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Briefly

Karunanidhi's appeal to Election Commission

CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on Sunday accused the State Government of "hurriedly issuing backdated orders," to circumvent the model code of conduct.

He urged the Election Commission to send a team to investigate and prevent implementation of the orders.

In a press release, Mr. Karunanidhi alleged that the Chief Secretary had convened meetings of Secretaries on March 2 and 3 and asked them to issue the backdated Government orders. He cited orders issued by the departments of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes and Industries.

Alleging irregularities in procedure in setting up the Knowledge Industry Township, he said these were only a few examples of wrongdoing that had come to his knowledge. — Special Correspondent

Two PMK workers injured in attack

CUDDALORE: Two Pattali Makkal Katchi workers were injured in an attack, allegedly by a group of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supporters, at Athandarkollai near Neyveli on Sunday. The injured were first taken to Vriddhachalam Government Hospital and, after first aid, referred to Cuddalore Government Hospital.

Tension prevailed in the area and a heavy contingent of police was mobilised. The AIADMK men were upset on hearing that about 300 party workers were planning to join the PMK at a public meeting in Athandarkollai. They blocked the road and attacked the PMK men who were proceeding to the meeting venue. — Special Correspondent

Two electrocuted

VILLUPURAM: Heavy rain, accompanied by gale, which lashed Tindivanam in the early hours of Sunday, claimed two lives.

R. Karthik (42) died on the spot when his bullock cart carrying sand came in contact with a snapped power line near Sri Venugopal Samy temple at Kollar.

At Saram, when Theivanai (31) came out of her house to lay kolam, she stepped on a live wire and was electrocuted. — Special Correspondent

Departmental inquiry

CHENNAI: Even as the police are conducting further investigations into the leakage of question paper for selecting Grade II constables, a departmental inquiry against the erring personnel is under way.

Fourteen persons have been arrested in connection with the case, including four constables and a head constable.

The rest were candidates set to appear for the examination.

Based on the evidence collected, further arrests would be made, police sources told The Hindu .

The paper for selecting 1,997 Grade II constables leaked when the examination was held in March last year.

The allegation re-surfaced when the examination was held a second time in June.

The police brass ordered an inquiry and 24 officials, including an Inspector-General of Police, were suspended.

The authorities had promised disciplinary action would be taken against 15 other personnel.

The matter took a serious turn when a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe was filed before the Madras High Court.

The court ordered that the investigation should be handled by the CBI. The order was stayed by the Supreme Court.

The sources said there was a strong suspicion that some of those arrested were also involved in the alleged leakage of the paper when the examination was first held in March.

Inquiries were being made. — Special Correspondent

Death toll goes up to five

MADURAI : The death toll in the Saturday's thunderstorm went up to five in Virudhunagar and Madurai districts, with two more loss of lives reported in Madurai.

The deceased were identified as P. Shankar (50) of Vedarpuliyankulam and N. Vijayan (18) of Uthapanayakanoor. Both of them were struck dead by lightning.

Meanwhile, lightning set ablaze one of the sheds at a private cracker unit in Thayilpatti near Sivakasi on Saturday evening.

The room was gutted explosive materials stored there destroyed. However, no one was injured as the lightning struck only after the working hours, Fire and Rescue Service personnel said.

The Firemen led by Sivakasi Station Fire Officer, Pon. Selvendran, fought for nearly a couple of hours to put out the flames.

Three child workers found

VIRUDHUNAGAR : Three child labourers were found working in two match units near Sattur during a surprise check conducted by the Inspector of Factories on Friday.

The check was conducted in match units in Mettamalai and Padanthal. In some units children ran away on seeing the inspecting officials.

However, the team caught two children, both aged 12 years, and one child, aged 11, in Mettamalai and Padanthal respectively, according to Project Officer, Indus Child Labour Project, Y. Jeyaprakash.

Water level

MADURAI : The water level in the Periyar dam stood at 125.90 feet. There was no inflow and discharge into the reservoir. The level in the Vaigai dam was 56.89 feet with an inflow of 195 cusecs and a discharge of 1141 cusecs. The combined Periyar credit stood at 5636 mcft. — Staff Reporter

Meeting

Udhagamandalam: A resolution passed at a meeting of the Consumer Awareness and Human Rights Forum held at Gudalur near here recently sought action against members of the mercantile community who resorted to unscrupulous means to make quick money. By another resolution, the meeting wanted the district-level Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum to meet once a week in the revenue divisions. All the departments should ensure that various Government orders pertaining to the welfare of the consumers were complied with. All should join hands to make the Nilgiris a plastic-free district. The president of the Consumer Awareness and Human Rights Forum, Sivasubramaniam, presided. - Special Correspondent

Eye camp

Coimbatore: A total of 214 patients benefited at the free eye camp conducted recently by M.V. Eye Hospital, Ramnagar, at the Samundipuram Middle School, Tirupur. Twenty-four patients underwent cataract surgery free of charge at the hospital. - Staff Reporter

Workshop

Coimbatore: The Department of Information Technology of the Karpagam College of Engineering will conduct a workshop on radio frequency identification, on March 15. Experts from industry, will share their experience in the development and application of this technology.

- Staff Reporter

Rice mill owner robbed

ERODE: Five unidentified persons, who came in a car, robbed a rice mill owner of Rs. 2 lakhs. According to the police, Prabakaran (29) of Moolanure was going in his car from Moolanure to Tirupur on Saturday night, when five persons who came in another car blocked the vehicle near Madathukulam and after robbing him of the cash tied Prabakaran and his driver, Kamaraj with a rope and escaped from the scene.

