1. Opposition-Sponsored Bandh Against Tuticorin Violence in Tamil Nadu
The bandh called by the DMK-led opposition parties to condemn the Tuticorin violence in which 13 people lost their lives and to demand the resignation of Chief Minister K Palaniswami began in Tamil Nadu on Friday, 25 May.
Demonstrations were staged by the DMK, its allies Congress, IUML and friendly parties like MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and MMK in several parts of the state and neighbouring Puducherry.
Raising slogans denouncing the government and asking Palaniswami to tender his resignation, demonstrations were held at locations including Egmore and Saidapet in Chennai.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Unfazed EPS Blames Political Rivals, Anti-Socials for Violence
Two days after the police opened fire on violent anti-Sterlite protesters in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami blamed opposition parties and anti-social elements for instigating the violence.
Addressing reporters at the secretariat on Thursday, the chief minister said the police had followed procedures as per law before opening fire at the protesters.
“Section 144 of the CrPC was promulgated in Tuticorin to prevent violence. But some opposition parties and anti-social elements were instigating innocent people to pressure the government and bring us a bad name,” he said.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Thoothukudi Firing: Police Were Aiming for the Gut and Shoulder, Says Kamal Haasan
Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan said he saw about 20 people in Thoothukudi government hospital with bullet injuries to their upper body indicating that they were fired upon from a long distance.
“They [police] were aiming for the gut and shoulder,” Haasan said, charging that the entire police operation during the 100th day of the current agitation against the Sterlite Copper plant in the town on 22 May was carried out against standard policing protocols.
Even if those going in procession were throwing stones, the police had the equipment to face the situation, and officers usually “wait at the the peril of their life for a magistrate’s order.”
(Source: The Hindu)
4. PMK Ex-MLA ‘Kaduvetti’ Guru Dead
Two-time PMK MLA and firebrand Vanniyar Sangam leader ‘Kaduvetti’ J Guru died at a private hospital on Friday. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
Born in Katuvetti in Ariyalur district, Guru (57), was the son of local CPI leader Jayaraman. But Guru got actively involved in the movement spearheaded by PMK founder S Ramadoss seeking separate reservation for the Vanniyars in the 1980s. Guru became one of his trusted lieutenants.
While Dr Ramadoss took care of the PMK, the task of mobilising the Vanniyar community in favour of the party was left to Guru.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Samayapuram Temple Elephant Tramples Mahout to Death
The mahout of the temple elephant of Samayapuram Mariamman Temple near Tiruchi was trampled to death by the pachyderm on Friday. Three women and a child sustained injuries after the elephant suddenly turned wild.
The deceased mahout Gajendran, 45, hailed from Mahalikudi near Samayapuram.
Police said the incident took place at around 11.10 am. near the temple premises. Forest department officials rushed to the temple and launched efforts to calm down the nine- year-old male elephant .
Police are yet to recover the body of the mahout. The temple was closed for public following the incident.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Madras High Court: Pachaiyappa’s Trust Told Not to Fill up Principal Posts
A vacation judge of the Madras High Court has directed the Pachaiayappa’s Trust Board (PTB) not to proceed with filling the posts of principal in four of its constituent colleges.
A vacation judge gave the directive when a writ petition from K S Sridhar and G Karunamoorthi came up on Thursday. She told the trust not to proceed with its circular dated 20 April on the issue, till 30 May.
According to one of the petitioners, working as Director of Physical Education in a college, the trust is running six colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
7. Poonamallee to Light House Metro Line Under Govt’s Consideration: EPS
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday, 25 May said a new metro line between Light House and Poonamallee via Vadapalani and Porur is being considered under the Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II. A feasibility study is also being conducted to extend the airport metro line up to Vandalur.
Speaking at the inauguration of metro line between Nehru Park and Central station, at Egmore station, he said the government has granted in principle approval for developing three stretches at an estimated cost of Rs 76, 961 crore for a length of about 107.77 km under Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II .
(Source: The New Indian Express)
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