The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Briefly

Assembly meets on January 31

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 19 . The Assembly will meet on January 31 with an address by the Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala. It will be his first address to the Tamil Nadu legislature.

The notification was issued today.

It is expected that the schedule of the session will be drawn up at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee after the Governor's address.

Veerappan statue missing

By Our Special Correspondent

METTUR JAN. 19 . The mud statue of the slain brigand Veerappan, erected near his grave at Moolakkadu two days ago, was found missing today.

The surprise installation of the three-foot-high statue attracted a string of visitors from nearby villages. The police could not trace those who were behind the installation. Its sudden disappearance surprised the police and the people. Further investigation was on.

`Fill vacancies in High Court'

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 19. G. Rajendran, president, Madras High Court Practising Advocates Association, met the Chief Justice of India, R.C. Lahoti, on Tuesday and appealed to him to expedite filling the vacancies of judges in the Madras High Court.

Mr. Rajendran submitted a memorandum, requesting him not to consider the names of those advocates who had political affiliations. "No advocate who is a member or having attachment with any party is to be appointed as a judge". He suggested that the Central Bureau of Investigation be instructed to enquire into the involvement of any advocate having political connections or attachment.

Mr. Rajendran told The Hindu that the CJI asked him to make a similar representation to the High Court Chief Justice, Markandeya Katju, and he would do so next week.

Homage to Ismail

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 19 . There was a Full Court reference by the Chief Justice, Markandey Katju, today touching the demise of the former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, M.M. Ismail.

A one- minute silence was observed.

Murder sparks tension

By Our Staff Reporter

PARAMAKUDI JAN. 19 . Tension prevailed here this evening after a person belonging to a Dalit community was murdered.

Sources said a group attacked Vasantharajan (38), son of Poolan, a civil engineer, with deadly weapons, when he was trying to kick-start his motor vehicle at Five-point Junction. He died on the spot. All shops and business establishment in and around the area downed shutters. A police contingent was sent to Paramakudi.

The Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Dass, said the situation was under control.

`Reality Behind Religion'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI JAN. 19 . The Krishnaswamy Associates has produced a 28-minute programme on communal harmony, `Reality Behind Religion' and dedicated it to the memory of M.S. Subbulakshmi.

The programme, which features three songs she specially rendered, is to be telecast on DD-Bharati channel at 9.30 p.m. on January 21. It begins with a folk tale and includes interviews with the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Swami Ranganathananda, president of the Ramakrishna Mission, Acharya Tulsi and the Chief Kazi of Tamil Nadu, Mohammed Ayub, emphasising the importance of inter-religious harmony. The programme is directed by S. Krishnaswamy and produced by Mohana Krishnaswamy.

Council reconstituted

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 19 . The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has reconstituted the executive council of the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur.

While the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports will be the president, the Department Secretary will be the ex-officio vice-president. C.R. Kesavan of Tamil Nadu has been appointed another vice-president.

The members of the council include the Union Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, G.K.Vasan, and the Congress spokesperson, Jayanthi Natarajan.

Relief fund nets Rs. 107.66 cr

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI JAN. 19. The Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's appeal to people for contributions to the CM's Pubilc Relief Fund has so far netted Rs. 107.66 crores.

Today's contributors included the Education department and the Text Book Society, which together offered Rs. 5.69 crores, and the Indian Officers Association.

An official release said the appeal attracted responses from all quarters and several personalities contributed generously. Among the contributors were the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Chief Ministers of different States in India, political leaders, industrialists, government employees, educational institutions and film artistes.

Fisherman commits suicide

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JAN. 19 . A fisherman of the Vananmahadevi fishermen colony in this district, committed suicide in the backyard of his hut last night.

The police said Thangasamy (50) was said to be upset over the damage caused by the tsunami strike to his hut, boat and fishing net.

Youths injured in jallikattu

By Our Staff Reporter

Thanjavur Jan.19 . A few youths suffered minor injuries in the jallikattu held in connection with the Pongal festival at Mathakottai near here today.

Nearly 200 bulls from various villages and districts participated in the event and hundreds of people witnessed the event.

Jallikattu is held every year at Mathakottai, Thirukanurpatti and Reddy Palayam. Temple bulls also participated in the jallikattu.

