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Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

`Striving for egalitarian society'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI SEPT. 14. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today claimed that she had been striving to build an egalitarian society during the past 40 months of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government.

In a statement on the eve of the birth anniversary of the former Chief Minister, C.N. Annadurai, she said her Government had been transcending differences of caste and religion and making Tamil Nadu a conflict-free `Garden of Peace.'

Although she acknowledged that it would be difficult to create an egalitarian society, she was determined to do so. Success, she said, was a journey, not a destination. She would overcome all obstacles in her efforts for the welfare of the Tamil people. She did not want to exaggerate the importance of people who were trying to distract her from the task of governance, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

Discount for khadi products

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Sept. 14. In view of the birth anniversary of the former Chief Minister, C.N. Annadurai, the State Government has decided to give 10 per cent special discount to khadi, handloom and silk goods, being sold in cooperative outlets. The discount is in addition to the existing 20 per cent being offered for these goods.

The special discount will be available from September 15 to February 28.

According to an official release, the special discount will help improve the sale of handloom products.

Vice-Chancellor's action plan

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI SEPT. 14. Tamil Nadu is in the forefront of veterinary education, Nainar Balaraman, newly-appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), said today.

He was here to meet the State representatives before assuming office. ``The performance level of students coming out of the TANUVAS is of the highest order,'' said this 1996 graduate from Madras Veterinary College.

Unveiling his action plan for the university, Dr. Balaraman said as Vice-Chancellor his priority would be to provide leadership to veterinary education by improving infrastructure, service and commitment. ``Welfare of livestock is another important aspect otherwise we don't have the right to domesticate them. Livestock development (improving the services which they provide) should be on scientific lines and should be within the cultural framework of our country,'' he said. Women empowerment in livestock-related areas was another priority area. Dr. Balaraman will be assuming charge in two weeks time.

Appavoo's bail plea rejected

By Our Staff Reporter

Tirunelveli Sept. 14. The bail application moved by the Radhapuram MLA, M. Appavoo, who was arrested in a criminal intimidation case, was rejected today.

Jayasingh, Judicial Magistrate I, dismissed the plea as the police opposed granting of bail to the MLA. Yesterday the bail application of Mani, an advocate who was arrested along with Mr. Appavoo, was dismissed.

Mr. Appavoo is expected to move his bail application before the court of the district judge tomorrow.

Acquitted in bus burning case

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE SEPT. 14. The Erode First Additional District judge, Nagarajan, today acquitted the Erode district DMK secretary and 27 others in bus burning and bus damage cases. The case was that when the DMK leader, M.K. Stalin, was arrested in Chennai on April 11, 2003, some persons burnt a State Transport Corporation bus near the Erode diesel shed. The police arrested N.K.K.P. Raja and 18 others.

Another nine were arrested in connection with stone pelting which damaged a bus near the corporation's shed.

Mr. Nagarajan examined 13 witnesses but most of them turned hostile. Acquitting them, the judge said the crimes were not proved against the accused.

Students eat poisonous seeds

By Our Staff Reporter

KARUR SEPT. 14. Three students of the standard IX of the Government Higher Secondary School, Manmangalam, consumed poisonous seeds today after their teacher reprimanded them for skipping classes.

Saravanan, Sivakumar and Sasikumar, all aged 15, ate the seeds after their Mathematics teacher scolded them for repeatedly skipping classes and asked them to bring their parents today. The students are recovering in the Karur Government Hospital.

Court fiat to Electricity Board

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI SEPT. 14. The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to continue to pay wages to contract labourers in distribution circles at the Public Works department's schedule of rate with effect from July 1, 1998.

This interim direction was issued on a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Workers' Progressive Union and it would be in force until the case was disposed of.

The union submitted that its members were directly employed by the TNEB. They were not paid wages and other benefits in conformity with an order issued by the Board in July 1998. Several representations were made but to no avail.

Farmers' grievances day

By Our Staff Reporter

Thanjavur Sept.14 . The monthly farmers grievances day will be held at the collectorate here on Friday, according to a press release issued here by the Collector, J. Radhakrishnan.

Farmers can get their grievances related to agriculture, irrigation, animal husbandry, cooperation, horticulture and electricity redressed, he said.

