1. NIA Raids 5 Places in Coimbatore, Seizes E-Devices
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday searched five places allegedly linked to Islamic State (IS) sympathisers in Tamil Nadu and claims to have seized several electronic gadgets and incriminating documents. "The agency conducted searches based on warrants issued by the NIA Special Court, Ernakulam, in the ISIS Kerala-Tamil Nadu Module Case registered earlier this year," the NIA said in a statement.
During the searches, digital devices, like one laptop, five mobile phones, four SIM cards, one memory card and eight CDs/DVDs, and a large number of documents were seized. The seized devices will be sent for forensic examination.
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2. Sinkhole Opens up in Tiruvottiyur Due to Metro Work
A sinkhole suddenly opened on the Tiruvottiyur High Road near Apollo Hospitals on Thursday due to the demolition of a subway in the area. According to officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), around 6 pm, when the demolition was under way, a sinkhole formed. Part of the road had to be barricaded, causing traffic congestion.
“The subway was falling within the alignment and hence had to be pulled down. Since there were rains yesterday, the soil stability was rather low. Hence, it gave way creating a sinkhole. We will rebuild the subway later, after all the construction work is over,” an official said. CMRL said the hole was filled with concrete and closed using metal plates.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Maoist Invasion Mystery Resolved, One Arrested
The mystery that shrouded the suspected Maoist infiltration into Nedugalkombai, a tribal hamlet near Manjakombai limits, 30 kms off this hill town, was resolved after three years as police nabbed a Coimbatore-based alleged Maoist who had been arrested earlier in Kerala.
It may be recalled that a gang of suspected armed Maoists invaded Nedugalkomabi on 1 April in 2016 shortly after sunset, amidst the assembly election heat then. The gang spoke on various issues, and asked the tribals to avoid elections. The gang also pasted some posters to boycott elections and vanished into the nearby jungles. After this, police rushed to the spot and stepped up combing operations in the near-by jungles bordering Kerala. But their efforts to nab them went in vain.
(Source: Deccan Chronicle)
4. Before Dying, Jilted Lover Gives Final Gift of 'Blood in Beer Bottle' to Girlfriend in Chennai
In a bizarre incident, a jilted lover, slashed his wrist and collected the blood in an empty beer bottle and asked his friend to hand it over to his girlfriend as his final gift. The man later died in the hospital.
The man worked as a carpenter, said the police. He was said to be in a relationship over the last few years. They had decided to settle down after the man was doing well in his profession, said the police. But all was not well. “A few weeks ago, the woman stopped picking his calls and blocked him on social media. He tried to contact her and meet her many times, but in vain. Following this, he was dejected and did not talk to anyone properly,” a police officer said.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Tamil Nadu Scores High in India’s First Child Well-Being Index
Tamil Nadu has scored high in India’s First Child Well-Being Index which was launched on Wednesday by World Vision India and IFMR LEAD at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The Child Well-Being Index is a tool designed to measure and track children’s well-being comprehensively.
The report has ranked Kerala (0.76), Tamil Nadu (0.67) and Himachal Pradesh (0.67) as the top-performing states while Meghalaya (0.53), Jharkhand (0.50) and Madhya Pradesh (0.44) have featured at the bottom. Among the Union Territories, Puducherry topped the chart with a score of 0.77 while on the other hand Dadra and Nagar Haveli were adjourned the worst performing with a composite score of 0.52.
(Source: Deccan Chronicle)
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