The Sivaganga District Cyber Crime police said the two accused, Hitesh Sanjshetti (33) and Syed Rahman (44), both of Coimbatore, helped the criminals transfer the money through mule accounts to Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

According to the investigating officer, the fraudster contacted the complainant claiming to be a Bengaluru police officer. He told the complainant that his Aadhaar card had been used in wrongful activities and that he had been “digitally arrested”.

To convince the senior citizen that he was a police officer, the fraudster showed him a WhatsApp status picture with police emblems and the Indian flag. “The fraudster threatened the senior citizen that the police had got approval from the Supreme Court to arrest him,” the officer said.

Once the complainant was frightened, the fraudster took psychological control of him and offered a way out of the arrest, asking him to deposit money. “Then they shared the mule accounts to transfer the amount,” the officer said.

The complainant then transferred all his savings to the two mule accounts, police said. He deposited Rs 20 lakh in one account and Rs 26.5 lakh in the other. The fraudster also directed him to tell bank staff, if they raised any doubts, that the transfer was for a land purchase.

Police said the money was moved through several layers of mule accounts. They suspect that the caller who posed as the police officer is the main accused, and that one of the accounts may belong to him. The caller is yet to be arrested.

Police said that when they took Rahman into custody at Coimbatore and questioned him, he said he worked as a mule account agent and had shared his account for the fraudulent transfers. He allegedly set up a fake firm and bought bank accounts from several people, which he used for illegal money transfers, police said. Police recovered Rs 7 lakh from him.

Rahman was arrested by Tirupur police in 2023 in a similar case. Hitesh Sanjshetti allegedly assisted him in this fraud by providing SIM cards.

A case was registered at the Sivaganga District Cyber Crime Police Station under Sections 318(4), 319(2) and 308 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. Both accused were remanded in judicial custody.

Addressing a gathering in the presence of Modi after the prime minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth Rs 13,000 crore, Vijay also sought the inclusion and early clearance of the Koyambedu to Pattabiram stretch under the approximately 65-km Phase-3 network to ensure comprehensive coverage across the Chennai metropolitan area.

Noting that Corridor 4 of Phase-2 covering 14.64 km between Poonamallee bypass and Vadapalani had been opened while another 104 km was under construction, the chief minister pressed for early sanction for an interstate metro link connecting Hosur in Tamil Nadu to Bommasandra in Karnataka for the benefit of both states.

He also appealed to the prime minister to reconsider metro rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai cities, keeping in mind the future growth of western and southern Tamil Nadu.

Thanking the prime minister for announcing two high-speed rail corridors between Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai in the Union Budget 2026, Vijay requested the Centre to sanction high-speed rail corridors connecting Chennai to Kanyakumari and Chennai to Coimbatore to spur economic and tourism development.

Vijay stated that his government, having crossed 100 days in office, was providing a corruption-free, transparent administration anchored in social justice, guided by the principle of "Pirappokkum Ella Uyirkkum" (all beings are equal by birth).

Reiterating that "strong states make a strong India," he said Tamil Nadu aimed to become a USD 1.5-trillion economy by 2036 by prioritising innovation, investment, and infrastructure, while ensuring that the benefits of progress reach every district beyond Chennai.

The chief minister placed several major highway connectivity demands before the Centre for priority sanction, including the six-laning of the Chengalpattu-Tiruchirappalli section of GST Road (NH-32), the Tiruchirappalli-Panchapur-Jayapuram-Karur stretch of NH-81, and the Karur-Coimbatore corridor, besides an elevated highway from Madhavaram to Sholavaram on NH-87.

Calling for water equity among states, Vijay stressed that river interlinking was imperative and urged the Union government to declare the Godavari-Cauvery link project a national project on top priority to boost water resources in the southern region.

Referring to a resolution recently passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly seeking Tamil as the principal language of proceedings in the Madras High Court, Vijay urged early clearance of the proposal sent for presidential assent.

He also requested the "immediate, unconditional" release of the pending Central share of Rs 5,110 crore due to the state under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme.

