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Snag delays flight
CHENNAI Sept. 26. The departure of an Indian Airlines (IA) Singapore-bound flight from here suffered a delay of over 18 hours, as it developed a technical snag this morning.
According to an IA release, the flight was ready for departure at 3.10 a.m. but returned to bay without taking off at 3.35 a.m.
As the snag persisted, the aircraft was grounded. Out of 244 passengers who checked in, 40 were flown to Singapore by an Air India (AI) flight and the others were given hotel accommodation.
IA sources said some passengers who were stranded at the Anna International Terminal refused to go to the hotel.
"We did not expect this kind of poor treatment from the IA especially for the aged and children travelling on this delayed flight," said a passenger, W. Kasim, who was returning to Singapore after a two-week holiday here. A 74-year-old passenger from Pattukottai, who was suffering from chrnoic asthma complained about non-availability of food and medical attention. The delayed Singapore-bound flight finally left at 6.30 p.m. with 182 passengers.
Nominated
CHENNAI SEPT. 26. The Governor has nominated R. Gnanasambandam, director, AKP Homeopathic Clinical Research Centre president of the Council of Homoeopathy.
The six-member council also comprises the Health Secretary, Special Commissioner of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Principal of the Government Homeopathy Medical College and two homoeopaths, in addition to Dr. Gnanasambandam, according to an official release.
3 held, jewels recovered
Coimbatore Sept. 26. The City Police within two hours of dacoity on a private finance firm on Oppanakkara Street nabbed three of the nine persons and recovered 25 kg of stolen gold jewellery.
According to the police, a gang who struck at the branch of a Kerala-based pawn broking firm around 4.30 p.m.
The gang is said to have gained entry after threatening the watchman at knifepoint. On entering the firm, the gang blindfolded and gagged the three male staff members including a woman besides tying them up to their chairs.
Later, the gang decamped with gold jewels . A sniffer dog ran up to a vehicle park giving a vital clue to the police. The police who had alerted all check posts and mobile patrol vehicles and their counterparts in the neighbouring districts , were able to intercept the vehicle used by the dacoits at Saravanampatti and arrested them.
Security stepped up
Coimbatore Sept. 26. In view of the second death anniversary of the extremist, Imam Ali, who was killed in a police encounter in Bangalore on September 29, 2002, the police have stepped up security here especially for police establishments. It was only a preventive measure aimed at thwarting the terrorist activities, the police told the The Hindu .
The intelligence machinery has alerted on the possibility of an attack on the City Police Commissioner's Office here. The intelligence input cautioned that there would be "precision attacks" on pre-determined targets and there may not be any indiscriminate act of sabotage, police sources said. The police, however, made it clear that what had been sounded now was only a general security alert.
The City Police office has been brought under a tight security blanket with gun-totting personnel on guard. Visitors' entry has been restricted.
The Anti-Sabotage Teams (AST) of the City Police Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) have been put in a state of readiness and teams are put on the job in turn basis to ensure round-the-clock vigil. Similarly, security for all police units and residences of police officers and quarters were being beefed up. The enhanced security cover would remain in place till October 3, they said.
Measures to maintain peace
Tirupur Sept. 26. In the wake of the increasing unrest persisting between Hindu activists and Communist party cadres, the police have invoked the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code (Cr. PC) against them.
The Revenue Divisional Officer has invoked Section 107 of Cr.PC against 25 Hindu activists and 20 Communist party cadres asking them to execute a bond assuring that they would maintain peace for one year.
On last Sunday there was a clash between Hindu activists and the cadres of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) over Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations. The offices of the Hindu outfits and communist parties came under attack besides flagposts were uprooted.
Bid to smuggle dogs foiled
Udhagamandalam Sept. 26. An attempt to take by force dogs from Ooty to Karnataka was thwarted yesterday.
According to Nigel Otter, deputy director, India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN), information had been received by his office that a dog was being dragged on the road by a youth. Animal rights activist, Roxanne, who made enquiries with the youth who said a group from Melkottai near Mysore came here to catch dogs for sale to farmers in Karnataka.
They targeted dogs which neither fell in the pedigree category nor could be classified as stray. Fifteen dogs were found in a hotel room occupied by a three-member gang .The animals were taken to IPAN's animal care centre at Mavanhallah. Mr. Nigel said the dogs might have been stolen from houses.
He alleged that such dogs were in demand in some parts of Karnataka. While the skin was sold to tanneries, some persons purchased the meat.
Six injured in car collision
PERAMBALUR SEPT. 26. Six persons, including three women, were injured when the cars in which they were travelling collided at Thambai near here today.
While one of the cars was proceeding from Perambalur to Chennai, the other was going to Tiruchi when the mishap occurred, the police said.
Two of the injured were admitted to a private hospital in Tiruchi, while the rest were treated at the government hospital here.
Commits suicide
PERAMBALUR SEPT. 26. A 21-year-old woman today committed suicide by hanging at her residence at of Vellanur near here.
The police said she took the extreme step, because of a prolonged illness.
Car festival
KARUR SEPT.26 . Thousands of devotees took part in the car festival of the Sri Kalyanavenkatramana Swami Temple at Thanthonimalai here on Saturday. The festival is part of the ongoing Purattasi Brahmotsavam celebrations. The car was drawn around the shrine.
Mettur level
TIRUCHI SEPT. 26. The level in Mettur dam stood at 83.39 feet today. The inflow was 13,667 cusecs, and the discharge 8,876 cusecs.
Five persons arrested
DINDIGUL SEPT.26. Five persons were arrested on charges of selling pirated CDs of new films during surprise raids in various video shops here on Saturday.
The arrested were Kadir, Murugan, Mohammad Ali, Ravichandran and Ravi. The police seized CDs of recently released films from them. A case has been registered in this connection.
Award for English teacher
MADURAI SEPT.26. An English language teacher of Madurai was presented the first time speaker award by the British Council for her paper titled `Teaching English through IT' at the fourth English Language Teachers Association of India regional conference held at Gobichettipalayam recently.
The teacher, J. Suganthakumari, dealt with various aspects like the entry of computers into education, software used in learning, and the use of multimedia CD ROMs in the preparation of examinations.
The importance of English communication and the advent of technology-enhanced classrooms were some of the points the teacher highlighted in her paper, according to a release.
The recipient is presently working the Railway Mixed High School, Tiruchi.
Grievance day meeting
THENI SEPT.26. The Theni division of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board will conduct a consumers' grievance day meeting at the office of the superintending engineer here at 10.30 a.m. on Monday and at the office of the divisional engineer at Chinnamanur at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to V. Dhanraj, Superintending Engineer, TNEB, Theni Distribution Circle.
Training programme
Tuticorin Sept.26. An advanced training programme on `Biodiversity and stock assessment of marine ornamental fishes of the Gulf of Mannar' was conducted at the Fisheries College and Research Institute here from September 20 to 24.
The five-day programme dealt with the current issues pertaining to the Gulf of Mannar such as remedial measures to conserve coral reef, reliable ways to collect marine ornamental fishes without depletion of stock, recouping of precious fishery resources by sea ranching and the importance of artificial reef installations.
The Principal Investigator and Professor, V.K. Venkataramani, conducted the programme.
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