Tamil Nadu   

Briefly

Banking hours extended

CHENNAI: The Public Accounts Department of the Reserve Bank of India and branches of agency banks collecting taxes will suitably extend banking hours from March 26 to 31.

An RBI release said this would help conduct government business and also facilitate receipt of taxes from members of the public. Though March 31 had been declared a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act in Tamil Nadu, the Regional office of the RBI and branches of agency banks conducting government business would keep their counters open, the release added. — Staff Reporter

Serial killer detained

VILLUPURAM: The Villupuram police on Tuesday detained alleged serial killer M. Ramesh of Pillur in Uludurpet block under the Goondas Act. He was later taken to the Cuddalore Central Prison.

Ramesh had allegedly killed eight women and outraged the modesty of many more. He indulged in nefarious activities in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts and Karnataka. — Special Correspondent

Detonators seized, two arrested

NAGERCOIL: The police arrested two persons and seized 500 detonators on Tuesday. According to police sources, during a vehicle check at Alambarai near Parvathipuram, a motorcyclist ignored a signal to stop. The police chased the vehicle and arrested the motorcyclist and the pillion rider and seized 500 detonators from them During investigation it was found that the detonators were for use at quarry sites. — Staff Reporter

Teacher's death sparks tension

PUDUKOTTAI: Tension gripped coastal villages in and around Meemisal on Tuesday, when a group of people resorted to a `road roko' at Kasiar Madam following the death of a teacher. Normalcy was restored after the police held talks and promised action. The Inspector of Police attached to Manamelkudi station and a constable who took the teacher for interrogation were suspended.

According to the police, Henry Aruldas, a secondary grade teacher of Government High School at Perumarudhoor, was interrogated for failing to repay a loan he had taken a few years ago from Draviyam of Ollanoor village. Aruldas is said to have developed breathing trouble at the police station and was rushed to a private clinic at Meemisal and from there to the Government Hospital at Manamelkudi. Alleging harassment, Mr. Aruldas's relatives said mystery shrouded his death. — Staff Reporter

Train detained

KRISHNAGIRI: The Trivandrum-New Delhi Kerala Express was detained for five hours at the Samalpatti railway station early on Tuesday after it entered a loop line and travelled about 100 metres. According to Railway sources, when the train entered the station at 12.50 a.m. the Station Master alerted the driver with a slow-speed memo due to reported signal failure at the next station. With the manual shifting of track not done, the train entered the parallel loop line. This cut off the power supply to the train.

A spare locomotive was brought from Jolarpet to restore the train to its original track. Five trains on the Salem-Jolarpet section were detained at various stations. — Staff Reporter

BJP cadres stage demonstration

RAMANATHAPURAM: Cadres of Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday staged a demonstration at Thittakudi junction in Rameswaram demanding the State and Central Government to stop the dredging work at Adam's Bridge (Ramar Bridge). H. Raja, vice president, BJP, led the protest and national council member Muralidharan participated.

Woman found murdered

VIRUDHUNAGAR: P. Karuppayee (50), a cattle-herder, was found murdered in a secluded place near Kariyapatti on Tuesday.

The police said the cattle-herder of Achampatti did not return after work on Monday evening. When people went in search of her, she was found dead.

Driver dies in accident

VIRUDHUNAGAR: G. Rajendran (35), a truck driver, was killed when his vehicle hit a roadside tree at Kumaralingapuram, near here on Tuesday. The police said the driver lost control of the vehicle when it was proceeding towards Sivakasi at around 5.30 a.m.

Paddy procurement

RAMANATHAPURAM: Paddy to the tune of Rs.1.2 crore has been procured from farmers, according to the Collector, R. Kirlosh Kumar. He said nine direct procurement centres including Ramanathapuram, Thiruvadanai, Paramakudi and Mudukulathur, were functioning in the district. So far, 1851 tonnes of paddy had been procured.

Mother, child charred to death

SIVAGANGA: A mother and her child were charred to death at E. Valayapatty under Thirukoshtiyur police station limits on Monday. Sources said Abbas, son of Ibrahim, reportedly set fire to his house after locking his wife, Rajitha Begum (20), and his two-month-old child, Mohamed Ajith. Both died on the spot.

Water level

MADURAI: The water level in the Periyar dam stood at 109 feet (136 feet) with no inflow and discharge. The level in the Vaigai dam was 31.23 feet (71 feet) with no inflow and a discharge of 41 cusecs. The combined Periyar credit stood at 824 mcft. — Staff Reporter

Walkers' Club

Udhagamandalam: There

is a move to form a Walkers' Club here, according to the Joint Director of Horticulture,

R. Selvaraj.

In a press note issued here on Thursday, he said that the

objective is to educate the public about the benefits of physical exercise particularly walking.

It is also proposed to issue identity cards to the local residents who want to regularly go for walks inside the Government Botanical Garden and the Rose Garden here.

- Special Correspondent

Small savings collection

UDUMALPET: More than Rs.40 lakh deposits were made on small savings during the special camp recently organised at the Udumalpet Head Post Office, here.

Black Development Officers P. Kalaimani (Udumalpet),

Jayakumar (Madathukulam) and Shesachalam (Gudimangalam) distributed prizes

to small savings

agents for organising investors from 150 villages to made investment on savings.

- Staff Reporter

NAAC team to visit college today

PERAMBALUR : The peer team of National Assessment and Accreditation Council

will assess Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Arts and Science for Women on March 28 and 29 for accreditation.

The former Vice-Chancellor of Mysore Univesity, M. Madaiah, the Principal of Maris Stella College, Vijaywada, Sr. Thresiamma, and the former Principal of Sree Narayana College, Kollam, R. Jayaprakash, would comprise the team, a press release from the college said on Tuesday.

Jewels stolen

TIRUCHI: The Gandhi Market police registered a case following a complaint from a woman stating that unknown persons reportedly stole 10 sovereign gold jewellery from her handbag while she was travelling in a city bus on Sunday evening. Kalaiselvi was travelling in a bus to Chathiram bus stand from Varaganeri.

Boy rescued

TIRUCHI: The Childline on Monday rescued a 14-year-old, who had run away from his home at Avinashi in Coimbatore district. Muthukumar left home after his mother scolded him. The boy was found at the Central bus stand by a police constable.

In another incident, the Childline rescued Indu (10) who was found at Manthurai near Lalgudi.

Mettur level

TIRUCHI : The level in the Mettur dam stood at 79.08 feet against its full level of 120 feet on Tuesday. The inflow was 1,319 cusecs and the discharge from the dam was 1,700 cusecs. — Staff Reporter

State Government thanked

Erode: Erode Handloom Cloth Merchants' Association has thanked the Tamil Nadu Government for removing the four per cent tax applicable on pillow covers, bed sheets and towels in the budget.

In a release, the members said the move would go a long way in helping the weavers, sellers and others involved in the trade.

- Staff Reporter

Honoured

Erode: Santhi Duraisamy of Sakthi Masala was recently honoured at a function organised to recognise women who have succeeded after starting from scratch, a release from the condiments major said. The award was in recognition of the quality of the product, honest trade practices and the company's social responsibility, it added. The award was presented by actor Vivek in Chennai.

- Staff Reporter

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