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Tamil Nadu
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Held for `blackmailing'
Tirunelveli Sept. 8. The Palayamkottai police have arrested two persons on charges of blackmailing a ruling party functionary.
The petitioner, A.R. Rajaselvam, former Tirunelveli city secretary of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, said I. Asir Kovil Pitchai (61) of Anna Nagar and S. Murugan (40) of Vallanaadu in Tuticorin district came to his residence recently with an `affidavit' to be filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
The document, besides having the name of Mr. Rajaselvam, contained the names of a State Minister from a southern district, a judge, a public prosecutor and some other AIADMK VIPs, allegedly having `close relationship' with Jayalakshmi (32) of Madurai. The duo reportedly demanded Rs. 2 lakhs to delete his name from the `affidavit'.
Mr. Rajaselvam filed a case with the Palayamkottai police, which arrested Asir Kovil Pitchai and Murugan. A hunt is on to nab Rajamani, Ananthappan and Chandran, all hailing from Palayamkottai.
Jayalakshmi alleged before the Bench that several police officers sexually exploited, cheated and wrongful confined her.
Dharna supporting detenus
New Delhi Sept. 8. Activists from democratic students and workers organisations held a dharna in front of the Tamil Nadu House here in support of the POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) detenus in Tamil Nadu prisons who are on a hunger-strike since August 26.
The activists also demanded their immediate release.
In a memorandum to the Governor through the Resident Commissioner, the activists sought his immediate intervention to save the lives of the 10 prisoners.
Representatives from the All-India People's Resistance Forum, the Democratic Students Union, the Forum for Democratic Initiative, the Indian Centre for Trade Union, the People's Union for Democratic Rights and the Struggling Forum for People's Resistance took part in the protest.
New Vice-Chancellor
CHENNAI Sept. 8. Nainar Balaraman, Joint Director (Research) in the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, is the new Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS).
A Raj Bhavan release said the Governor and Chancellor of TANUVAS, P. Ramamohan Rao, has appointed Dr. Balaraman for three years from the date of his assuming office.
Born on October 15, 1944 in Salem, Dr. Balaraman graduated from the Madras Veterinary College with a B.V.Sc in 1966. He took his M.V.Sc with speciality in Animal Nutrition in 1972. He later took his Ph.D from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in the same speciality.
He worked in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University for three years in the Animal Husbandry department before moving to the Indian Council for Agricultural Research where he took to research and extension work in the North East and Sikkim under the integrated crop and livestock management programmes.
Winner of several awards including the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award in 1991, Dr. Balaraman has also worked in several parts of Tamil Nadu in crop and livestock management projects. For about three months in 2002, Dr. Balaraman was acting Director of the NDRI.
Talking to The Hindu from Karnal, Dr. Balaraman said he hoped to come to Chennai in another three days to take up the post.
Tamil essay competition
CHENNAI SEPT. 8. Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt Hindu Mission has announced a seventh essay competition in Tamil on to the theme that temples in Tamil Nadu and Tamils are being fostered by Tamil religious books. The literature research essays, accompanied by proof, should be either typewritten or in legible handwriting running into a minimum of 20 pages and a maximum of 40 pages. There is no age limit for participation.
The first, second and third prizes would be given for the entries. Special prizes would be awarded to Dalits and those belonging to Backward Classes. The entries should be sent to the Secretary, Hindu Mission, Sankara Bhavanam, 1076, 19th Main Road, Annanagar West, Chennai-600 040, phone: 26183704. The last date for sending the entries is October 30, according to a release from Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, head of the mutt.
Halts at more stations
CHENNAI SEPT. 8. Beginning today, several express trains passing through Tamil Nadu will stop in additional stations in view of demands from rail users, passenger associations and elected representatives.
In a statement here yesterday, the Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, said the Chennai Egmore-Trivandram-Chennai Egmore Anathapuri Express (6123/6124) would stop at Tindivanam for a minute both ways, while the Tuticorin-Chennai Egmore Pearl City Express (6704) would also halt at the station. The Chennai Beach-Tiruttani-Chennai Beach EMU trains (183/182) would stop at Mosur henceforth.
Conceding to industrialists' demands, the following trains would stop at Tirupur both ways for five minutes for parcel loading: Allepey-Dhanbad/Tatanagar-Allepey Express (3351/3352), Thiruvananthapuram-Mumbai CST-Thiruvananthapuram Express (6331/6332), Coimbatore-Hazrat Nizamuddin-Coimbatore Kongu Express (2647/2648), Coimbatore-Rajkot-Coimbatore Express (6613/6614) and Thiruvananthapuram-Howrah-Thiruvananthapuram Express (6323/6324).
Demonstration
PERAMBALUR SEPT. 8 .
Members of the Perambalur district wing of the Tamizh Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the Communist Party of India, staged a demonstration here on Tuesday.
They raised slogans urging the Central Government to take steps for implementing the interim award of the tribunal and protecting the riparian rights of the delta farmers. They urged the State Government to sanction long-term loans and demanded disbursement of drought relief to farmers. They sought steps to enhance the profitability of the sugar mill in Perambalur.