According to sources, Modi noticed a photograph of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay tucked in Anand’s shirt pocket. The prime minister then looked at Vijay and commented on the photograph, drawing a smile and a nod from the Chief Minister.

Modi subsequently held Anand’s hand and told him that he was doing good work, sources said.

“Modi spoke in Hindi, which Anand could not understand. A person accompanying the Prime Minister immediately translated that Modi said Anand was doing a good job,” sources told DT Next.

Apart from Chief Minister Vijay, Anand was the only minister from the State Cabinet present to receive the prime minister.

Those present at the airport included Governor RV Arlekar, former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Chennai Mayor R Priya, and BJP leaders.

Police have detained the school student in connection with the crime and are conducting an inquiry.

The victim, Srihari (19), was studying in the first year at a private college in Avinashipalayam.

On Saturday afternoon, Srihari and his grandmother were at home when a 16-year-old boy came looking for Srihari.

Claiming he wanted to speak with him in private, the teenager called Srihari out of the house.

A short while later, screams were heard from the middle of the road near the house.

Neighbours rushed to the spot and found Srihari lying in a pool of blood with severe cut injuries to his head, neck, hands, and legs, fighting for his life.

He was immediately rescued and rushed to the Tirupur GH, but succumbed to his injuries despite treatment.

During the police probe, it was revealed that the perpetrator was a 16-year-old Class 12 student from Thennampalayam.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a few days ago, the accused had bought a second-hand mobile phone from Srihari.

Claiming the device was defective, the boy asked Srihari to take back the phone and refund his money, but Srihari reportedly refused.

Enraged by this, the teenager visited Srihari's house, lured him outside, and repeatedly hacked him to death with a knife, police added.

Six months without adequate rainfall, depleted water bodies and falling groundwater levels have left them uncertain about the next crop.

Farmers in the region usually begin direct sowing in May and June, relying on rainfall and not waiting for the opening of the Mettur dam.

Those with access to borewells also raise paddy nurseries for transplantation. This year, however, the prolonged dry spell has disrupted both practices.

Lakes and ponds have dried up, while the groundwater level has fallen sharply, with the source reporting that it has crossed 250 feet.

Even farmers who depend on borewells are apprehensive about proceeding with cultivation as groundwater availability declines.

The opening of the Mettur dam, which farmers traditionally look forward to, has also failed to bring relief to the tail-end areas.

The dam, usually opened on June 12, opened only on September 1 this year, a delay of 70 days. However, water has not reached the region, according to the source.

Over the past decade, farmers in the area have generally cultivated one samba crop, with around 60 per cent of the area under direct sowing and 40 per cent under transplantation.

In the past two years, adequate water from the Mettur dam enabled them to complete cultivation, while lakes and ponds were replenished and groundwater levels remained stable.

That experience has offered little reassurance this year.

With insufficient rainfall for direct sowing and inadequate dam water even to fill local water bodies, farmers worry whether they can begin cultivation through direct sowing or transplantation.

For the farming community in Sethubavachatram's tail-end areas, the immediate concern is no longer simply when the next water supply will arrive, but whether there will be enough water to start the samba season at all.

The report, Tamil Nadu 2036: Building the Next Decade, says Coimbatore and Madurai have between zero and nine acres of SIPCOT land remaining, while Hosur has 12.1 acres left. By comparison, Tiruchy has 312.1 acres available, and Thoothukudi has 127.4 acres.

Tamil Nadu's SIPCOT network comprises 50 industrial parks, including eight special economic zones, across 24 districts, covering 48,900 acres, but the report identifies the near-exhaustion of public industrial land in established markets as a factor drawing institutional investment into private, Grade-A industrial facilities.

The land constraints come as the State reports over Rs 11 lakh crore in investment commitments over five-and-a-half years. Of 1,283 MoUs signed during this period, 867 projects advanced to implementation and potentially generate more than 37 lakh jobs. The report says 35 per cent of committed projects were operational.

