Tamil Nadu   

Briefly

Erode Congress president replaced

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) has replaced Erode (North) District Congress Committee president L. Muthukumar from the post with immediate effect. In an official release, TNCC president M. Krishnaswamy said Kallipatti K.M. Balasubramanian would be the new DCC president.

He urged party workers to cooperate with Mr. Balasubramanian and said the order was passed under the instructions of Veerappa Moily, Congress Working Committee member incharge of Tamil Nadu. — Special Correspondent

Teleport issue: Raj TV threatens legal action

CHENNAI: The Raj Television Network Limited has resented the politicisation of its teleport-related issue and warned that it would initiate legal action against persons politicising the matter.

Director M. Ravindran, in a release, said the network had approached the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for an amicable settlement of the issue, and added that there was no politics in it. The dispute was purely commercial in nature and the management would sort it out with the Central Government. — Special Correspondent

EPF training programme

CHENNAI: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is conducting a training programme for employers, who are under the EPF and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952 and EPF members on April 12 and 13 at its zonal training institute (South zone). A course fee of Rs. 1,000 will be charged per participant. Employers desirous of deputing their representatives of their establishments may register their names over phone (26284565), says an EPF release. — Special Correspondent

Varsity to convene meet on CET

CHENNAI : Anna University which is entrusted with the job of conducting the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination, will soon convene its coordination committee for fixing the examination schedule.

The Vice Chancellor, D. Viswanathan told newspersons on Tuesday that the university was yet to get the formal government order for conduct of the TNPCEE. Once it was received, the coordination committee would meet and decide the date of notification and start of issue of applications, as also the mode of distribution, including through the online centres.

The examination question paper would be based on the new syllabus for Plus two, he said.

Meanwhile, students and parents especially from the CBSE stream noted that the TNPCEE was to be held on May 13 and 14, while the finals of the All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) was also slated for May 14. — Special Correspondent

Holiday sought for

Telugu New Year

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Telugu Desam has requested the Chief Minister to declare March 30 Telugu New Year Day, as a general holiday in the State. In a representation to the Chief Minister, the association president, P.R. Krishnan, said Telugus constituted more than 30 per cent of the State population. — Special Correspondent

Domestic workers

stage dharna

CHENNAI: A large number of domestic workers affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Federation staged a dharna here on Tuesday seeking social security and legislative protection.

A release from the Federation also urged the State Government to bring in a notification fixing a minimum wages for domestic workers. — Special Correspondent

Two women murdered

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Two women were murdered in two different places in Sattur on Tuesday.

Nallammal (20) is said to have been killed by her husband, K. Gurusamy. Following a domestic quarrel, he is reported to have hit her head with a boulder.

In the other incident, T. Muthulakshmi (36) was found beheaded near Mettamalai Tank early on Tuesday morning. The Sattur police are investigating.

Drowned in tank

Ramanathapuram: Boominathan (42), son of Kasimurugan of Karendhal, drowned in the Big Tank on Tuesday.

Sources said Boominathan, who was driving a cycle in an inebriated condition, fell into the tank along with the cycle. The Bazaar police have registered a case.

Dies in accident

Ramanathapuram: A 15-year-old boy was killed in a road accident at Rameswaram on Tuesday.

Sources said a mini lorry ran over Dhanasingh, son of Thootha, when he was trying to cross a road at Thondapuli. He died on the spot. The Rameswaram police have filed a case.

Auto driver murdered

Karaikudi: An auto driver was murdered here on Tuesday.

Sources said Kumar (26), son of Ramalingam of Anna Nagar, was found dead near water tank. Balu (29), son of Appavu, also an auto driver, allegedly murdered his friend Kumar by throwing a big stone on his face. Police arrested Balu. Kumar's father Ramalingam is a member of Karaikudi Municipal Council, belonging to the AIADMK.

Gets fellowship

Sivaganga: Anisha Barvin, a research scholar of Alagappa University, has received a fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resources Department to the tune of Rs.1.30 lakh.

Dr. R. Dhandapani, Registrar, said this fellowship was likely to be extended for a period of four more years.

Symposium

Sivaganga: The Centre for Gandhian Studies, Alagappa University, organized a three-day symposium on `Relevance of Gandhism in the New Era' on its campus recently.

Dr. P. Kanniappan, Vice-Chancellor, presided. Dr. N. Markandan, former Vice-Chancellor, Gandhigram Rural Institute, inaugurated it. N.P. Choubey, General Secretary of Indian Academy of Social Science, delivered a special address.

Sambar rescued

THENI: People rescued a sambar from wild animals in the Varushanadu forest range on Tuesday.

The people, who were on the Vaigai river bank, saw a gang of wild animals chasing a sambar.

They swung into action and managed to chase predators back to the forest.

Sambar received injuries on hind legs and tail.

Villagers saved the animal and brought it to the Varushanadu Forest Office for treatment.