Power shutdown

By Our Staff Reporter

ARIYALUR SEPT.14. There will be no power supply in the following areas from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday due to maintenance works at the Sathamangalam sub-station, according to a press release issued by the Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board:

Tirumanur, Kizhakolathur, Elakurichi, Kovilur, Mathur, Vanamputhur, Kuruvady, Thuthur, Tirumalapadi, Annimangalam, Kizhakkavattankurichi, Keelapalur, Kokkudy, Melapalur, Arungal, Karuvidaicheri, Kallakudy, Poyyur, Malathakulam, Poondi and Maravanoor.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

Tiruchi Sept.14. The water level at the Mettur reservoir stood at 80.61 feet today. The inflow was 8,762 cusecs and the discharge 11,960 cusecs.

Railway initiative

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE SEPt. 14. The 607 Erode-Coimbatore Passenger, hitherto operated with diesel engine, will be operated using an electric engine from September 15, according to Railway officials.

They said the train would leave Erode as usual at 6.30 a.m. and reach Coimbatore at 9.15 a.m.

Killed

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE SEPT. 14. A buffalo and a cow were charred to death at Karakattuvalasu near Elumathur, Erode, on Monday night when lightning struck a cattle pound. There was heavy rain in the area. Huge quantity of hay kept inside the pound was also destroyed.

Murdered

By Our Staff Reporter

Krishnagiri Sept. 14. A 38-year-old man was hacked to death by some persons near the Nallur check post at Hosur here today.

The police said that Rajappa of Uliyalam along with his brother Narayanappa was on the way to attend a court proceeding when he was waylaid and hacked to death.

Previous enmity is said to be the reason behind the murder.

Handed over

By Our Staff Reporter

Dharmapuri Sept. 14. Two newborn girls were handed over to the cradle baby centre at the Dharmapuri General Hospital here on Monday.

Farm labourers Alamelu and Krishnan of Krishnagiri, who already have three daughters, handed over their fourth female child due to poor financial condition.

Similarly, Vanitha and Ravi of Nallampalli handed over their third female child to the centre.

Constable held

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI SEPT. 14. An Armed Reserve Police Constable was today arrested for more dowry harassment.

The police said T. Essakkiammal alias Kamali, 25, of Tirunelveli Town, was married to K. Selva Mariappan, 27, of Tuticorin, in 2001. As he was posted at the Tihar Jail, he took her to New Delhi. However, Kamali returned to his mother's house after Selva Mariappan tortured her, demanding a two-wheeler and a bracelet. When Ms. Kamali delivered a male baby, she went back to her husband, but she was again tortured. On a complaint, the police arrested him.

Furniture gutted

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI SEPT. 14. Furniture and electrical appliances, worth Rs. 10,000, were gutted in a tuition centre at NGO `B' Colony here on Monday night.

The police said Ganesan put up a thatched shed on the first floor of his house for conducting tuition classes. When a fire broke out, furniture, tube lights and fans were gutted. Fire tenders from Palayamkotti put out the fire.

Four arrested for felling trees

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI SEPT. 14. The Railway Protection Force have arrested four persons for illegally felling trees grown on railway land.

A special team visited a spot between Oththakkal and Edamann stations in the Western Ghats near Shencottai after it received information about illegal felling of trees. It found that the mafia had smuggled timber, worth Rs. 1.50 lakhs.

The team raided a godown and arrested Chacko, 52, and Simon, 44, both railway employees, and Suresh Kumar and Sunil.

Sets herself ablaze

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN SEPT. 14. A Plus-Two girl student set herself ablaze near Ottapidaaram last night.

The police said A. Malathi, 16, studying at Arumuganeri, took the step, pained at her mother's illicit relationship with a man.

Extortion

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN SEPT. 14. The Tuticorin South police have arrested two persons for extortion.

The police said C. Kirubhakaran, 49, of Chidambara Nagar, Gururaj, 40, of Chennai, and Ananth Prabhakaran, of Tuticorin, abducted C. Narayanan, 42, a contractor from Ashok Nagar in Tuticorin, and took Rs. 6,700 from him. They also took the signature of Narayanan on stamp papers.

Based on a complaint from Mr. Narayanan, the police last night arrested Kirubhakaran and Gururaj. A search has been launched to nab Ananth Prabhakaran.

Power shutdown

By Our Staff Reporter

THENI SEPT.14. There will be no power supply between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday in the following areas served by the Vaigai dam sub-station: Jeyamangalam, Kullapuram, Vaigaipudhur, Marudhalpatti, A. Vadipatti, Erumalainaickenpatti, Mudalakkampatti, Sindhuvampatti, Bomminaickenpatti and nearby areas.

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