathan, who was anointed the junior mutt head of the Madurai Adheenam recently, has been removed from that position.

According to a statement from Gurugnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya, senior mutt head, the removal, with effect from today, had been necessitated by Swaminathan's ``non-compliance with the Adheenam's rituals and tradition'' and the ``interference of his family members in administration.''

Swaminathan of Tuticorin was made the junior mutt head in an elaborate ceremony on June 5.

Former police official held

By Our Staff Reporter

Tuticorin Aug. 12. The Kovilpatti West police today arrested Abdul Kani (65), a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, for allegedly ransacking the office of a realtor. He was remanded to custody.

The police said the former official went to the office at Ram Hanuman Nagar and had a quarrel with the cashier, Navaneethan, after water supply to his house was affected. When Mr. Navaneethan was explaining the reason for the truncated supply, Mr. Abdul Kani allegedly damaged the glasspanes in the office and a telephone.

Based on a complaint from Mr. Navaneethan, the police arrested Mr. Kani, who was reportedly in ``distraught state.''

Bank employees stage dharna

CHENNAI Aug. 12. Bank officers and employees, belonging to various unions staged a sit-in dharna before the Government Guest House, Chepauk here, today demanding early revision of pay structure.

Similar protests were organised throughout the State. The stir under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions was a prelude to a one-day strike on August 24.

The employees alleged that even after 21 rounds of negotiations by the Indian Bankers Association (IBA) with recognised trade unions, there was no result. The unions' efforts to convince the IBA to expedite the talks failed and wage revision was getting delayed unduly.

It was unfortunate that the IBA was adopting a ``rigid attitude'' though the banks had earned a profit of more than Rs. 18,000 crores for the last financial year.

The employees demanded that the Union Finance Minister immediately intervene and use his good offices with the IBA to resolve the issue to their satisfaction.

Marketing programme

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI AUG. 12. The Small Industries Services Institute (SISI) will conduct a two-week programme in marketing management for small scale units at the Institute of Management Education and Training, K4, Sindu Flats, 7th Avenue, 100 Ft. Road, Anna Nagar here between August 23 and September 9. The course will be conducted every day between 6 and 8.30 p.m. and faculty with years of experience in industry will facilitate the programme.

Those who have passed standard X are eligible. The subsidised fee is Rs. 400 for general candidates and Rs. 200 for SC/ST. Government of India certificates will be issued to all successful candidates.

Those interested may submit applications to M. Asokan, Assistant Director (IMT), SISI, 65/1, GST Road, Guindy, Chennai-32, or contact him in person at Room 20, SISI. Phone: 22341011-13.

Project report preparation, loan assistance and guidance will be provided for starting a small business/industry, says a press release.

Symposium

By Our Staff Reporter

Dharmapuri Aug 12. The Department of Computer Science & Engineering and Information Technology at the Jayam College of Engineering and Technology is holding a one-day national level Technical Symposium, TRACE - 2K4 on August 13 at the college premises.

One killed

By Our Staff Reporter

Krishnagiri Aug 12. One person was killed and another seriously injured when a lorry collided with a motorcycle at Uthangarai here on Wednesday. The police said, Murali (23) and his friend, Sakthivel (22) were returning from Singarapettai when a lorry dashed against the motorcycle. While Murali died on the spot Sakthivel was admitted to a hospital in Uthangarai.

Huts gutted

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE AUG 12. Four huts were destroyed in an accident. According to police around noon today, a sudden fire broke out from a thatched hut in Kuppichipalayam near Ammapet, Bhavani taluk, spreading to the neighbouring huts. Fire and rescue service personnel from Bhavani rushed to the spot and put it out. Four thatched huts were gutted and investigation is on. The loss is estimated at about Rs 50,000.

Meet

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE AUG 12. The 23rd State General Council meeting and State Conference of the Tamil Nadu Medical and Sales Representatives' Association will be conducted at Parimalam Mahal, Erode from August 13 to August 15. The conference will discuss the blackmarketing of drugs, pattern registration of companies and also merger of pharmaceutical companies with multi-national companies.