- Staff Reporter

Man kills son

ERODE: A father killed his son due to property dispute. According to police, there was a long-standing enmity between Govindasamy (55) of P. Mettupalayam near Kavindapady and his son, Ponnusamy (35).

The father and son entered into an argument near a temple on Saturday, following which Govindasamy beat his son with a stick. Ponnusamy, who sustained bleeding injuries in the attack, was shifted to the Erode Government Headquarters Hospital where he died. - Staff Reporter

Boy drowns

SALEM: A three-year-old boy drowned in a well in Perumampatti near here on Saturday. Police said Tamil Selvan, son of Sekar of Sivadapuram, was playing near a well, when he accidentally fell into it and drowned. - Staff Reporter

Dies in hospital

SALEM : Kalaiyarasan (35), a resident of Uthandivalasu, who was seriously injured when he attempted to kill his two children and commit suicide by bursting the crackers tied round their bodies, died at the hospital here on Saturday night. His 10-year-old daughter was killed on the spot and his son Sakthivel (7), who also sustained serious burns, is being treated in the Salem GH. - Staff Reporter

EPIC meet

TIRUCHI: The Special Chief Electoral Officer, C. P. Singh, on Saturday held discussion with the district officials on the distribution of Elector's Photo Identity Cards (EPIC).

Official sources here said Mr. Singh asked the administration to expedite the process of distribution of EPIC to eligible voters.

The District Collector, K. Nanda Kishore, the Corporation Commissioner, Harmander Singh, the District Revenue Officer, P. Senthilkumar and Electoral Officers participated in the meeting.

Man killed

TIRUCHI: 55-year old man, D. Samy, was killed in a road accident at Aristo Roundtana near Central Bus Stand here. The victim was a clerk at the District Police Office here, police said.

The mishap occurred when he was attempting to alight from the town bus. He succumbed to the head injuries.

Graduation Day

TIRUCHI: As many as 40 students received degrees at the `Graduation Day' function held at Jenneys Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management here recently.

The Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University, C. Thangamuthu, who gave away the degrees to the students also honoured the toppers with gold and silver medals.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Thangamuthu said women should shun inhibitions in seeking employment opportunities in the hospitality industry which was a growing sector with brighter prospects.

Pirated CDs seized

TIRUCHI: Sleuths of the Video Piracy Cell (VPC) seized over 1,000 pirated Compact Discs (CDs) of latest Tamil films during a raid in the city on Sunday.

The pirated CDs were seized from two shops at Teppakulam bazaar and Singarathope areas here.

Mettur level

TIRUCHI: The level in the Mettur dam stood at 113.58 feet on Sunday. The inflow was 3,495 cusecs and the outflow, 1,000 cusecs. — Staff Reporter

Found murdered

Tuticorin : Muthusamy (42), a revenue department employee in Virudhunagar district, was found murdered at a mansion at Kovilpatti on Sunday. The deceased had suffered stab wounds on the neck.

Two youths injured

Tuticorin : Two youths were injured when the van they were travelling overturned at Pudukottai near here on Saturday evening.

R Marimuthu (19) and A Sakthimurugan (19) were in the van, which was part of the convoy accompanying actor and MP Sarathkumar, who was proceeding from Tirunelveli to Tuticorin to attend a public meeting.

The police have registered a case against Muthukumar (28), van driver.

Meanwhile, Sankaran, a policeman who was trying to regulate the traffic in the area where the van overturned was hit by a public transport bus.

Man injured

Tuticorin : K. Jamal (45) was injured when a TATA Sumo hit the tricycle he was riding on North Beach Road on Saturday.

He was admitted to Tuticorin Government Hospital for treatment of injuries to his leg.

Chain snatched

Tuticorin : The police are on the lookout for two persons who allegedly snatched a five sovereign chain from Ananthi (31) at Muthiapuram near here on Saturday.

`Masi' car festival

Tuticorin : The `Masi' car festival was held at Tiruchendur Subramanyaswamy Temple on Sunday, as part of 10-day `Masi' festival commenced in the first week of March.

Thousands of devotees from different parts of the state took part in it.The police provided bandobust to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.

Heavy rain

Tuticorin : Heavy rain lashed many parts of the district on Saturday night and Sunday. The downpour inundated many roads in the town and traffic was affected across the district on Saturday night.

Following is the rainfall recorded (in mm) at various places in the district in the last 24 hours ending 8 a.m. on Sunday: Tiruchendur- 17; Vilathikulam - 16; Vyppar - 47; Kovilpatti- 8; Kayathar - 1; Kadambur - 30; Kazhugamalai - 5.2; Ottapidaram - 20; Maniyachi - 40; Keezharasadi - 52; Ettayapuram - 5; Satankulam - 10; Srivaikundam - 6; Tuticorin (port rain gauge station) - 2.9; Tuticorin (circuit house rain gauge station) 24 and Kayalpattinam - 45.

Graduation day

Nagercoil : Computer technology has improved rapidly in the last few decades. One of the most important developments in the technology was the invention of the integrated circuit, a tiny chip of semiconductor material, usually silicon, with built-in transistors and other electronic parts, said Anju Sinha, Advisor and Head, Department of Science and Technology, Union Government, while presiding over the Noorul Islam College of Engineering graduation day recently. — Staff Reporter

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