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Monday, Nov 08, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

`Kalam murder' pranksters held

Pondicherry Nov. 7. Two students of a private engineering college here were arrested today for sending a message that the `President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would be murdered' during his recent visit to Pondicherry.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sunil Garg, told newsmen here that the communication said: "Abdul Kalam will be murdered at Kamban Kalai Arangam. Save him if you can." The message on a piece of paper was found in the courtyard of the house of a Superintendent of Police, along with a battery, a pen cover and a cassette in a parcel, on November 1 morning. (Later in the day the President addressed the Pondicherry Assembly.)

The SSP said investigation by the local police, Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing turned up no link between the students and any terrorist group. A case under Sections 506 (II) (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code has been booked against the students.

3,000 litres of arrack seized

Krishnagiri Nov. 7. The Prohibition Enforcement Wing seized 3,000 litres of illicit distilled arrack, worth Rs. 1.50 lakhs, which was being smuggled in a lorry to Salem in Hosur yesterday. According to the police, a team conducting vehicle checks on the Hosur-Hudco road intercepted the lorry and seized the arrack. Three persons were arrested.

2 die as bus hits two-wheeler

VELLORE Nov.7. Two persons travelling on a two-wheeler were killed when a Vellore-bound Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus hit their vehicle on Chennai-Bangalore National Highway at Karugambuthur near here today.

According to the police, E. Viji alias Vijayakumar (41) of Kazhinjur was driving the two-wheeler while M. Settu (59) of the same area was on the pillion. They were proceeding to Anaicut to the house of Settu's daughter when the accident occurred. While Settu died on the spot Viji died on way to hospital.

Two killed in wall collapse

By Our Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM Nov. 7. A newborn baby and a seven-year-old boy died in wall collapse at two different places in Villupuram district.

Ilangovan, a farmer, his wife, Lakshmi, daughter Ilavarasi and Poongavanam (born three days ago), were sleeping in their house at Pilrampattu near Tirukkoilur, when the wall collapsed. The infant was caught beneath the rubble and died on the spot. Ms. Lakshmi and Ilavarasi, who sustained injuries, were admitted to the Tirukkoilur government hospital.

In another incident, Gerald Raj (7), and his mother, Margaret, were caught beneath the wall that collapsed this morning. The boy was standing by the side of his mother while she was washing clothes outside their house at Melanthangal Pudur near Ginjee. The boy died instantaneously. Ms. Margaret has been admitted to hospital.

Protest against train timings

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 7. Malayalees in the city and suburbs staged a hunger-strike today to demand restoration of the old timings for the Chennai Central-Mangalore West Coast express. The train, which was upgraded as a superfast and operated from Chennai at 5 p.m. from September 1, was rescheduled to leave at its earlier time — 11 a.m. recently.

"It was after a struggle of over 25 years that we managed to get the departure shifted from 11 a.m. After that the Railways arbitrarily changed the time," charged K.V. Nair, chairman, Confederation of Marunadan Malayalee Associations (CTMA). "The Railways earned an additional revenue of Rs. 32 lakhs in one month after the timings was changed to 5 p.m.," claimed the World Malayalee Council (WMC) general secretary, A.V. Anoop. The committee claimed that there were over six lakh Malayalees in and around Chennai. The committee would continue their struggle till the departure time was changed to 5 p.m. Keralite associations have submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu.

`Hi-Speed Diesel' launched

CHENNAI NOV. 7. The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited launched `Hi-Speed Diesel,' a branded fuel with a multifunctional additive, in Chennai on Saturday.

Priced 60 paise more than the regular diesel, the fuel promises to improve the performance by removing harmful deposits from fuel metering systems and components of the vehicles. It will be dispensed at 12 petrol pumps of the oil company in and around the city.

Launching `Hi-Speed Diesel,' S. Radhakrishnan, director-Marketing of BPCL, said the fuel was environment and engine-friendly. He said discerning customers would change over to the fuel as it offered `value for money.'

