Tamil Nadu   

Briefly

Ganesan congratulates Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Bharatiya Janata Party national vice-president L. Ganesan on Friday congratulated the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi, following the election results.

Mr. Ganesan said Mr. Karunanidhi remained resolute during the party's ups and downs and strove hard to gain the victory. The elections in the State by and large went off peacefully. The electioneering witnessed heated discussions among the parties and the people's verdict was clearly in favour of the DMK-led front. Though the DMK did not get a simple majority, it was a matter of comfort that the pre-poll alliance had obtained a majority. — Special Correspondent

Sri Lankan Minister hails DMK victory

CHENNAI: Sri Lankan Minister for Social Services and Social Welfare K.N. Douglas Devananda on Friday lauded the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on the victory of the Democratic Progressive Alliance in the Assembly elections. Mr. Devananda, also the Secretary-General of the Eelam People's Democratic Party, said Tamils in the island-nation also wanted the arrangement as existed in the case of India where there was a coalition Government at the Centre and autonomy in the State. As a first step towards the realisation of this goal, his party was participating in the federal government in Sri Lanka. He hoped that India and the Government led by Mr. Karunanidhi would support the Tamils in safeguarding their rights.

In a separate statement, Suresh K. Premchandran, convener of the Tamil National Alliance and Secretary-General of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, called for full support from Mr. Karunanidhi. — Special Correspondent

Four die as giant wheel collapses

THENI: Four persons including a girl child died and 21 were injured when a giant wheel collapsed during Chithirai festival at Sri Gowmariamman Temple at Veerapandi near here on Thursday night. The dead were Rajendran (45) of Singarajapuram, his daughter Priya (8) and Riyaz (18) of Otthakadai in Madurai and a 50-year-old man. The injured were admitted to the Theni Government Medical College Hospital at Andipatti.

Grand Chithirai festival which began on May 9 would conclude on May 16. — Staff Reporter

Power theft detected

CHENNAI: In a surprise check conducted by the Chennai North Enforcement Squad detected a case of theft of energy by a plastic industry at Korukkupet of Chennai Electricity Distribution Circle/North. The assessment of the loss sustained by the Board on payment of charges by the consumer works out to Rs.17,45,834.

The complaint was lodged at R.K. Nagar police station and the case is being investigated. Information of energy theft can be given to the Executive Engineer/Chennai through 94440 85459, says an official release. — Special Correspondent

New manager for

Singapore Airlines

CHENNAI: Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced the appointment of Bharath Mahadevan as its new Manager for Southern India.

Based in Chennai, Mr. Mahadevan's responsibilities will include overseeing operations, business development, marketing and sales activity for the entire southern region comprising — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Pondicherry.

The SIA operates 47 weekly flights to eight destinations in India. In addition, its subsidiary regional airline, SilkAir, operates 5 flights to Kochi and 4 to Thiruvananthapuram. — Special Correspondent

Youth detained

PERAMBALUR: A 25-year old youth, J. Dhanapal of Therani village near Kunnam was detained under the Goondas Act on Thursday. He was allegedly involved in a few serious cases of intimdation police said. Based on the recommendations of the Superintendent of Police, M. Samuthirapandi, the District Collector, D. Vivekanandan issued the orders for detention under the Act.

Bushes cleared

ARIYALUR: Volunteers of the DMK, led by the Ariyalur Town Secretary, Pon. Pakkiri, cleared the thorny bushes and other vegetation in front of the 'Uzhavar Sandhai' (Farmers' Market) here on Friday, as a mark of their plea to re-open the market to benefit the farmers and members of the public. They also cleaned a hoarding at the entrance of the market inaugurated in 2000. Mr. Pakkiri said the market, spread over a sprawling space in the town, had been put to disuse at the cost of the farmers belonging to the suppressed communities in the vicinity.

Policemen injured

KARUR: A total of 22 policemen, including 18 Central Reserve Police personnel, were injured in a road mishap near here on Thursday.

The personnel along with two other Karur Armed Reserve police and a police head constable from Kulithalai were proceeding to the counting centre at M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering at Thalavapalayam on the Karur-Namakkal road early on Thursday morning when their vehicle turned turtle at Thulipatti.

Two of them suffered grievous injuries while others escaped with minor injuries. All were being treated at a private hospital here. The Superintendent of Police, K. Shankar, visited them at the hospital.

Mettur level

Tiruchi: The water level at the Mettur dam stood at 111.33 feet on Friday. The inflow was 1,470 cusecs and the outflow 2,000 cusecs. — Staff Reporter

Miscreants set fire to house

Tuticorin : Some unidentified persons set fire to a hut at Labour Colony here on Thursday. Based on a complaint lodged by M Karuppasamy, owner of the hut, Thermal Nagar police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Five persons arrested

Tuticorin : Five persons were arrested at Pudur on Thursday for allegedly gambling at a public place.

Murugesan, S Raj, Arumugapandi, Chellapandi and Muthupandi were arrested by a police team led by Sub-Inspector Paul Issac, which it was doing patrol duty in the town. The accused were remanded under Section 12 of Tamil Nadu Gambling Act.

Man assaulted

Tuticorin : The police are on the lookout for Maniraj and four others who had allegedly assaulted Ramalingam (19) at Meignanapuram on Thursday.

The police sources said Maniraj, town secretary of Hindu Front, along with Ponbalan, Muthu, Sriram and Maniram attacked the complainant with a stick, owing to previous enmity. The youth was later admitted to the Tuticorin Government Hospital.

