Date:13/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/13/stories/2006021311540400.htm

Sub-Inspector

commits suicide

TIRUNELVELI: The Sub-Inspector of Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin district committed suicide on Sunday afternoon, shooting himself with his 9 mm service pistol.

C. Latcham (35), who joined the Tamil Nadu Police as Sub-Inspector in 1996, served at Eranial in Kanyakumari district, Maasaarpatti, Soorankudi and Puthiyampuththur in Tuticorin district before being posted at the police control station, Tuticorin.

Recently, he was shifted to Srivaikuntam and he joined duty on February 9. After sending the head constable on duty to the other room, Latcham, who is survived by wife and two girl children, shot himself to death.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Vijay Kumar and Superintendent of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal visited the spot. - Staff Reporter

5 teenagers rescued from Chhattisgarh

TIRUCHI: Five Tiruchi-based teenagers, who were kept as bonded labourers by a rig owner at Chhattisgarh, were rescued by a police team and handed over to their parents.

The Woraiyur police said Abdul Rehman of Muthaliyar Theru, Navin Kumar (16) of Kaveri Nagar, Chandiran (18) of Sandya Nagar, Raja (19) of Indra Nagar and Sabari (19) of Kamatchiamman Nagar, all school dropouts, left home on December 28 last year in search of work.

The city police acted after their parents made a representation to Commissioner of Police Prateep V. Phillip. - Special Correspondent

Fiat to browsing centres flayed

CHENNAI: The State unit of the All-India Youth Federation has criticised the Government's directive to browsing centres to obtain licence for operation.

In a statement here on Saturday, secretary D. Lenin said the browsing centres, run mostly by unemployed youth, were providing information to the public.

Without evolving any rules for obtaining the licence, it was unfair on the Government's part to insist on it. - Special Correspondent

Nirankari Baba visit

CHENNAI: Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh will visit Chennai on February 13 and 14.

In a release here, the Chennai branch of Sant Nirankari Mandal said the Baba, who is on a tour of South India, would participate in a congregation at St. George's School on Poonamallee High Road from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on February 14. - Special Correspondent

Meet on aquaculture

TIRUNELVELI: A three-day conference on aquatic resources and aquaculture and an aqua show will be organised by the Department Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology of St. Xavier's College, Palayamkottai, from February 15.

Principal Rev. Fr. A. Antonysamy SJ said one of the objectives of `CONFAQUA 2006' was to spread the awareness of recent advances in aquaculture technology among aqua farmers, teachers, scientists, extension agents and suppliers of goods and services.

The Aqua Show will concentrate on carp seed production and farming, murrel and catfish farms, ornamental fish culture and marine shrimp farming. - Staff Reporter

Work on new shrine at Pampa begins

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Pathinettampady Committee, a Salem-based organisation of Ayyappa devotees, has undertaken the work on a new shrine dedicated to Lord Nagaraja on the Ganapati Temple premises at Pampa on the foothills of Sabarimala.

Committee secretary L. Venuswami said the work began on February 10.

Child killed in accident

SALEM: A four-year-old child was killed and seven others injured when a goods carrier turned turtle at the Veeranam branch road near here on Sunday.

The police said Hariharan, son of Ayyanar of Valasaiyur, was killed in the accident. Seven of the 15 villagers, who were travelling in the matador autorickshaw, sustained injuries and were admitted to the Salem Government Medical College Hospital. The Veeranam Police registered a case. - Staff Reporter

Found abandoned

RASIPURAM: Two newborn female babies were found abandoned in front of an orphanage here on Sunday morning. Employees of the orphanage rescued the babies, sources said.

- Staff Reporter

Facility extended

NAMAKKAL: The Department of Posts has extended the Western Union Money Transfer facility to the following post offices under the Namakkal division: Mohanur, Erumapatti, Pandamangalam, Sankagiri Thurgam and Edaipadi post offices. The Superintendent of Post Offices, Namakkal division, Stalin, inaugurated the facility at a function held in Mohanur on Saturday. - Staff Reporter

Youth arrested

TIRUNELVELI : The crime branch police arrested a youth at Tuticorin for running an internet browsing centre without a valid licence.

The police said R. Parameswaran (25) of Theppakulam Street was running the browsing centre on Palayamkottai Road without proper permit from the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited.

Based on a complaint from Additional Divisional Engineer, BSNL, Ramakrishnan, Central Crime Branch police personnel raided the browsing centre and arrested Parameswaran on Sunday under IPC 420 and Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.

Case against lawyer

Tuticorin : The police registered a case against M. Koilpitchai, a lawyer attached to the Tuticorin Bar Association, for allegedly threatening a female complainant in a case and abusing a head constable at Muthiapuram on Friday.

The police said Ramesh was taken into custody for stealing a mobile phone of Sudha (20) in a studio.

The advocate, who came to the Muthiapuram station, asked her to withdraw the case against Ramesh. When she refused, he threatened her with dire consequences, the police said.

Joseph Mathipal, a head constable, who was watching the advocate threatening the complainant, asked him to stop "harassing" her. He assaulted him, the police said. However, he has not been arrested.

Chain snatched

Nagercoil : The police are on the lookout for an unidentified person, who snatched a chain from a woman on Saturday.

According to the police, Viji (35), wife of Mani Raj of Maruthamcode near Kuzuthurai, was going to her house, after admitting her child to the Government Hospital here, when he snatched her five sovereigns of chain.

The police have registered a case.

Students beaten up

Tuticorin : Two students studying at Popes Memorial Boys High School at Sawyerpuram were admitted to the Tuticorin Government Hospital on Friday night after they were allegedly beaten by a teacher and some fellow students.

The police said a case was registered against Sithar, teacher, and five students, who had beaten P Kathirvel and R Velmurugan, students of the school.

Kathrivel lost two teeth and Velmurugan suffered minor injuries, the police said.

Two arrested

Tuticorin : Siva (27), a police constable attached to Armed Batallion here, and his friend, Murugan (34), were arrested on Saturday for allegedly causing nuisance in front of a hotel in a drunken mood.

The police said the arrest was made on the basis of a complaint lodged by P Kanagaraj, proprietor of the hotel on Tuticorin-Tirunelveli highway that the duo used filthy languages and obstructed the traffic, after consuming alcohol on Friday night. — Staff Reporter

Firms fined for

child labour

ERODE: Two business establishments were fined Rs 10,000 for employing child labourers. Labour Inspector said that they had rescued some child labourers in January and cases were registered against the two business establishments. The Labour Welfare Department officials have registered cases against 65 business establishments for functioning on the Republic Day. Cases were also registered against over 100 firms for violation of various labour welfare rules.

Grievances day

ERODE: The Superintending Engineer, Erode Electricity Distribution Circle, informed on Sunday that grievances day for Erode Urban Division electricity consumers will be held at the office of the Executive Engineer, Operation and maintenance, EVN Road, Erode on Tuesday at 10.30 a.m.

Fire at sericulture shed

ERODE: A fire accident was reported in a sericulture shed here. According to the Fire and Rescue Services personnel, a sudden fire broke out at a sericulture silkworm centre in Gnanipalayam. However, they doused the fire.

Boy killed

SALEM: A four-year-old boy was killed and seven injured when a tri-wheeler, meant for carrying goods, overturned on the Veeranam branch road near here on Sunday. The deceased was Hariharan, son of Ayyanar of Valasaiyur. Seven injured were admitted to the Salem Government Medical College Hospital.