Sand smugglers’ bid to kill four officials

A gang of sand smugglers made an attempt to kill a revenue inspector and three village assistants by running them over with a tractor near Shoolagiri in Krishnagiri district in the early hours of Wednesday.

The police have registered a case of attempt to murder against eight persons, including a functionary of the Pattali Makkal Katchi. Three persons have been arrested, while the others, including the PMK functionary, fled the spot.

In a complaint lodged with the Shoolagiri Police, the revenue inspector, P. Ramamurthy, said that the gang tried to run them over with the tractor when they tried to prevent illegal mining of sand from Kuralthotti Lake in Sembarasalli panchayat.

On a tip-off, the officials rushed to the spot on three motorcycles. As they neared the lake, the gang escaped with sand in two tractors.

They spotted one of the tractors on an agriculture field and immediately informed the Shoolagiri police station. Mr. Ramamurthy alleged that before the arrival of the police, the gang led by the PMK functionary rushed towards him and used abusive language. One of the gang members punched the RI in the face. Immediately, the sand was unloaded and the tractor driven towards the officials. He and the others managed to escape from coming under the tractor, Mr. Ramamurthy said.

The arrested were remanded in judicial custody. Later, over 200 members of the Tamil Nadu Revenue Officials Association staged a demonstration near the Collectorate demanding that the administration invoke Goondas Act against the attackers.

1,300 chairs donated to women’s college

The Integrated Village Development Project (IVDP), a Non-Governmental Organisation, donated 1,300 chairs to the Government Arts College for Women in Krishnagiri on Thursday.

It may be noted that when Magsaysay Award winner Kulandei Francis, who is director, IVDP, participated in a function at the college last year, he promised to donate the chairs as the students used to sit on the floors.

After donating the chairs, Mr. Francis said that he would help the college modernise the toilets in the next financial year.

25,000 litres of adulterated furnace oil seized

Special teams of police headed by Superintendent of Police S.R. Senthil Kumar and three Inspectors (Kaveripattinam, Hosur Town, and Pochampalli) busted three illegal units that were indulged in manufacturing adulterated furnace oil in and around Krishnagiri, Hosur, and Bagalur on Thursday night.

Mr. Senthil Kumar told The Hindu that the accused used to steal furnace oil from oil tankers and mix it with washing soda and tar and sold in the market in the name of furnace oil in the market for a hefty price.

The oil was stored in barrels and in underground tanks

The accused were involving in the illegal business for the last six months in collusion with tanker lorry drivers and agents operating in different parts of the district.

Nearly 25,000 litres of adulterated furnace oil filled in barrels and stored in underground tankers were seized by the special team.

Three vehicles including a car, a jeep, and a mini lorry were seized from the accused. The arrested were: B. Baba (20) of Athimugam, near Shoolagiri; A. Stalin (24); A. Suresh (27); S. Pandu (24); V. Devasagayam (36); E. Suresh (19); all from Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district and P. Anbu (35) and M. Sanmurthy (63) in Anginayanapalli in Kundialnatham village in Krishangiri district.

Bargur police have registered a case under section 5 (3) of Furnace Oil Fixation of Selling Price and Distribution Order, 1974 read with sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire), 379 (theft) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code and Section 7 (i) (a) of Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Those arrested were produced before the Judicial Magistrate I, M. Vijaykumar. They have been remanded in judicial custody.

Issue of fishing rights in KRP Dam settled

The issue of fishing rights in the Krishnagiri Reservoir Project Dam was settled at a peace meeting in Krishnagiri on Thursday.

As many as 17 fishermen participated in the meeting

P. Manoharan, Revenue Divisional Officer, convened a meeting between tenderers and local fishermen in the presence of officials from Fisheries and Police departments.

As many as 17 local fishermen from Pethathalapalli village on the Royakottai Road participated in the meeting.Though initially, the fishermen were adamant in their demand for higher price for their catch, they accepted to supply Rs. 16 a kg for

gelabi, and Rs. 26.65 for cutla, rogue and mirgal varieties of fish to the original bidder.

It was also decided to allow 30 sets (60 fishermen) from Pethathalapalli village and another 20 sets (40 fishermen) from the surrounding villages such as Thirunchipatti, Guddur, Iyarkottai, Thinna Kazhani, Kengaleri, Boothipatti, which are situated around the dam to catch fish.

The representatives of the fishermen from the rest of the villagers were called for a peace meeting on March 4 at the RDO office in

Krishnagiri. The meeting was also attended by the Inspectors C. Subramaniam, K. Rathinam of fisheries department, Deputy Superintendent of Police, M. Santhanapandian, Taluk Police Inspector A. Sathish Kumar. Police picketing was posted before the RDO office in view of the peace meeting.

Judicial custody of Thally MLA extended

Thally MLA T. Ramachandran, his father-in-law Laghumiah and his brother T. Varadarajan and 21 others who were arrested in connection with the murder of a PDK functionary T. Palani alias Palanisamy last year were produced before the Principal District and Sessions Judge C. Chinnappan here on Thursday.

The judge extended the judicial custody of Ramachandran and others till March 27. Seventeen accused including Ramachandran were brought from the Salem Central Prison amid tight security by the police.

They were later taken back to Salem Central Prison.

Meanwhile, bail petitions moved by Ramachandran and others would be heard on March 4 in the Principal District and Sessions Court in Krishnagiri.

Bus conductor falls from bus, dies

A State Transport Corporation bus conductor Natarajan (52) of Ambalur village, near Vaniyambadi in Vellore district, was killed when he fell from the footboard of a town bus plying between Krishnagiri and Mathur on Wednesday. The incident took place when the bus was on its way to Mathur near Chinnapanagamutlu on the Krishnagiri-Pudhucherry National Highway.

It was said that Natarajan was hanging on the footboard cautioning others to get into the bus.

He sustained head injuries and was brought to the Government Headquarter’s Hospital in Krishnagiri and was later referred to Government Medical College Hospital in Dharmapuri.

Kandikuppam police have registered a case and are investigating.