Forgery complaint filed

Tuticorin : The police are on the lookout for Christopher, manager of a co-operative bank at Nazareth, who allegedly encashed money from a customer's savings bank account using forged cheques.

The police said an investigation was launched into the incident on the basis of a complaint from M Ali on Thursday that the accused took away Rs.1,42,000 in toto from his account using two bogus cheques.

Bid to steal cash from woman

Tuticorin : Kamala (35) was caught red-handed while she attempted to take away Rs 5,000 kept inside the handbag of a 65-year-old woman at Kovilpatti on Thursday.

The old woman was about to board a bus at Kovilpatti bus station when the accused tried to steal the cash from her bag.

Collector thanks people, parties

Ramanathapuram : The Collector, K. Sellamuthu, thanked the people and political parties for conducting the elections without any incident.

In a statement, he also thanked officials, candidates, government employees, police, press and others for their support to conduct the elections.

Coolie commits suicide

NAGERCOIL : A coolie allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his house. According to the police, Velmurughan (48) of Konam took this extreme step, owing to family problems. — Staff Reporter

AP policeman dies of heart attack

ERODE: Chandrasekar, a policeman from Andhra Pradesh, died of heart attack while he was on election duty here. According to police, Chandrasekar attached to the Andhra Pradesh Special Police suddenly collapsed at the Institute of Road and Transport Technology Engineering College where counting of votes was held. He was taken to the Government Headquarters Hospital where he died. The Superintendent of Police, Sonal V. Misra, made arrangements to send the body to Andhra Pradesh. Chitode police have registered a case. - Staff Reporter

Consumer

forum meet

ERODE: The Superintending Engineer, TNEB, Erode Electricity Distribution Circle, S. Ramalingam informed on Friday that following instructions from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, a consumer grievance redressal forum has been formed with the Superintending Engineer as its Chairman.

He said the forum would meet on May 15 at the office of the Superintending Engineer at 11 a.m. and receive grievances from the consumers. - Staff Reporter

Two killed in accident

ERODE: Two passengers of a State-owned Transport Corporation Bus were killed in an accident on Thursday night. According to police, the bus proceeding from Theni to Coimbatore dashed against a stationary lorry near Koduvai killing Paulpandi of Theni district and Saraswathy of Tirupur.

Kangeyam police are investigating. - Staff Reporter

Collector thanks people, parties

Ramanathapuram : The Collector, K. Sellamuthu, thanked the people and political parties for having conducting the elections without any incident.

In a statement, he also thanked officials, candidates, government employees, police, press and others for their support in conducting the elections peacefully.

Agricultural grievance day meet

Ramanathapuram : The agricultural grievance day meeting will be held on May 19 at the Collectorate here.

In a statement, the Collector, K. Sellamuthu, said representatives from agriculturists association and public could send their grievances relating to agriculture.

Girl dies as cylinder goes off

TIRUNELVELI : A four-year old girl child was killed when a cooking gas cylinder went off accidentally.

The police said that cooking gas had engulfed the kitchen and other rooms in the house of Ravi (35) of Saattupaththu near Ambasamudram, owing to a suspected leak. When he switched on the light this morning, the cylinder exploded violently, bringing down the roof, in which the inmates were trapped.

While Ravi's daughter, Mahalakshmi was killed on the spot, Ravi and his wife, Vijayalakshmi, who sustained injuries in the mishap, were admitted to a hospital.

Miscreants set fire to house

Tuticorin : Some unidentified persons set fire to a hut at Labour Colony here on Thursday. Based on a complaint lodged by M Karuppasamy, owner of the hut, Thermal Nagar police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Five persons arrested

Tuticorin : Five persons were arrested at Pudur on Thursday for allegedly gambling at a public place.

Murugesan, S Raj, Arumugapandi, Chellapandi and Muthupandi were arrested by a police team led by Sub-Inspector Paul Issac, which it was doing patrol duty in the town. The accused were remanded under Section 12 of Tamil Nadu Gambling Act.

Man assaulted

Tuticorin : The police are on the lookout for Maniraj and four others who had allegedly assaulted Ramalingam (19) at Meignanapuram on Thursday.

The police sources said Maniraj, town secretary of Hindu Front, along with Ponbalan, Muthu, Sriram and Maniram attacked the complainant with a stick, owing to previous enmity. The youth was later admitted to the Tuticorin Government Hospital.

Forgery complaint filed

Tuticorin : The police are on the lookout for Christopher, manager of a co-operative bank at Nazareth, who allegedly encashed money from a customer's savings bank account using forged cheques.

The police said an investigation was launched into the incident on the basis of a complaint from M Ali on Thursday that the accused took away Rs.1,42,000 in toto from his account using two bogus cheques.

Water level

MADURAI : The water level in the Periyar dam stood at 121.20 feet with a discharge of 150 cusecs. The level in the Vaigai dam was 58.83 feet with an inflow of 165 cusecs and a discharge of 241cusecs. The combined Periyar credit stood at 5464 mcft.

Andipatti recorded 14 mm of rainfall followed by Peranai 7.4 mm. — Staff Reporter

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

Stories in this Section

Disappointment, frustration in Congress
Six more getting ready
DMK scored over AIADMK in direct contests too
Make Women Commission a statutory body: AIDWA
Coimbatore will have no representation in Cabinet
DMDK makes its presence felt in Kancheepuram
K. Ponmudi, R.K. Panneerselvam assigned Ministerial berths
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu