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Briefly

HC reserves orders on habeas corpus plea

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has reserved orders on a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of the DMK councillor, K. Dhanasekaran, under the Goondas Act.

A Division Bench comprising Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice J.A.K. Sampathkumar reserved orders on a petition filed by Mr. Dhanasekaran, after hearing the submissions of N.R. Elango, counsel for the councillor, and senior counsel for the State, Nageswara Rao.

Arrested on December 20 in connection with the MGR Nagar stampede deaths, Mr. Dhanasekaran was detained under the Goondas Act on December 29. However, the sessions court has granted him bail in the case, and the order has been upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court. — Special Correspondent

Solatium announced

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of Rs.50,000 to the next of kin of a person who died of injuries sustained when a food sack dropped from a helicopter hit him.

Sekar of Chidambaram succumbed on February 3 to injuries sustained when a food sack fell on him. The helicopter was carrying out relief activities during the recent floods. The money will be paid from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund. — Special Correspondent

Advocates to boycott court on February 10

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA) has decided to boycott court proceedings on February 10.

Addressing presspersons after taking out a rally and forming human chain outside the court premises, demanding punitive action against a Madurai-based Inspector of Police, the MHAA president, S. Prabakaran, said despite an assurance from the Director-General of Police, no action was taken against the official till Wednesday. He also criticised the subordinate as well as the higher judiciary for showing reluctance to intervene in such matters.

J. Rajendra Prasad, president of the Law Association, said an extraordinary general body meeting of the association would be held on Friday to take an appropriate decision. The matter relates to an alleged registration of a "foisted case" against advocate V.C. Sankaranarayanan by the then Inspector of Anna Nagar police station in Madurai. — Special Correspondent

Elected president

Chennai: Members of the Tamil Nadu Medical Council have unanimously elected K. Prakasam as their president at a meeting on February 6. Dr. Prakasam, an orthopaedician, is also the president, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association, a press release said. — Special Correspondent

Ex-servicemen rally on February 12

CHENNAI: An ex-servicemen rally will be organised at the Pallavaram army camp here on February 12 at 9 a.m. Maj.Gen.B.Sivasankar, General Officer Commanding, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, will address the ex-servicemen. He will also present gifts to war widows and disabled soldiers. Medical camps, ex-servicemen health scheme registration and recruiting information would be arranged. — Special Correspondent

Handloom expo

ERODE: The handloom exhibition, organised by the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, began at the Poompuhar Sales Emporium on Mettur Road on Wednesday. Inaugurating the expo, the Project Officer, Women Development, N. Rajam, said that handloom saris, handloom silk saris, different varieties of locally woven saris and those from Kerala and Jaipur chudidars, worth Rs. 5 lakhs, had been kept ready for sale. The expo would continue till February 27. The Manager of the emporium, S. Govindarajan, presided. - Staff Reporter

BJP plea

ERODE: The Erode district BJP unit on Tuesday submitted a petition to the Erode taluk police demanding action against those who destroyed the party flag at Periyasadayampalayam near Erode. The petition said that the flag post with the BJP flag was cut by some persons two days back and sought action against the miscreants.

- Staff Reporter

Direct Purchase Centres inspected

Tiruvarur: Food Minister Pollachi Jayaraman on Wednesday inspected Direct Purchase Centres of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation.

He saw purchase of paddy at a DPC at Velukudi near here. He instructed officials to purchase all paddy brought by farmers.

Later, he held talks with TNCSC officials at Tiruvarur.

K. Shanmugham, Chairman and Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, G.Srinivasan, Senior Regional Manager, TNCSC, attended the meeting.

Agri expo on wheels

Thanjavur: Agri expo on wheels will disseminate information on agriculture and technical inputs to farmers from February 9 to March 10, Collector M.Veera Shanmugha Moni says in a press release issued here.

Agricultural and allied department officials will travel a vehicle, equipped with audio and DVD facilities.

According to M. Jothi, Joint Director of Agriculture, folk song, dances and dramas on technical subjects will be organised with the help of Tamil Nadu Women in Agriculture self-help groups and NSS volunteers.

Officials will clarify doubts of farmers and show ongoing schemes to them. Leaflets and pamphlets would be distributed.

Scientific advisory committee meeting

PUDUKOTTAI: The third scientific advisory committee meeting of Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Vamban will be held on February 13.

G. Doraiswamy, Director, Extension Education, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, will inaugurate it. S. Prabhukumar, Zonal Coordinator, Transfer of Technology Projects, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Bangalore, will preside over the meeting.

B. Chandrasekaran, Director, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, officials from various departments and farmers would participate, a press release said.

Farmer dies in accident

KARUR: Palaniappan (40) of Veerarakkiam, a farmer, was killed in a road accident at Sungagate here on Wednesday. He was riding a moped when a sand laden lorry rammed his vehicle. The body was removed to the Government Hospital and the Pasupathipalayam police are investigating.

Canteen extension counter inaugurated

Thanjavur : Nation has taken up various measures for the welfare of ex-servicemen, said Major General B. Shivashankar, General Officer Commanding, Indian Army, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala zone, Chennai, and president, Tamil Nadu Ex-servicemen Welfare Organisation, here on Tuesday.

He inaugurated ex-servicemen canteen extension counter at Arulananda Nagar and flagged off a rally.

Later, he distributed benefits to family members of ex-servicemen.

M.Veera Shanmugha Moni, Collector, participated in the function.

Seminar on career guidance

PERAMBALUR: A seminar-cum-exhibition on `career guidance and employment' was inaugurated here on Tuesday under the auspices of Placement Cell of the Sarada College of Science and Arts for Women and Lions Club of Perambalur.

Collector D. Vivekanandan, college correspondent M. Sivasubramanian, Principal G. Kanchanadevi and club president Karthikeyan spoke.

District Employment Officer N. Muralidaran explained the opportunities available to the students in different fields.

Mettur level

TIRUCHI: The water level at the Mettur dam stood at 112.61 feet on Wednesday.

The inflow was 845 cusecs and outflow 1,000 cusecs. — Tiruchi Bureau

Special train

MADURAI : In order to clear extra rush of passengers in view of the `Thaipoosam' festival, the Southern Railway will operate a special train between Tiruchendur and Tirunelveli stations.

The special train will leave Tiruchendur on February 11 at 10.30 a.m. and reach Tirunelveli at 12.30 p.m. the same day, according to a press release.

Five arrested

Tuticorin : The Railway Protection Force on Wednesday arrested five persons, who had allegedly stolen railway engineering materials kept near the railway track on Tuticorin Harbour-Milavittan sector.

Sources said J Bijoy (38), K Kadalraja (32), C Anandan (32), J Amalraj (54) and Paldurai Nadar (60) stole Rs.25,000-worth materials.

Based on tip off, a special team led by Inspector G Selvaraj arrested the accused from the town.

Spurious petrol seized

Tuticorin : The police arrested two persons from Kovilpatti on Tuesday on charges of possessing spurious petrol. Altogether, 3,100 litres of petrol was seized.

While G. Manikandan (20) was arrested from Kathiresan Kovil Street with 2,400 litres of petrol mixed with naphtha, R Balamurugan (30) was taken into custody from Manthithoppu road with 700 litres of spurious petrol.

The accused were remanded under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Commits suicide

Nagercoil : A man committed suicide by jumping before a running train near Nagercoil on Wednesday.

According to police sources, the unidentified man was said to have taken this extreme step as he was unable to bear his stomach pain.

The railway protection force sent it for post-mortem.

The police have registered a case. — Staff Reporter

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