The CITU General Secretary, A. Soundararajan, All India President of the Federation of Medical Representatives Associations of India, State President of the Association, K. Natajan and others will address the gathering. The Association also proposed to hold a rally and public meeting on August 13.

Gram Sabha meetings

By Our Staff Reporter

NAMAKKAL AUG 12. Gram Sabha meetings would be held in all the 331 panchayats in Namakkal district on August 15, Independence Day. Apart from development activities and selection of beneficiaries for certain governmental welfare schemes, the meetings would also discuss issues such as overcoming nutrition deficiency, maintenance of integrated sanitary complexes for women and children and construction of individual lavatories in houses under the total sanitation campaign, according to the District Collector, V.M. Xavier Chrisso Nayakam.

Panel visit

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL AUG. 12. The Collector, S. Murugaia, said the Tamil Nadu Assembly Accounts Committee, led by its chairman, K.N. Lakshmanan, would visit the district on August 17 to inspect various development works being undertaken during current financial year.

In a release here today, he said the committee would also inspect the level of pollution in the treated water discharged from the common effluent treatment plant at Begampur.

Relieved of chain

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli Aug. 12. The wife of a CB-CID head constable was relieved of a gold chain, worth Rs. 40,000.

The police said two unidentified persons snatched the chain from Sugantha Leela (52), wife of Samuel of Bhoothapandi Thidal, when she was returning home on Wednesday from his farm at Mookkuththi Paalam.

Based on a complaint from Mrs. Leela, the Bhoothapandi police are investigating.

Saplings

to be planted

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI AUG. 12. The Madurai Division of the Southern Railway will plant one lakh saplings on the Independence Day.

The saplings would include neem, `poongai' and jatropha varieties. The Divisional Railway Manager, B.N. Rajashekar, has directed all the heads of departments to arrange for the planting throughout the division, according to railway sources.

Water level

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI AUG. 12. The level in the Periyar dam today stood at 124 feet with an inflow was 902 cusecs and a discharge of 1375 cusecs. The level in the Vaigai dam was 38.62.

Advocates form human chain

By Our Staff Reporter

Thanjavur Aug. 12 . Advocates of Thanjavur formed a human chain today in support of their demand for retention of Thanjavur Bar with the Chennai High Court Bench at Madurai.

Pon.Murugaiyan, president of the bar association, T. Satyamurthy, secretary of the association, senior advocates V.S.Ramalingam, Jeevakumar and others participated in the human chain.

Fire safety drill

By Our Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI Aug. 12 . Fire and Rescue Service personnel today conducted a fire safety drill on the Aranthangi Government Boys Higher Secondary School campus as part of the State-wide exercise conducted by the service to create an awareness of fire safety measures.

About 2,500 students and 100 teachers from schools in the Aranthangi educational district participated in the exercise, conducted under the supervision of the Divisional Fire Officer, Pudukottai, D.A.G.Jaikumar, and the Station Fire Officer, M.S.Sreenivasan. The students and teachers were enlightened on the measures to be taken to prevent fire accidents and safety norms. A demonstration was also conducted on methods of escape to be adopted in emergency situations.

The District Education Officers of Pudukottai and Aranthangi, M.Chandrasekaran and G.Venkatesan, respectively, participated in the drill.

Seminar

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM AUG. 12. The Dharumapuram Gnanambikai Government Arts College for Women, Mayiladuturai, will conduct a three-day State-level seminar in English from August 18.

The `emergence of a new woman in mass media and literature in Tamil Nadu' is the topic for the seminar, sponsored by the University Grants Commission.

Visitors' gallery closed

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI AUG. 12 . The visitors' gallery of the Tiruchi airport will remain closed from today till August 16, according to a release from the Airport Director, S.Sreekumar.

Visitors would also be barred from entering the terminal building of the airport during the period, the release added.

Sources said the ban was enforced as a routine security measure in view of the Independence Day.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

Tiruchi Aug.12 . The level in the Mettur reservoir stood at 93.22 feet today. The inflow was 12,651 cusecs and the discharge was 4,527 cusecs.

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