Tamil Nadu   

Briefly

Tension over killing of Hindu Munnani leader

TIRUNELVELI: Tension prevailed at Tenkasi and its surroundings on Monday after Tenkasi Town Hindu Munnani president S. Kumar Pandian (36) was murdered by a two-member gang on Sunday night.

When the victim and his friend Sekar were going home shortly after 10 p.m., two armed unidentified persons attacked them near Gemini Lala Corner. While Kumar sustained grievous cut injuries, Sekar managed to escape and informed some persons on Malaiyan Street.

Kumar died on way to the hospital and Sekar, who sustained cuts in the left elbow, is out of danger.

Condemning the killing of the activist and demanding the arrest of culprits behind the attack, a group of people staged road roko on the Ilanji Junction. When the crowd started attacking the shops owned by a particular community, police baton-charged the members.

A close relative of the victim, who was among the protesters, said Mr. Kumar had opposed the renovation of a mosque at Amman Sannithi.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, Kanhu Charan Mahali, and Superintendent of Police N.K. Senthamarai Kannan are camping at Tenkasi. Additional police forces have been deployed. — Staff Reporter

Special reward for police personnel

VILLUPURAM: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has announced a cash reward of Rs. 10,000 to 14 personnel of the Armed Reserve Police who were posted at the Circuit House here to provide the ceremonial guard.

The Chief Minister offered the special reward during his brief stay at the Circuit House on Sunday to launch the second phase of the distribution of free land to landless farmers. — Special Correspondent

Union Cabinet approves Bill

CHENNAI: The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to establish Indian Maritime University in Chennai with campuses in Kolkata, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.

The proposal was mooted by Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu. The university will be set up as a Central university by an Act of Parliament and will be the first of its kind to create world-class facilities to impart advanced education and training and promote research in frontier areas relating to the marine sector.

Three hundred acres of land at Semmanchery in Chennai have been acquired by the Department of Shipping for establishing the university. — Special Correspondent

Shore water security course conducted

CHENNAI: The first shore water security course for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, conducted by the Coast Guard, was inaugurated at the Chennai Port Trust by its Chairman K. Suresh.

The main objective of the programme is to sensitise the participants to the dynamics of marine security, keeping in view the current threat perception.

Boarding operations, survival at sea, marine communications, basic navigation and first aid were among those subjects covered at the programme. — Special Correspondent

Demonstration

TIRUCHI: Members of the Pattali Makkal Katchi staged demonstration here and elsewhere in the district on Monday demanding the implementation of Tamil as official language in State Government offices. The demonstration held near the Collectorate was led by the party's Poompuhar Assembly segment MLA, Periasamy. Demonstrations were also held at Lalgudi, Musiri and Thottiyam.

Welfare aid

TIRUCHI: The Transport Minister K.N. Nehru distributed welfare assistance to the tune of Rs. 18.77 lakh to 408 beneficiaries at a function at Lalgudi on Sunday.

The assistance was distributed under the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Marriage Assistance Scheme, Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme and E.V.R. Maniammaiyar Widow's Daughter Marriage Assistance Scheme.

Mr. Nehru said the DMK Government was implementing the poll promises in a phased manner. District administration officials and local body representatives participated.

Mettur level

TIRUCHI: The water level in the Mettur dam stood at 109.46 feet against its full level of 120 feet on Monday. The inflow was 3,504 and the discharge, 12,000 cusecs. - Staff Reporter

PMK stages demonstration

Nagercoil: The activists of Pattali Makkal Katchi staged a demonstration in front of the collectorate to urge the Government to declare Tamil as the official language on Monday.

The State deputy secretary, Isiyasmisa, led the agitation.

Two commit suicide

SIVAGANGA: Two persons of a family committed suicide by consuming poison on Monday.

Sources said Aravindadasan (34) and Sabaridasan (31), sons of Muhundarajan of Kottakudi, took the extreme step due to a family dispute.

Madurai-Pollachi special train

MADURAI: The Southern Railway will operate special trains between Madurai and Pollachi on December 19 and 20 to clear rush of pilgrims attending the Mariamman Temple festival near Pollachi.

According to a Southern Railway press release, the Madurai-Pollachi passenger special will leave Madurai at 11.45 p.m. on December 19 and reach Pollachi at 5 a.m., the next day.

The Pollachi-Madurai passenger special will leave Pollachi at 11.15 a.m. on December 20 to reach Madurai at 4.15 p.m.

The specials will stop at Sholavandan, Kodaikanal Road, Ambathurai, Dindigul, Oddanchatram, Palani, Maivadi Road and Udumalpet.

They will have 8 general second class coaches and one general second class-cum-parcel van. — Staff Reporter

Man killed

ERODE: One person was killed, and two injured in a road accident on Sunday. According to the police, Venkatachalam (42), a powerloom owner from Kavundichipudur near Dharapuram, along with Chandrasekaran (41), a constable attached to Perundurai station and Eswaran (45), working at the judiciary, was on his way to Dharapuram bus stand on his motorcycle, when their vehicle collided with a lorry. Venkatachalam was killed on the spot. The others were removed to the Erode Government Headquarters Hospital. — Staff Reporter

PHC upgrade

ERODE: Vellakoil Primary Health Centre (PHC) will be upgraded into a government hospital by January, said Highways and Ports Minister Vellakoil M.P. Saminathan on Sunday. Inaugurating the scan facility at the PHC, the Minister said that necessary bed strength would be provided, and doctors posted. Water supply and road facilities were given importance. Former minister Durai Ramasamy and Project Officer of DRDA R. Rajashree spoke.

— Staff Reporter

24 injured in accident

Krishnagiri: Twenty-four persons were injured when the Government bus in which they were travelling lost control and fell into a riverbed at Uthangkarai, 45 km from here, on Monday. According to the police, the bus was on the way to Salem when the incident took place. The injured were admitted to the Uthangkarai Government Hospital. - Staff Reporter

Arrested

SALEM : Police arrested four persons, including two women, on charges of selling illicit liquor near Omlaur recently.

A team of police personnel, while conducting raids in Thekkampatti and Vannanpet villages, found four persons selling illicit liquor and arrested them. Police registered cases.

- Staff Reporter

Court boycott

SALEM : Lawyers in the district boycotted the courts on Monday condemning the suspension of judicial officers in Tirunelveli and the alleged assault of a lawyer in Coimbatore. Court proceedings were affected. The lawyers said that they would boycott the court on December 19 also.

- Staff Reporter

Inspection

SALEM: A team of officials from the Salem Electricity Distribution Circle, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), inspected 1,098 electricity connections in houses and commercials establishments recently.

The team visited Kattukottaipudhur, Vadachennimalai, Kattukottai, Sadhasivapuram and Ammampalayam areas and found violation of rules and metre defects in nine connections. They collected Rs. 1,356 as fine from the consumers, a release said.

- Staff Reporter

Allotted

Krishnagiri: The State Government has allotted Rs. 3.26 crore under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development scheme to upgrade, repair and lay new roads in Krishnagiri district, said the Project Officer of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), J. Sampath, here on Monday.

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

Stories in this Section

Tamil Nadu, Kerala stick to stated positions on dam issue
Take speedy measures to make Tamil official language: Ramadoss
CITU seeks more funds for welfare boards
Vaiko charges Karunanidhi with "betraying" Tamils
Kalam jogs, jokes and sings
Santhi's father to seek Karunanidhi's help to get back medal
PMK stages demonstrations
"Karunanidhi will decide"
CPI (M) plea to Government
Optical illusion
Breathing life
Sharing the load
Give the disabled a chance, Chidambaram urges the corporate sector
Briefly

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