Industrial expansion is also putting pressure on supporting infrastructure. In Krishnagiri district, which includes Hosur, non-residential construction grew 216 per cent since 2020, the highest among the cities profiled. The report identifies a gap between investment growth and the availability of housing and worker accommodation.

The report examines six cities, including Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Hosur, Salem and Thoothukudi, whose industrial bases and infrastructure differ.

It identifies Tiruchy and Thoothukudi as having larger remaining SIPCOT land banks, while Coimbatore has developed a substantial office market, with more than 60 operational global capability centres and 9.1 million sq. ft of Grade-A office stock.

Housing development, meanwhile, remains heavily land-led in these cities. Plotted layouts account for between 79 per cent and 88 per cent of residential launches across the corridors examined by the report.

Chennai accounts for 51.5 per cent of the state's residential launches, compared with 25 per cent in the west zone, 22.1 per cent in the south and 1.4 per cent in the north.

Commenting on the report, WS Habib, president, CREDAI Tamil Nadu, said, "The state's growth story is no longer Chennai's alone.

Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, Hosur, Salem and Thoothukudi are growing simultaneously, creating new opportunities for organised real estate development across the state.

As Tamil Nadu works towards its $1.5 trillion ambition by 2036, the focus must be on faster approvals, land pooling, transit-oriented planning and housing that remains within reach."

The new system, announced earlier by the TVK government, is intended to address delays in the existing approval process.

"The government would begin onboarding a service provider in October," Kirlosh Kumar said during a panel discussion on ease of doing business in real estate at CREDAI Tamil Nadu Statecon 2026.

The proposed software would integrate CMDA, the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), local bodies across Tamil Nadu, TNRERA and other stakeholders, along with departments issuing no-objection certificates (NOCs), including the Revenue department and Tangedco.

"The software will also classify buildings into low, medium and high categories to expedite the planning process," he added.

Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni said Tamil Nadu needed to move beyond digitising services to using technology to reduce human intervention in government processes. He described this next stage as "governance intelligence", where people could access services automatically without having to meet officials in person.

The overhaul comes amid concerns over shortcomings in the fragmented clearance process. K Phanindra Reddy, chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA), said departments often operated in silos, increasing the time and cost involved in obtaining clearances.

"There are windows behind windows," he said, calling for a system in which departments could access records held by other agencies, including Revenue, Registration, Police and Fire Services, allowing the authority processing an application to obtain the necessary information and issue approval within a defined timeframe.

Under the new system, NOC would be deemed granted if the concerned department failed to respond within 30 days of receiving a request.

A system-generated common inspection date has also been introduced so that multiple departments can inspect a site on the same day instead of scheduling separate visits.

An online appeals mechanism for rejected planning permissions and completion certificates would also be introduced during October, replacing the existing manual process.

Sales of DFLs at the Government Cold Storage Facility at Chinnavedampatti near Coimbatore have fallen below 40,000 a month since June, a steep drop from the 1 lakh to 1.40 lakh DFLs sold during May last year amid strong demand.

The facility stores bivoltine hybrid silkworm eggs supplied by government grainages in Coimbatore, Erode, Talavady and Tenkasi to meet farmers’ year-round requirements. “Our target is to sell 50,000 DFLs per month, and we normally achieve around 80 per cent of it. But sales touched nearly 1 lakh to 1.40 lakh DFLs in May last year because of high demand. It declined to around 1 lakh to 1.10 lakh in January this year and has now fallen below 40,000 since June. Sales have never dropped to such a low level before,” a sericulture department official said.

The sharp decline in demand has resulted in a substantial accumulation of stocks at the facility, with around two lakh DFLs currently in cold storage. The downturn comes after a period of robust demand following the Covid-19 pandemic. Officials said DFL shortages were common when demand was high, making the current stock accumulation particularly unusual.

The sector had witnessed a temporary decline in DFL sales in 2023 when drought-like conditions prevailed during March, April and May. However, demand recovered after the weather improved. This time, the downturn has persisted for more than a year, the official said.

Meanwhile, the price of DFLs has also risen steadily. A batch of 100 DFLs, which cost Rs 550 in 2021, increased to Rs 750 in 2022-23 and subsequently rose by another Rs 1,000 within the next four months. It is currently priced at Rs 1,250 per 100 DFLs.

Besides the Coimbatore facility, two DFL cold storage facilities are located in Krishnagiri district. Tamil Nadu has around 10 government grainages supplying silkworm eggs. “Most farmers prefer buying young silkworms from Chawki Rearing Centres (CRCs) rather than rear the eggs themselves. The centres procure eggs from government grainages and rear the silkworms until the second stage of moulting, known as the chawkie stage,” said R Selvakumar, a sericulture farmer from Udumalpet in Tirupur.

The current fall in DFL demand mirrors the broader distress in the sericulture sector, where declining mulberry acreage and cocoon yields have forced farmers to cut back on silkworm rearing.

TALE OF WORMS

• 40,000 and below has been the fall in sales of DFL silkworm eggs since June

• 2 lakh DFLs have piled up in cold storage

• 1 lakh to 1.4 lakh has been the sale of DFLs last May

• Rs 1,250 is the present price of DFL, a drastic rise from the previous Rs 550

The five stations redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme are Palani, Paramakkudi and Ambasamudram in the Madurai division, Namakkal in the Salem division, and Vellore Cantonment in the Tiruchchirappalli division.

The station redevelopment works cost over Rs 70 crore in total that will have an enhanced station facade, improved circulating area with landscaped greenery, new platform shelters, improved waiting hall, coach, and real time train information boards, two-wheeler and four-wheeler parking facilities and modern signages among others.

The Prime Minister also opened the 23 km Karaikal–Peralam new railway line.

Built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore, the line is expected to improve rail connectivity in the region, provide better access to Karaikal Port and facilitate passenger and freight movement.

It is also expected to support regional trade, pilgrim tourism and economic activity.

Three ROBs at Karamadai, Sulur and Thudiyalur in the Coimbatore region were built at a cost of over Rs 120 crore.

The inauguration ceremonies were held through video conferencing on Sunday.

The main function in the city was attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan.

The mission will follow the planned relaunch of OrbitAID's AayulSAT-1 satellite in early November 2026 aboard the SSLV L1, described as the first operational flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The spacecraft will demonstrate fuel and power transfer technologies, paving the way for the company's more advanced satellite servicing mission.

AayulSAT-1, named after the Tamil word 'Aayul' meaning lifespan, was previously launched aboard the PSLV-C62 in January 2026. However, the spacecraft could not complete its mission following the launch failure.

OrbitAID plans to launch AayulSAT-2A and AayulSAT-2B aboard an Indian launch vehicle in February 2027. Weighing approximately 70 kg each, the two spacecraft will be placed in low Earth orbit before separating to demonstrate a series of complex operations, including rendezvous, proximity operations, docking, refuelling and power transfer.

The mission will explore two approaches to satellite servicing. In the first, the spacecraft will demonstrate refuelling a satellite equipped with OrbitAID's SIDRP refuelling interface.

R Sakthikumar, founder and CEO of OrbitAID, told DT Next that during the mission, the chaser spacecraft would perform a series of orbital manoeuvres to approach and dock with the target satellite. "We will use our proprietary ARCAS docking mechanism, which is designed to connect with a satellite's standard Launch Adapter Ring (LAR). Once docking is completed, the spacecraft will deploy our SIDRP robotic arm to demonstrate the refuelling process. We will then test the spacecraft's ability to function like a jetpack, using its own propulsion system to change its orbit and provide propulsion support," Sakthikumar said.;

He added that as part of this demonstration, the chaser spacecraft will raise its orbit and subsequently return to its original altitude. These manoeuvres will help OrbitAID validate the key technologies required for future satellite servicing and in-orbit refuelling missions.