The district secretary, R.Ulaganathan, led the demonstration. The district general secretary, T. Dhandapani, E. Jayaraj and M. Mahalingam, block secretaries of Jayamkondam and Tirumanur respectively participated.
Meeting
KARUR SEPT.8 . The Collector, G. Ramamoorthy, has stressed the need to popularise welfare schemes.
Speaking at the district publicity coordination committee meeting held here, he asked the officials to give publicity to schemes being implemented by the departments of social welfare, backward classes welfare and Adi Dravidar welfare so that the needy could benefit.
The Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency, T. Kannan, and the Public Relations Officer, S. Kannadasan, participated in the meeting.
Agitation
Thanjavur Sept.8.
Advocates staged a demonstration here today condemning the assault of an advocate in Lucknow recently.
Pon. Murugaiyan, president, Thanjavur Bar Association, and Satyamurthy, secretary of the association, and other advocates participated in the agitation.
Mass contact programme
Thanjavur Sept.8 . Crop loans to the tune of Rs.48 crores would be disbursed by banks in Thanjavur district, said J. Radhakrishnan at Valamarkottai near here today.
Speaking at a mass contact programme, he said that within a couple of days Rs.16 crores would be disbursed by cooperative banks. He distributed benefits worth Rs.1.66 lakhs to 32 persons, fee house site pattas to seven persons, Rs.20,000 accident relief to two, financial assistance to 11 and old age pension to eight persons. A total of 139 petitions were also disposed of in the camp.
Public Relations Department and women self-help groups organised exhibitions at he camp.
Illicit arrack destroyed
PUDUKOTTAI SEPT.8 . A total of 6,500 litres of arrack and 2,000 litres of fermented wash, worth about Rs. 2.50 lakhs, were destroyed today. Two mopeds, allegedly used for the transport of the brew, were seized.
In a press release, the Superintendent of Police, R. Arumugam, said 42 persons, including five women were taken into custody during the course of the raid at Keeranur, Iluppur, Vadakadu, K.Pudhupatti and Alankudi.
Mettur level
TIRUCHI SEPT.8. The water level at the Mettur reservoir stood at 82.41 feet today. The inflow was 15,214 cusecs and the discharge 10,008 cusecs.
Auction
SALEM SEPT. 8 . Department of Forest conducted an auction for sandalwood logs here today.
The Salem sandalwood godown had nearly 150 tonnes of sandalwood logs and roots.
Bidders from all over the country who attended the auction, however did not opt for the first class root varieties .
Principal Conservator of Forests, Ramanathan, District Forest Officer, U. Ravindran, and other senior officials conducted the auction.
Body found
Dharmapuri Sept. 8. The body of a woman aged around 40 years with signs of mutilation was found at the children's park in Hogenakkal here on Tuesday.
Police said that the body had been sent for post mortem examination.
Suicide
Krishnagiri Sept. 8 . A 45-year-old man was found hanging in his house in Kandikuppam here on Tuesday.
According to the police, Irudhayaraj was married to Philomena Mary (35).
The duo used to quarrel often.
Irudhayaraj had reportedly committed suicide after one such incident.
Robbery at knifepoint
Tirunelveli Sept.8. Robbers struck at a house of a Tamil Nadu Electricity Board employee in the wee hours of today.
Four persons wearing masks and carrying arms forcibly entered the house of E. Somasundaram (52) of Aathiparasakthi Nagar near Krishnapuram under the Sivanthipatti police station limits around 1.30 a.m.
Though the inmates shouted for help, no one came to their rescue as the house is in an isolated area. They took Rs.2,500 in cash from the locker and snatched a chain, bangles and ear-studs at knifepoint from the family members.
Panchaloha idols stolen
Tuticorin Sept.8. The police are on the lookout for those who stole three panchaloha idols and bells from the Varadharaja Perumal Temple at Seythunganallur on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur stretch.
The police said the temple had been kept locked for over three years, which might have tempted the robbers. Passers-by informed the police about the theft.
The Superintendent of Police (in-charge), M.C. Sarangan, visited the temple.
Two arrested on dowry charge
Tuticorin Sept.8. The police attached to the Tiruchendur All Women Police Station today arrested a woman and her son on a charge of dowry harassment.
The police said M. Manikandan (19) of Paramankurichi under the Tiruchendur police station limits had an affair with M. Arumugavadivu (20) of Naalumaavadi, when they were in Chennai last year.
As the family members reportedly opposed their affair, the lovers, with the help of the Avadi police, married and came to Paramankurichi on October 31, 2003.
However, Manikandan and his parents, Murugan and Petchiyammal (40), tortured Arumugavadivu for Rs.2 lakhs from her father as dowry.
Based on a complaint from the girl, the police today arrested Manikandan and Petchiyammal and a hunt is on to nab Murugan.
Inter-collegiate competitions
Tuticorin Sept.8. The Sathya Sai Seva Samithi will conduct inter-collegiate competitions `Sathya Sai Fest - 2004' at the VOC College here on September 11.
According to a statement, students of the colleges affiliated to the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University can participate in the vocal solo, classical solo dance, group dance, rangoli, Tamil oratorical and poetry competitions.
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