House burgled

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JAN.19. The house of S. Panneerselvam, retired Deputy Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department here, was burgled recently.

According to the complaint filed with the Velipalayam police, the burglary took place when the inmates were away and thieves had decamped with 40 sovereign jewels, one kg of silver articles and Rs.65,000.

Rice seized

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI JAN.19 . The police yesterday seized 260 bags of rice that was being illegally transported to Karnataka from Thiruthuraipoondi.

The lorry driver Mathiazhagan (47) and cleaner Viji (20), both from Thanjavur, were arrested and handed over to the Civil Supplies CID personnel.

The police were checking vehicles at the check post near Kattur in the wee hours when they found a lorry carrying rice bags.

It was found that the rice, meant for the food-for-work programme, had been sold to private traders.

Grievance day

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JAN.19. The district administration has decided to hold a meeting on the fourth Friday of every month to hear the grievances of fishermen, said the Collector, J. Radhakrishnan, here today.

He asked the fishermen and their representatives to air their grievances at the meeting.

Tsunami relief

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGAPATTINAM JAN.19. The Nagapattinam District Retired Officials Association has urged the Government to provide free concrete houses to fishermen.

At an emergency meeting held here under the chairmanship of the president, K.Ananthanatarajan, a resolution was passed requesting the Government to construct retaining wall along the coast to prevent attack of tsunami in future.

Another resolution wanted the Government to provide relief to the tsunami-affected families. They also paid homage to those killed in the tsunami.

16 injured

By Our Staff Reporter

Tiruchi Jan. 19 . As many as 16 persons including eight woman sustained injuries when the mini-auto in which they were travelling suddenly capsized at Vairampatti village in the district on Monday. The auto passengers were proceeding to Sokkampatti when the vehicle capsized after the driver applied a sudden brake. The Valanadu police have registered a case.

Mettur level

By Our Staff Reporter

Tiruchi Jan. 19 . The water level at the Mettur reservoir stood at 64.53 feet today.

The inflow was 253 cusecs and the discharge 8954 cusecs .

Recovered

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE JAN. 19 . The Erode Town Crime Police recovered stolen jewels estimated around Rs. two lakhs and vehicles from a person. According to police, Gulam Babu of Coimbatore confessed that that he stole two wheelers and jewels in Erode, Pollachi, Thudiyalure and Chitode. Five motorcycles, gold and silver jewels and a CD player were also recovered from him. He has been arrested and remanded to custody for 15 days.

Medicines stolen

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE JAN. 19. Medicines worth Rs. 5 lakhs were stolen from a pharmacy at Thillainagar in Erode. According to police, similar thefts were also made at wholesale shop in Thillainagar and Kamaraj road. The police have registered a case and are investigating. A special squad has also been formed to nab the culprits.

Compensation

By Our Staff Reporter

Erode Jan. 19. The Principal of Cherraan's Arts Science College, Kangeyan, said that the college, having a tie-up with the United India Insurance, was paying premium for the students under the Group Insurance scheme. In case of any accident to the student, the firm would pay the insurance amount to the legal heir of the student. Some days ago, T. Vijayan, a Second B.Com (CA) student, met with an accident and sustained injuries, for which the firm granted Rs. 10.000 to the student. His father received the amount recently.

Two arrested

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN. 19. The police today arrested one Chellapandi and Shamsuddin, on the charge of stealing cattle at Kovilpatti on Jan 14.

The arrest was made on the basis of a complaint filed by Natarajan, that three of his goats were was missing from his farm at Bose Nagar, falling under Kovilpatti West police station limits, since January 14.

Search for three

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN.19. A 67-year-old man was assaulted by three persons at Pudukottai yesterday.

Police sources said Lakshmanan was attacked with an iron rod by Sivakumar ( 28), Alphones (48) and Ramkumar (24), due to previous enmity. The victim was admitted to a hospital with injuries.

Pudukotti police are on the look out for the trio.

SHRC member visit

By Our Staff Reporter

TUTICORIN JAN. 19. Justice S. Thangaraj, Member, State Human Rights Commission, on his one-day visit here, visited the tsunami-affected areas in the district on Monday.

According to police sources, he reviewed relief operation carried out by the district administration in Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Periyathalai and Manapadu areas, which were badly affected by the December 26-tsunami, and interacted with the victims.

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

Tamil Nadu