"If this demonstration is successful, we plan to develop larger versions of our spacecraft to service and refuel satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO), where several communication, broadcasting and weather satellites operate," he told DT Next.

Sakthikumar explained that once the satellites exhaust fuel, they may have to be retired even when their other onboard systems are still functioning. "Satellite refuelling has the potential to change the economics of space missions. By refuelling satellites in orbit, we can potentially extend their operational lifespans, reduce the cost of replacing them and make space missions more efficient. In the future, servicing spacecraft could also help address certain propulsion system or valve failures in compatible satellites, provided they can be safely approached and docked with the servicing vehicle," he said.

OrbitAID's planned missions are expected to serve as technology demonstrations towards developing such capabilities. Their success could help establish the foundation for future commercial satellite servicing operations, particularly for expensive geostationary satellites, where extending operational life could offer significant economic benefits. If this refuelling mission is successful, India will be the second country to have this technology following China.

The elephant had strayed from the adjoining forest to drink water at the water spread area on Saturday (October 10) night when it became stuck in the slush.

Unable to free itself despite repeated attempts, the animal eventually lay exhausted in the mud, trumpeting in distress.

On receiving information from the public, a team of forest personnel and a veterinarian rushed to the spot and launched rescue efforts.

“The elephant appeared weak, possibly due to an illness, and was unable to get up. It also appeared to have gone without food. We attempted to pull it out using ropes and a crane, but the machine itself became stuck in the slush, hampering the operation. Another crane was brought in to retrieve the stranded vehicle,” a forest department official said.

Meanwhile, news of the incident drew a crowd to the dam, with people gathering to watch the rescue operation.

Forest officials appealed to the public to stay away from the area to avoid obstructing the rescue efforts.

However, the camp is reportedly not yet ready at present to resign their MLA posts and depend on TVK chief Chief Minister Vijay's mercy for reelection. Even though it could be a relief to the AIADMK chief, the recent by-election defeat has weakened his position. The AIADMK suffered defeats in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, constituencies it had won in the Assembly elections, and finished third in both.

The Velumani faction believes the party could have performed better had the leadership accommodated the two leaders and their supporters.

Against this backdrop, sources said the two factions are expected to meet again in Chennai to discuss their next course of action. The meeting is likely to focus on securing MLAs' support and exploring the possibility of functioning as a separate group in the Assembly.

Sources added that the leaders are also expected to discuss how to highlight the party's electoral setbacks and what they view as unilateral decisions by EPS. The contours of the proposed move and the extent of support it can garner are expected to become clearer in the coming days.

During the Assembly elections, the Velumani and Shanmugam factions had urged EPS to forge an alliance with the TVK. However, EPS did not accept their demand. After the elections, when the TVK failed to secure a majority on its own, the two factions again urged EPS to extend support to the ruling party. He rejected their demand.

Subsequently, 25 AIADMK MLAs, including Velumani and Shanmugam, functioned as a separate group and voted in favour of the TVK government during the confidence motion in the Assembly.

At the time, the faction attempted to mobilise the support of 32 MLAs, equivalent to two-thirds of the AIADMK's 47-member Assembly strength, to function as a separate group without attracting disqualification under the anti-defection law. However, the effort failed to materialise.

The Velumani faction later reached a compromise with EPS. However, differences persisted, and six AIADMK MLAs eventually resigned and joined the TVK.

Despite the compromise, Velumani, Shanmugam and their supporters continued to face setbacks within the party. Their party posts, including district secretary positions, were removed after they voted in favour of the TVK government. Their subsequent attempts to get the posts restored have failed, adding to their dissatisfaction with the leadership.

The latest move comes amid growing dissatisfaction with EPS over his refusal to accommodate their demands on alliance formation and government support, as well as the removal of the two leaders and their supporters from party posts.

The force rescued four persons with intellectual disabilities and facilitated rehabilitation support, and helped 45 school dropout children to re-enrol in educational institutions.

Among the notable interventions, on October 5 in Ramanathapuram, the SSF received information through its helpline 1091 that a 65-year-old man had sexually harassed and threatened two sisters, aged 13, while they were returning from school.

The SSF assisted in lodging a complaint and a POCSO case was registered at the Mudukulathur AWPS.

On October 8 in Tirupur district, the SSF rescued 13 people, including a boy, three girls and six men, who had been working for over a year at Alagar Ironing and Packing Shop owned by Sivakumar without wages and were not allowed to return home.

The children were handed over to a shelter home through the Child Welfare Committee and three accused were arrested and remanded.

In Tenkasi district, during a school awareness programme, the SSF was informed about a Class 4 girl who had not attended school for two months.

The team found her father, who is intellectually disabled, had kept her confined in a single room. The girl was rescued and sent to a shelter home, while the father was admitted to Tenkasi Government Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

In Tirunelveli on October 8, the SSF helped a 21-year-old graduate who was in severe mental distress after her and her younger sister's Instagram photos were allegedly morphed and obscene messages were sent to them.

Counselling was provided, and a case was registered at Kalakadu Police Station.

The platform will enable consumers to track consumption and expenditure by time of use, day, week, month, year, and season, helping them identify periods of high consumption and understand how their usage translates into bills. Consumption patterns will be displayed through graphs and charts, with historical data available for at least 12 months. Consumers can also download this usage data in spreadsheet format.

It will also allow consumers to view bills, check outstanding dues, and payment records, download bills in PDF format, and pay bills for one or multiple accounts. It will also enable them to register complaints about power failures and faulty meters, submit requests for new connections, disconnections, load changes and meter shifting, and track the status of service requests.

Speaking to DT Next, a senior TNPDCL official said that the app will have features for prepaid metering if the utility decides to implement it in the future. Prepaid consumers will be able to check their available balance, daily consumption, and recharge history, and recharge their accounts through net banking, credit cards, and digital wallets. The system will send alerts through the app, SMS, and email when balances approach a preset threshold. Meters will also be able to alert consumers through a beep, blinking LED, or message.

Consumers will be able to access information on voltage levels, power quality, and electricity outages, including outage details displayed on a map. The app and portal will also provide information on applicable tariffs and incentives, along with energy-saving tips. A helpdesk chatbot will be integrated to assist consumers with queries and service requests.

The platform will support English, Tamil, Hindi, and other languages, with notifications also available in local languages. Consumers can register and manage their accounts, reset passwords using one-time passwords, and update their registered mobile numbers, and email addresses. The service will be accessible through Android and iOS applications and a web portal.

It will also allow consumers to initiate requests to switch between prepaid and postpaid modes through the app or portal. The system is designed to integrate with TNPDCL's existing billing and customer-care systems to facilitate the exchange of consumption, payment, and service-related information.

The proposed app and portal are part of TNPDCL's smart metering project covering 1.69 crore low-tension consumers in the Chennai Metropolitan Area, except T Nagar, other municipal corporations, and industrial and commercial consumers across the State. The project also covers 4.72 lakh distribution transformers. Government buildings, agricultural connections and huts have been excluded from the tender.

Smart meter app/portal features:

CONSUMPTION TRACKING

• Near real-time electricity usage and cost

• Consumption by time, day, week, month, year, and season

• Graphs, charts, and at least 12 months of historical data

• Downloadable consumption data in spreadsheet format

• View voltage, power quality, tariffs, and incentives

• Available on Android, iOS and web portal

BILLING AND PAYMENTS

• View bills, dues, and payment history

• Download bills in PDF format

• Pay bills for one or multiple accounts

COMPLAINTS AND SERVICES

• Report power failures and faulty meters

• Apply for connections, disconnections, load changes, and meter shifting

• Track service requests and view outage information on map

• Access helpdesk chatbot

The deceased, Arul Pandi, a daily wage worker from Sholinghur in Ranipet district, visited the house of a 34-year-old woman in Aiyaneri village on Friday (October 9) night.

According to reports, she refused his sexual advances and told him she no longer wanted to continue the relationship.

Arul Pandi allegedly told her that she would realise his worth only after his death before locking himself inside a room. The woman alerted the RK Pet police, who arrived at the house and broke open the door. They found him hanging from a saree, police said.

The body was sent to the Tiruttani Government Headquarters Hospital for a postmortem examination.

According to the report, Arul Pandi had become acquainted with the woman when she regularly took her children to a private school in Sholinghur.

She lives in Aiyaneri with her husband and their three children. The RK Pet police have registered a case and are investigating.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

In a post on X, Shanmugam said various opinions, including criticism, opposition, hostility, support and advice, had been expressed on social media about communist parties following the election results.

He said the communist movement would consider constructive criticism, suggestions and advice.

However, he added that the party would confront its opponents who wanted to see communists eliminated.

"Communism and communist parties will never perish. They cannot be destroyed," he said.

In a communication received by the district administration on October 5, the panel has asked Madurai District Collector Nishant Krishna to submit a report on the incident.

The Usilampatti police have registered an FIR under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Vimala Devi, headmistress of the Government Model Higher Secondary School in Usilampatti, who is now under suspension. The FIR was registered based on a complaint filed on August 28 by the girl’s mother, P Thavamani.

However, police sources said they have been unable to proceed with the investigation because Vimala Devi has obtained an interim stay, and she is now on bail.

In her complaint, Thavamani said that when she and her daughter approached the headmistress for admission on August 24, the headmistress got angry when the girl asked her mother not to fold her hands before her. The headmistress then asked the girl to leave the school.

Thavamani alleged that the headmistress questioned the girl’s conduct for trying to join the school despite having already been admitted to the Government Kallar Higher Secondary School. The headmistress then allegedly phoned her counterpart there and enquired about the girl’s conduct on speaker mode. According to Thavamani, this upset the girl.

The girl left the school crying and remained distressed after returning home. The following day, they went to the school where she had completed Class 10 and collected her Transfer Certificate. However, she died by suicide that evening when she was alone in the house, said the police source.

The district education department suspended Vimala Devi for administrative inefficiency after a preliminary inquiry. The inquiry found that she did not handle the situation with the required administrative sensitivity and efficiency.

A police source said the girl had scored 415 marks in Class X and joined the Biology-Mathematics stream hoping to become a nurse. But she found it difficult and asked her teachers to allow her to shift to the Commerce stream, but they did not accept the request. Since then, she has not shown interest in going to school, the source added.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

From an average of up to 1.5 tonnes, daily arrivals at the Government Cocoon Market in Coimbatore have declined by 30 per cent to 40 per cent over the past three months following the steep decline in cocoon production, said an official of the sericulture department.

The shortage of cocoons has triggered a sharp increase in prices. The price touched Rs 820 to Rs 850 a kg at the auction market last week before easing slightly to around Rs 750 a kg in the past few days. Tamil Nadu has around 18 government cocoon markets.

Farmers said adverse climatic conditions had also caused a drastic contraction in mulberry cultivation, which is the backbone of sericulture.

“The area under mulberry has declined from around 1,200 acres to nearly 500 acres, with several large farmers reducing their acreage amid drought-like conditions in Coimbatore. Even the recent rains did not bring much relief. The unseasonal showers instead triggered microbial diseases in mulberry plants, further affecting their growth and reducing yields,” said R Gunaseelan, a farmer from Annur, who had come to auction his cocoon produce in the market.

Mulberry cultivation, which had revived after a lull during the COVID-19 pandemic, has once again plunged into a severe crisis, say farmers. Sixty-year-old R Karuppusamy, a sericulture farmer from Sevvur near Avinashi in Tiruppur district, said the worsening groundwater situation had compounded the crisis. The water level in his borewell, which was around 500 feet last year, has now fallen to nearly 1,000 feet.

“Earlier, I used to get around one kg of cocoons from one disease-free laying (DFL). But due to high temperatures, the yield has fallen to around 600 grams. With 75 DFLs, I now get only about 45 kg of cocoons, which is very low,” he said.