S. Varadarajan, general manager-Retail (South), said BPCL was always in the forefront in terms of delivering value-added products at its retail outlets. Nine hundred petrol pumps of the company in the southern region were certified under the `Pure for Sure' programme. V. Nagarajan, territory manager, said the emphasis of the company was on constantly upgrading customer service.

Rain in Nagapattinam

NAGAPATTINAM NOV.7. Several parts of Nagapattinam district experienced moderate rain last night with Kollidam recording the highest rainfall of 62 mm in the last 24 hours till 8.30 this morning.

Water started receding from submerged paddy crops in some parts of Sirkazhi and Nagapattinam taluks but thousands of acres of crops were still under water in many places in the district.

The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in important stations in the delta (in millimetres): Nannilam 20, Mayiladuturai 25, Manalmedu 15, Sirkazhi 26, Nagapattinam 23, Muthupettai 32, Peravuruni 36, Orathanadu 10 and Pattukottai 50. Thanjavur, Papanasam and a few other places received below 10 mm rainfall.

Perambalur

Perambalur and nearby areas experienced moderate to sharp showers today.

For the 24 hours ended at 8 a.m. today, Chettikulam and Venbavur recorded 10 mm of rain each followed by Sendurai 9.7 mm, Thazhuthalai 9 mm, Jayamkondam and Ariyalur 5 mm each. Padalur and Tirumanur received slight showers.

Crops inspected

Thanjavur Nov.7. The Minister for Environment and Forests, R. Vaidyalingam, visited Tiruvarur district on Saturday and saw crops submerged due to floods at various places.

He saw submerged crops at Savalakaran, Vakaranallur, Vadapathimangalam, Harishcandrapuram, Sithiraiyur and Mavur villages in Mannargudi area. The Tiruvarur Collector, P.Ekambaram, and the MP, R.Kamaraj, accompanied the minister during his tour. He advised officials to take up relief works quickly.

Thrown open

to traffic

Thanjavur Nov.7 . Construction of a bridge across the Jambucauvery river on Thanjavur-Kumbakonam Road was completed and thrown open to traffic from Saturday, says the Collector, J. Radhakrishnan.

With this bridge, construction of eight bridges was taken up at a cost of Rs.4.7 crores in this district, he said in a press release issued here today.

Mettur level

Tiruchi Nov.7. The water level at the Mettur reservoir stood at 95.35 feet today. The inflow was 7,090 cusecs and the discharge 100 cusecs.

Heavy rain

Dharmapuri Nov. 7 . Heavy rain lashed Dharmapuri for the second consecutive day today with Dharmapuri town recording a high of 42 mm. The average rainfall recorded in other areas in the past 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday is(in mm): Collectorate-21, Palacode-22, Harur-33, Pappireddipatti-9 and Pennagaram-4. The level of the Panchapalli reservoir is 48 ft against the full level of 52 ft. The average rainfall recorded in Krishnagiri is(in mm): Bengondapuram-31, Barur-20, Krishnagiri-15, Nedungal-14, Rayakottai-16, Uthangarai-13, Denkanikottai-12 & Tali-8.

Appeal

ERODE NOV. 7 . Graduate and Secondary Grade Teachers, appointed in Higher Secondary and High Schools three months back have demanded that the Government sanction their consolidated salaries for these months immediately. In a memorandum, they said that the Director of Education had appointed them after the Teacher's Recruitment Board Examination.

Fined

ERODE NOV. 7 . Three lorry-loads of sand quarried illicitly were seized and Rs. 75,000 collected as fine by the Revenue Divisional Officer on Saturday. Based on a complaint that sand was being quarried from River Amaravathy in Mulayampoondi, Nandavanampalayam and Dharapaurampudur, the officer, Venkata Priya conducted checks here.

Programme

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM NOV. 7. The Commissionarate of Central Excise, observed a weeklong `Vigilance awareness' recently. The Principal District and Sessions Judge, A. J. Muruganandham, was the chief guest. The Commissioner of Central Excise, S. Rajkumar, spoke on `Various avenues for redressal of grievances/complains and complaint handling policy of the department'. The Commissioner (Appeals), Salem, S. Ramesh delivered the keynote address. The Joint Commissioner, G. Gandhidoss, welcomed.

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