The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 21, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

JD(S) State unit backs Deve Gowda

MADURAI: The State unit of Janata Dal (Secular) has backed the stand taken by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda in the political crisis in Karnataka.

General secretary K.John Moses in a statement said Mr. Gowda's stand clearly demonstrated that the Janata Dal (S) would never compromise on its secular principles and join hands with communal forces. The State unit was confident that the Congress-JD(S) Government in Karnataka would win the trust vote on January 27. — Staff Reporter

Two officials convicted in graft case

MADURAI: Special CBI court Judge N.Athinathan on Thursday convicted two Valuation Officers of the Income Tax department in a graft case. The duo was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5,000.

According to prosecution, Assistant Engineer P.Ponnusamy and Junior Engineer K.Thiagarajan of the Central Public Works Department, on deputation to the IT Department as Valuation Officers, demanded and accepted Rs. 5,000 as illegal gratification from C.S. Srikumar of Tenkasi for rendering an official favour.

A CBI team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police V. Ashok Kumar arrested the duo after they were caught accepting money in their official chambers here on August 28, 2003. The charge sheet was filed on August 25, 2004. — Staff Reporter

Blast case undertrial admitted to hospital

COIMBATORE: Yusuf alias Shajahan, an undertrial in the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case, was admitted to the Medical College Hospital on Friday after he complained of "assault" by warders at the Central Prison here. Yusuf was produced before the judge of the Special Court for Bomb Blasts case, K.Uthirapathy, along with 95 others. He appeared before the judge with bloodstains on his shirt and alleged that the warders had beaten him up before putting him into the police vehicle escorting undertrials to the court.

However, prison and police sources maintained that Yusuf manhandled and assaulted the warders when they tried to frisk him before allowing him to leave for the court. Frisking is mandatory as per jail manual. The officials alleged that on reaching the court, Yusuf got the injury inflicted on him with the help of two other accused in a toilet meant for undertrials. The judge referred Yusuf to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and sought a report from the doctors. — Special Correspondent

Trade units protest PF interest rate cut

CHENNAI: As part of the national campaign against the Centre's decision to reduce the rate of interest for Employees Provident Fund as 8.5 per cent, activists of Central trade unions staged protest demonstrations at the district headquarters in the State on Friday.

In Chennai, workers owing allegiance to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, the All-India Trade Union Congress, the All-India Coordination Committee of Trade Unions and United Trade Union Council-Lenin Sarani took part in the demonstration before the Collectorate. — Special Correspondent

32 more refugees arrive

RAMANATHAPURAM: Thirtytwo more Sri Lankan Tamil refugees including 11 women and 9 children arrived at Arichalmunai in Dhanushkodi near here on Friday.

Sources said they reached the shore in two boats. They were from Paysalai in Mannar district of Sri Lanka. They were sent to Mandapam camp for questioning.

With this, the number of refugees who arrived from Sri Lanka, has gone up to 109. — Staff Reporter

Overhead tanks chlorinated

PERAMBALUR: The four over-head tanks in Ayanperaiyur village in Veppanthattai block have been chlorinated, following the reported incidence of gastroenteritis, which claimed the lives of two persons.

In a press release issued here Friday, the District Collector, D. Vivekanandan, said the Health Department officials have taken all preventive measures to check the spread of the epidemic. He has appealed to the villagers to boil the water before drinking.

Student found dead

TIRUCHI: A college student was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence near Tollgate in the city. Police said the deceased Ramar (20) had collapsed while taking bath. After post-mortem at the KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College Hospital, the cause was identified as heart ailment, police sources said.

Five injured

Nagercoil : Five persons were injured in a road accident on Thursday night.

According to the police, a police team led by sub-inspector, Sathyaraj, was going to Aralvoimozi to undertake vehicle check on Nagercoil-Tirunelveli national highway. The police vehicle dashed against a motorbike while negotiating a curve at Myladi.

The sub-inspector, the head constable, Ganesan, the driver Robert Udaya Sing, and two others Hari Gopalakrishnan and Sankaranaryanan of Thovalai were injured and admitted to a private hospital.

Woman killed

Nagercoil : An old woman was killed in an accident on Friday.

According to the police, the woman tired to cross the road near Vadaserry market, when a motorcyclist hit her, killing her on the spot. The police recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. However they could not ascertain the identity of the body.

Further investigation is on.

Power cut

Nagercoil : Power supply will be suspended in the following areas coming under the Nagercoil sub-station, owing to maintenance work to be carried out from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday: Nagercoil, Ganesapuram, Chidambara Nagar, Chettikuklam, K.P. Road and Collectorate premises. — Staff Reporter

Life-term for killing man

ERODE: The Principal District Judge R. Mohandoss awarded life term to a man for murdering an agricultural labourer. The prosecution case was that Kanniappan (44) of Akkarai Kodivery, Sathyamangalam taluk, killed Rathinasamy of the same area on May 20, 2005 when he demanded the Rs. 300 Kaniappan had borrowed from him.

Seminar today

ERODE: A seminar on `Sugarcane and pest attack' would be held on January 21 at the Sakthi Sugars, Appakudal. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the Central Sugarcane Research Centre and Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, and the Agricultural Department is jointly conducting the seminar, said Joint Director of Agriculture Jagath Narayanan.

Physics exhibition

ERODE: The principal of the Vellalar College for Women, Chandra Thangavel, said on Friday that the college along with the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai, is organising a `Physics Expo' in the college beginning January 23.

P. Kaliannan, former Physics Professor, Bharathidasan University, will inaugurate the exhibition.

A seminar on physics would be conducted on January 25.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu