Tamil Nadu   

Briefly

Man kills son

ERODE: A blind faith in astrology has led to a man killing his own son. The bizarre incident occurred at Veerappanchatram here recently.

Murugesan (40), working as a watchman in a private firm at Pallipalayam, killed his son Sadurshan (9) by pushing him into the Cauvery river after he was told by an astrologer that his son's birth timing was the cause for all his sufferings.

The incident had come to light when Murugesan's wife Gokila complained to the Erode North police that her son had been missing. The police had launched a search for the boy.

The Komarapalayam police on Tuesday recovered a dead body in the Cuavery river and informed the authorities concerned. Immediately, a team from the Erode North police rushed to Komarapalayam with Gokila who identified the body as that of her son.

The police on suspicion interrogated Murugesan who confessed to have committed the murder.

"I sacrificed my son for the welfare of my family," he told the police. Murugesan was arrested. — Staff Reporter

Bandh affects normal life

Nagercoil: Normal life was affected in Padmanabhapuram Assembly segment on Thursday due to the bandh called by political parties to protest against the Election Commission's decision to merge the segment with Colachel and Thiruvattar Assembly divisions.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed at Chunkandadai and Azhagiyamandapam. Buses, plying on the National Highway 47, were diverted through Thottiyode near Paraseri. Inter-state bus services were also diverted through Paraseri. Auto-rickshaws and tempos stayed off the road in Thuckalay, Padmanabhapuram, Mulacumoodu, Thiruvithancode and Azhagiyamandapam.

— Staff Reporter

Jayalalithaa's plea to Election Commission

CHENNAI: General secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Jayalalithaa has pleaded with the Election Commission to appoint a "neutral and impartial person" other than the present Secretary to Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly as the Returning Officer for the Biennial Election to the Rajya Sabha. In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners on Thursday, she said the party was making the representation in all seriousness and a sense of responsibility.

"There are precedents in earlier such elections with respect to the State of Tamil Nadu wherein the Secretary, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, was not accepted by the Election Commission of India as the Returning Officer," Ms. Jayalalithaa said. — Special Correspondent

Takes charge

CHENNAI: C.S. Subiah took charge as Air India Manager (Tamil Nadu) based in Chennai. Prior to this, he was the Country Manager, West Japan, stationed in Osaka, Japan, according to an Air India press release. — Special Correspondent

Forms for engineering admission

CHENNAI: The application forms for Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission 2007 will also be issued at Jamal Mohammed College, Tiruchirappalli, says a press release. — Special Correspondent

Mega Brands Show

Udhagamandalam: The Coimbatore-based Interface Trade Fairs will organise a Mega Brands Show for the first time here from May 18 to 20. It will be held at the Srinivas Perumal Kalyana Mandapam.

It will have 70 stalls displaying lifestyle products, electronic and entertainment goods, furniture, ready-mades and modern jewellery.

It will be inaugurated by the Chairman, Ambal Autos, K. Krishnakumar.

- Special Correspondent

Telephone bills

Udhagamandalam: The General Manager, BSNL, the Nilgiris, K. Muthswamy has in a press note issued at Coonoor on Thursday stated that the following Indian Bank branches in the district have also been authorised to collect cellular phone post-paid and land line bills:

Gudalur (main branch), Pandhalur, Masinagudy, Naduvattam and Devarshola.

- Special Correspondent

Sathya Saibaba to visit Coimbatore

Coimbatore: Sri Sathya Saibaba is scheduled to visit the city on Friday after a gap of 13 years.

After his three-week sojourn at Kodaikanal, he will reach the city at 11 a.m. via Palani, Udumalpet and Pollachi.

He will give darshan to devotees at Ramakrishna Kalyana Mandapam at Aavarampalayam.

He will leave for Puttaparthi in a special plane in the afternoon.

- Special Correspondent

Talk

Coimbatore: All India Tamil Writers Association will organise a talk on `The condition of literature today' on May 20 at Ramu Dairy, 7th Street, Tatabad, at 10 a.m.

- Staff Reporter

Burnt to death

Thanjavur: Marikannu (25) of Rajendram was allegedly burnt to death by her husband Ganesan here on Thursday. Family feud was the reason, the police said.

Fishermen forum seeks relief

NAGAPATTINAM: The `Tsunami Fishermen Rehabilitation and Development Iyakkam' has urged the Government to provide assistance to the families of six fishermen who were missing after venturing into the sea from Tirumullaivasal coast on May 8.

R.M.P. Rajendran, association president, has sent a memorandum to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thurday.

6 village panchayats selected

PUDUKOTTAI: Six village panchayats have been selected for implementation of `Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam' in Pudukottai district during 2007-08.

The Collector, S.J. Chiru, inspected the villages on Thursday and held discussions with officials.

Basketball camp

THANJAVUR: Twenty students from Amalraj Matriculation Higher Secondary School and 20 from Srinivasarao Higher Secondary School at Thiruvaiyaru are taking part in a basketball coaching camp, which is under way at Amalraj Matriculation Higher Secondary School, a release said.

Food, uniform and certificates would be given by Mamannan Raja Raja Cholan Basketball Development Trust, it added.

Eviction drive

KARAIKAL: Municipal officials, including Commissioner of Karaikal Municipality, Jose Batton, escaped from an attack by an encroacher here on Wednesday.

Police said that when Mr. Batton went to Mariamman Kovil Street to remove encroachments, a saw mill ownersuddenly smashed the windscreen of a jeep and attempted to attack the commissioner.

Mettur level

TIRUCHI: The level in the Mettur dam stood at 75.23 feet against its full level of 120 feet on Thursday. The inflow was 1,159 cusecs and the discharge, 1,500 cusecs. - Staff Reporter

Achievement

ERODE: N. Balakrishna of Reliance Matriculation HSS, Kuppandampalayam near Komarapalayam secured 598 marks out of 600 in Electrical Motor Rewinding (EMR), in the Plus Two examination.

He secured 200 marks each in the EMR Practical I and II and 198 in EMR theory.

In a press release issued here, the principal of the school, S. Arumugam, said that the boy had secured 1,157 marks out of 1,200.

He had obtained 198 marks in EMR, bagging the State second rank in the subject.

Accident

ERODE: A computer engineer was killed when the motorcycle he was riding was involved in a collision with a tipper lorry, here on Wednesday.

According to police, Sathishkumar (24), son of Natesan, an employee of the Forest Department in Anthiyur was riding his two-wheeler from Anthiyur to Bhavani, when the accident took place.

Sathishkumar sustained serious injuries and was admitted to a private hospital in Erode, where he died. Anthiyur police have arrested the tipper lorry driver and are investigating.

Grievances meeting

GOBICHETTIPALAYAM: The Superintending Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board will conduct a grievance meeting at the office of the Executive Engineer, Gobichettipalayam at 1.30 p.m. on May 19, according to a press release.

House burgled

TIRUNELVELI: The Palayamkottai police are looking for a gang, which burgled valuables from a house here on Wednesday night after attacking the inmates.

They said that the armed gang attacked Anand (60), a retired Government official from IOB Colony near Maharaja Nagar with a sickle, and lifted valuables.

They threatened his wife, Meenakshi, with a gun and attacked her. Neighbours took the couple to the hospital.

The Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli City, Ashok Kumar Das, who inspected the spot, has formed three special teams to nab the culprits.

BSNL offer

TIRUNELVELI: In view of World Telecom Day, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has announced a special festival offer for its prepaid cell phone customers.

According to V. Raju, General Manager, Tirunelveli Telecom District, BSNL, full talk-time value will be available for all those who recharge for Rs.500, Rs.1,000 and Rs.2,500. Those who recharge for Rs.3,000 or for Rs.5,000 will get extra talk-value for Rs.3,750 and Rs.7,500 respectively.

The offer will be available to all BSNL customers who recharge between May 17 and June 15, Mr. Raju added.

Campus interview

TIRUNELVELI: St. John's College will conduct campus interview on its premises on May 18 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

According to Kirubhakaran, coordinator, Career Guidance and Placement Cell, candidates with B.Com. or B.A. (Economics) can attend the interview to be conducted by Mahindra Finance while students having any degree with computer literacy may participate in the recruitment process of Everon - Chennai. B.Sc. Physics students can attend the interview to be conducted by Bell Medicare.

Aspirants should bring their bio-data along with two copies of their photographs, he said.

PMK campaign

TIRUNELVELI: Explaining the evils of alcohol and the pathetic conditions of poor families affected by liquor, the women's wing of the Paattali Makkal Katchi conducted an `anti-alcohol campaign' here on Thursday. Distributing pamphlets to the public, the party cadres campaigned against consumption of alcohol at Jawahar Grounds, Palayamkottai and Vaagaiyadi Corner in Tirunelveli.

Similar campaign was also conducted at Alangulam.

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