Varushanadu Forest Ranger A. Devaraj checked its condition and gave first aid. Later, he informed the rescuers that the animal would be left in the forest again after treatment.

Varushanadu hill, particularly near Thummagundu and Vandiyur regions, has a sizable number of animals including wild ones, thanks to dense forest cover and large tracts of prairies, a feeding ground for herbivorous animals.

Water level

MADURAI: The water level in the Periyar dam stood at 124 feet with an inflow of 257 cusecs and a discharge of 1138 cusecs.

The level in the Vaigai dam was 56.50 feet with an inflow of 865 cusecs and a discharge of 41 cusecs. The combined Periyar credit stood at 5463 mcft.

33,946 students to write SSLC examination

TIRUNELVELI: As many as 33,946 students including 17,362 boys will write the Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination here on Wednesday.

In Tirunelveli educational district, 12,036 students (6,137 boys and 5,899 girls) will appear for the examination while 10,680 students (5,531 boys and 5,149 girls) will take the examination in Tenkasi educational district.

In Cheranmahadevi educational district, 11,230 students (5,694 boys and 5,536 girls) will appear for the examination.

Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the examinations and flying squads will be pressed into service.

Constable dies

TIRUNELVELI: Mystery shrouds death of first grade constable, attached to the Palayamkottai police station.

Police said Sivaraman (35), who was returning home early this morning after the duty, was found lying on roadside in an inebriated condition.

As his condition was critical, he was taken to a private hospital here, where he died.

The Palayamkottai police are investigating.

College student drowned

Nagercoil: A student of N. I. College of Engineering drowned on Tuesday in a tank while taking bath.

According to police, Elgin Jenkins (17) of Virikode near Marthandam, studying M.Sc. (software engineering), went to a tank to take bath along with his friends.

He drowned as he did not know swimming.

The police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem.

Youth assaulted

Tuticorin: Sudalai (27) was hospitalised, as he was assaulted by G Nallathampi (58), at Seidunganallur on Monday. The duo developed a quarrel over fixing rates for some trees.

The police are looking out for Nallathampi, who was at large since the incident took place.

Robbery attempt

Tuticorin: Some unidentified persons attempted to steal money kept inside a hundiyal at Kallapiran temple at Srivaikundam on Monday.

The police have registered a case based on a complaint lodged by Ganesan, Executive Officer of the temple.

Liquor shop burgled

Tuticorin : The police are on the lookout for some unidentified persons who had burgled an Indian Made Foreign Liquor shop run by TASMAC at Kazhugamalai near here on Monday.

The burglars entered the shop in the wee hours of Monday and decamped with Rs. 25,843 kept inside a locker. A case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by S Jeyavegilan (28), supervisor of the shop.

10 gamblers held

Tuticorin: The police have arrested 10 gamblers from different parts of the district on Monday.

While R. Selvakumar (38), M. Devaraj (52) and K. Selvakumar (32) were arrested from Tuticorin-Ettayapuram Road, C. Nagendran (49) and four others were taken into the custody from the town. In all, Rs. 1,925 was seized.

Meanwhile, R. Krishnan (39) and M. Sekhar (32) were arrested while they were gambling behind the Kadambur railway station. They were in possession of Rs 2,000.

Found dead

ERODE: A 34-year-old man of Velan Nagar here was found dead on Monday night. According to the police, Mohanraj was lying in a pool of blood in his sister's house. His mother filed a complaint with the Erode North Police who visited the spot, and registered a case of murder.

It is stated that Mohanraj had a quarrel with his brother-in-law, Palanisamy, who is absconding. The deceased is the district president of actor Vijay's fan club.

- Staff Reporter

Boy drowns in the Cauvery river

ERODE: A 16-year-old schoolboy drowned in the Cauvery river on Monday. According to the police, Sasikumar of Government Higher Secondary School at Uthukuli, and a native of Tirupur Ambedkar Colony went to Bhavani along with his friend Manimaran. While bathing in the river, near the Bhavani kooduthurai, Sasikumar drowned. His body was recovered the same evening. - Staff Reporter

Grievances meeting cancelled

ERODE: The agriculture grievances meeting scheduled to be conducted on March 31 has been cancelled due to administrative problems, said the Collector, D. Karthikeyan, in a press release. - Staff Reporter

One held

RASIPURAM: The district supply officials arrested an employee of a fair price shop on charges of hoarding rice meant for distribution under the Public Distribution System and seized 20 rice bags here on Monday.

Based on a tip-off, the officials raided the shop at Eshwaramoorthipalayam near here and found 20 bags of rice hoarded in a nearby shop. They arrested Murugan (35), salesman of the shop, in this regard. - Staff Reporter

House burgled

ATTUR: Two unidentified persons burgled a house and escaped with 10 sovereigns of jewellery after assaulting a person here on Monday.

