The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 13, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Contributions keep pouring in

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 12 . Contributions to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund continue to pour in from Ministers, administrators, industrialists, legislators and film artistes.

On behalf of organisations under the Food and Cooperation department, the Minister, Pollachi S. Jayaraman, presented a cheque for Rs. 11.18 crores to the Chief Minister.

The Coimbatore Collector, S. Kosalaraman, gave a cheque for Rs. 1.17 crores, mobilised from the public. A. Krishnamoorthy, vice-chairman, Amalgamation Private Limited, and R. Venkatesan, Registrar (administration), Madras High Court, presented cheques for Rs. 50 lakhs and Rs. 40.20 lakhs. M.M. Hashim, M. Rafeeque Ahmed and three other leather industrialists contributed Rs. 72.75 lakhs.

Germany offers help

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN.11. The German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, has said his country is ready to support rehabilitation of the tsunami-affected people.

In a message to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, he said, "We have been profoundly shocked by the news of the quake in the Indian Ocean that has wreaked such a terrible devastation upon the State of Tamil Nadu."

"In the face of this appalling disaster, permit me to offer your Government and the people of Tamil Nadu our deepest sympathy. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. To all the injured, we wish a speedy recovery", he said.

Mr.Fischer said, "Germany stands ready to support our partners in responding to this grave crisis. Our Consul-General in Chennai will contact your Government immediately." The message was sent through the Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Chennai, according to a release.

`Don't reduce age limit'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 12 . The recommendation of a government committee to reduce the upper age limit for appearing in the All-India Civil Service examinations will be a "serious handicap" to students belonging to the weaker sections, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary, Vaiko, has said.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was released to the press, he said the OBC and SC/ST students would be affected, if the recommendation was accepted. "The procedure adopted for the Civil Services Examinations is normally extended to the All-India Bank Examinations and other State Services examinations. Any reduction in the age limit for the Civil Service examination would be followed by other organisations," he said.

Meagre flow into Mettur dam

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JAN.12 . The Mettur dam received 175 cusecs this evening. The level stood at 71.69 feet (full level 120 feet), with a discharge of 9,393 cusecs for Cauvery delta irrigation. The storage was 34.16 tmcft (full capacity 93.4 tmcft).

From the Grand Anicut, the Cauvery river system is getting 6,535 cusecs for irrigation under the turn system. The Vennar, the Grand Anicut Canal and the Coleroon were getting 200, 1,804 and 962.

BJP, VHP volunteers held

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 12 . Fifty volunteers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Hindu Munnani were arrested here today for

trying to stage an agitation defying a regulatory order.

Those arrested included C.P. Radhakrishnan, BJP State president, and D. Durai Shankar, Chennai president of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Protesting the arrest of the junior Acharya of the Kanchi Mutt, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, in the Sankararaman murder case, volunteers of various organisations planned a demonstration near the Panagal Buildings, Saidapet. But the police denied permission. They were arrested when they assembled, the police said.

The former Union Ministers, Sushma Swaraj, S.Thirunavukkarasar and Bandaru Dattatreya, and H. Raja, MLA, called on the arrested.

Mrs. Swaraj later visited Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi at the central jail here.

Short-term engineering courses

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI JAN. 12 . The Advanced Training Institute at Guindy here will introduce intensive short-term hi-tech engineering evening courses from February 7.

The two-week courses, covering various specialities, will be conducted for three hours from 6 p.m. They are aimed at enabling those employed to hone their skills. Others can also enrol. Candidates could register, paying a weekly fee of Rs.365 at the Institute office on the CTI Campus, Guindy, between 9.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Contact: 22341211-22345252.

Four held in assault case

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN. 12.Four persons were arrested today on a charge of assaulting a 22-year-old youth near the fishing harbour here on Tuesday.

Police said due to previous enmity, Terence, Bosco, Antonysamy and Viji attacked Jagadeesh with a knife, inflicting injuries.

Murdered

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN. 12. Lingasamy (30) was found murdered in an isolated area near Thattaparai today.

Police said a case had been registered and investigations were on.

Valuables stolen

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN. 12. Unidentified persons broke open a shop at Koppampatti during the wee hours of Tuesday and decamped with cash and valuables kept inside it.

Police said a watch, half-sovereign gold chain and Rs. 10,649 in cash were found missing from the shop.

Koppampatti police are investigating.

Search for duo

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN. 12. The police are on the look out for John Britto and Rajan for allegedly attacking one Marimuthu here on January 10.

According to police sources, the duo demanded money from Marimuthu at Thalamuthu Nagar and when he refused to budge, they attacked him with a sickle.

Marimuthu was admitted to the Government Hospital here.

Demonstration

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN. 12. Members of various political parties staged a demonstration at Kayalpattinam to protest the merger of sub-registrar office there with the Tiruchendur office.

Police said 55 members of Tamil Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, 30 of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, 10 belonging to Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and five from the Congress, took part in the agitation.

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