1. Good Turnout for Bypolls in Four Assembly Seats
Aside from minor incidents like a voter at Elachipalayam pressing four buttons on the EVM simultaneously, leading to its malfunction, the bypoll to the four Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and repolling in 13 booths on Sunday were almost incident-free.
The average turnout of 77.62% in the four constituencies — Sulur, Aravakurichi, Tirupparankundram and Ottapidaram (SC) — was higher than the turnout in the April 18 election. The repoll in the 13 booths saw a massive 84.13% turnout. The booths at Pappireddipatti registered the highest turnout. The repoll in the eight polling stations in the Pappireddipatti Assembly segment went off without a hitch amidst heavy security and close monitoring by officials.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Seafood Prices Shoot Up by 50%
Prices of seafood have increased by at least 50 percent in the city due to the annual fishing ban, according to fish traders. The annual fishing ban came into effect along the coast of Tamil Nadu on 15 April in view of the breeding season.
“During this period, we do not have enough supply of fish. We only get smaller fish and many varieties of seafood are unavailable. The demand is high, so we sell at a higher price,” says Palani M, a fish seller in Zam Bazaar market. During the 61-day ban period, popular varieties of seafood such as Sura (shark), Kola (flying fish), ‘Vanjaram’ and ‘Kanava’ are not easily available.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. TMC Slams Kamal’s Godse Remark
Tamil Maanila Congress leader BS Gnanadesikan on Sunday slammed actor-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiyam president Kamal Haasan for seeking to identify Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a Hindu extremist, but called for ending the protests.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Gnanadesikan said that if Kamal Haasan sought to give a religious identity to Godse, “then what was the religion of those who killed Indira Gandhi or those who recently carried out attacks inside a mosque and church? What about those who killed Rajiv Gandhi? In Kamal Haasan’s dictionary, where do these people belong? He has raised this issue for vote bank politics. Doesn’t he know that every statement has its effect?” the TMC leader added.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Sewage, Garbage Stink Up Urur Kuppam
Reeking sewage water runs in the open and week-old garbage is strewn almost in all corners of the village. Toilets? No, the men and women there largely open-defecate as adequate toilet facilities are lacking. This is the story of Urur Olcott Kuppam, a small fishing village in Besant Nagar located just adjacent to the popular Dindugal Thalapakatti Biriyani.
Although it falls in the same ward (13) as Besant Nagar, the disparity between the two localities are stark. The government authorities have left the village in neglect, say the residents. Olcott Kuppam is a century-old fishing village while Besant Nagar came into existence only 50 years ago. The kuppam shot to prominence four years ago when ‘Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha’ took place in the village. However, the village still suffers on the ground as civic amenities and government schemes fail to reach it.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Policemen Face Action for Abuse of Power
A sub-inspector of police and a constable attached to the Kanathur police station will be shifted to the Armed Reserve wing for verbally abusing and robbing two youth at the Kanathur beach on Friday night. The police said Karthik, 25, a trekker, working at a private company, had come to the Kanathur beach to meet his friend Yashwanth.
While there, a police patrol team stopped by. One sub-inspector and a constable questioned them and later allegedly demanded them to pay money. The two handed over Rs 2,000 and left the beach. Senior police officers were informed and the policemen were pulled up. After investigating, officials found that the allegation was true. Disciplinary action would soon be initiated against them.
(Source: The Hindu)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)