According to the police, they entered the house Raja of Veerahanur and assaulted him.

They snatched the gold mangalsutra of his wife and escaped. The Veerahanur Police have registered a case. - Staff Reporter

CPI(M) takes out procession

SALEM: Members of the Salem district unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) took out a silent procession here on Tuesday as a mark of respect to the departed senior leader Anil Biswas. - Staff Reporter

Aid from Japan

PERAMBALUR: The Government of Japan has sanctioned Rs.37 lakh to the Rural Education and Action Development (READ), a non-governmental organisation at Andimadam in the district, for taking up a project in the cause of the disabled persons in rural pockets.

According to the secretary of the READ, D. Selvam, the funds would be utilised for creation of infrastructure including building and also imparting training on various vocations such as note-book making, computer and carpentry.

The Consulate General of Japan,Yoshiaki Kodaki, recently handed over the cheque to Mr. Selvam at Chennai.

Mahila court opening

PERAMBALUR: The Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Ajit Prakash Shah, will declare open the Mahila Court here on April 1.

A number of judges from the Madras High Court will participate in the function.

Teachers protest

PERAMBALUR: A section of post-graduate teachers staged a demonstration in front of a Plus Two paper valuation centre here on Tuesday, demanding reduction in workload.

They said they were forced to value more number of answer-sheets, over and above the Government norms.

They later resumed valuation of answer-sheets.

Bus driver killed

Tiruchi: A private bus driver was killed in a road mishap on the Tiruchi - Karur National Highway at Kamanaickenpalayam near Jeeyapuram in the district in the early hours on Monday.

According to police sources, the driver, Velusamy (43), was knocked down by an omni bus coming from the opposite direction, when he had got down

from his bus which was going to Karur from Tiruchi. He was killed on the spot.

School boy fatally hit

Tiruchi: A 13-year-old boy, Nagarajan, was killed after being hit by a lorry at T. Murungapatti in the district on Monday. The victim was on his way to his school riding pillion on a bicycle when the lorry coming from the opposite direction hit the cycle. Nagarajan, who fell down, sustained head injuries. He died on the way to the Government Hospital, Thuraiyur.

Mettur level

Tiruchi: The water level at the Mettur dam stood at 113.46 feet on Tuesday. The inflow was 1,351 cusecs and the outflow, 2000 cusecs.

Staff Reporter

Power cut

Power supply will be suspended in the following areas on March 30 (Thursday) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for maintenance work: Nungambakkam: Chinniaya Street, Valmiki Street and Thirumalai Pillai Road; Purusawakkam High Road; VOC Nagar pumping station and Avadi South including Vaishnavi Nagar, Solambedu Road, Ganesh Nagar TNHB, VOC Nagar, K.K. Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Chollan Nagar, Sivasakthi Nagar, J.B. Nagar, Devi Nagar and Police Quarters.

Billing counter

to be shifted

Chennai: The EB Santhome section card-billing counter at 21 Santhome High Road, Santhome, will be shifted to Foreshore Estate, 33/11 kv sub-station computerised card billing counter near E5 Pattinapakkam Police Station with effect from April 1.

Tax collection

The IOB branches at Ambattur, Aminjikarai, Anna Nagar, Esplanade, Mount Road, Mylapore, Nungambakkam, Perambur, SSI Guindy, Sriramnagar, Tambaram, T. Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Virugambakkam and Washermanpet will extend business hours on Friday till 6 p.m. to collect direct and indirect taxes only.

Essay writing contest

Winners of the essay writing competition, organised for postgraduate students in the city in memory of Elizabeth Adiseshiah on February 25, will be announced at an event on March 31. The function will be held at Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women at 11 a.m.

Training courses

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation is conducting training courses for employers/Employees' Provident Fund members. The next batch is scheduled to be held on April 12 and 13. A course fee of Rs. 1000 per participant would be charged. Employers complying with the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, interested in deputing a representative may register at 26284565. Annual day celebrations

Kaligi Ranganathan Montford HSS celebrated its 36th annual day on March 23. J. Uma Maheshwari, director of Matriculation Schools, distributed prizes. Principal R. Janardhanan among those who spoke.

Bank branch opened

The Allahabad Bank opened its 29th branch in the city at 11/1(New No. 23), Vellalar Street, Purasawalkam, on Monday. M.B. Nirmal, founder of Exnora International, inaugurated the function.

Certificate course

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashram is organising an eight-day certificate course on `Success through Effective Communication' from April 2 to 9. Job seekers, college students and professionals would benefit from the course that deals with communication within the framework of `personal management', said a press note. The registration fee is Rs. 250. Those wishing to participate must register before April 1. The Ashram office or library can be contacted at 3, M.S. Salai, T. Nagar between 9 a.m. and 12 noon or 4 and 8 p.m. Details available at 28143896 or 28143514 or mail@rkmchennai.org.

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