Karuppusamy resumed cocoon production a few years ago after staying away from sericulture for nearly three decades, hoping to benefit from better prospects in the sector.

SICK SILK

30 to 40% is the fall in cocoon arrivals in the last three months from around 1.5 tonnes

Rs 750 per kg is the current cocoon price after touching Rs 820 to Rs 850 per kilogram

1,200 acres was the area in which mulberry was cultivated, which has fallen to just 500 acres now

Drought-like conditions have forced farmers to cut acreage of cultivation though there was slight revival after COVID-19

One DFL now yields only around 600g of cocoons

A group of 35 tourists, including 13 children from Dindigul, were returning after visiting Valparai when the incident occurred.

When the van reached Attakatti, the driver, Manikandan, suspected a brake failure and asked the passengers to continue their journey by bus.

Consequently, 30 tourists boarded a government bus, while five passengers stayed back in the van with the driver. After waiting for the engine to cool down, Manikandan resumed the journey towards Pollachi.

“While descending the ghat road, the brakes failed, causing the driver to lose control and the van crashed through the roadside parapet and plunged into the gorge, overturning down the slope.

Residents rushed to the spot and rescued the six persons, including the driver. They were taken by ambulance to the Government Hospital in Pollachi for treatment,” police said.

Fortunately, the 30 tourists who had opted to travel by bus escaped unhurt.

The discharge was gradually reduced from 15,000 cusecs to 12,000 cusecs on October 10, before being further cut to 10,000 cusecs from 6 pm on Sunday. The reduction followed a steep fall in inflow into the reservoir, which stood at just 970 cusecs on Sunday.

Consequently, the water level dropped to 63 feet by Sunday evening, down 28 feet from 91 feet on September 1, when water was released for Delta irrigation.

As the reservoir recedes, large stretches of its bed have been exposed, revealing rocks and shallow pools. A Nandi statue that had remained submerged in the reservoir has also become visible over the past few days.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay released water from the dam for Delta irrigation on September 1. The State government had scheduled the release for only 45 days to support samba cultivation, leaving just four days in the planned release period.

In previous years, water from Mettur dam was generally released for irrigation until January 28. With the possibility of the discharge being stopped shortly, delta farmers are anxiously awaiting the northeast monsoon, hoping that rainfall will replenish the reservoir and enable continued irrigation.

Meanwhile, the inflow into the Cauvery at Hogenakkal declined from 3,000 cusecs on Saturday to 2,000 cusecs on Sunday, amid a lack of rainfall in the river's catchment areas.

“I could have done a photoshoot wearing sunglasses on the Metro bridge and shot a reel wearing a safety helmet inside the tunnel. But I have never believed in such deceptive politics,” Palaniswami took a veiled dig at CM Vijay over his recent photo-op at one of the Metro Rail facilities. He maintained that he believed in action rather than publicity and asserted that the project his government initiated continued to serve the people.

In a statement, Palaniswami said the detailed project report (DPR) for the Phase II corridors was prepared, and the project was approved during the AIADMK government. He recalled that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had laid the foundation stone for the project.

Despite delays in the Centre's release of funds, the AIADMK government allocated funds from the State's resources and commenced work, he said.

Palaniswami said the Centre approved and allocated Rs 63,246 crore for Chennai Metro Rail Phase II in 2024 after the then AIADMK leadership made several representations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said the project's inauguration reflected the initiatives taken during the AIADMK regime and that the work continued to benefit the people of the State regardless of which party was in power.

Earlier, Palaniswami welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport on his arrival in Chennai.

The mission aims to produce three-dimensional atlases of human brains spanning the lifespan, from the foetal stage to old age. The resulting maps are expected to provide researchers worldwide with detailed insights into the brain's cellular architecture and support investigations into neurological disorders.

Modi also released C-STROKE, described as a first-of-its-kind human ischaemic stroke atlas. Featuring more than 1,000 annotated microscopic sections from a stroke-affected brain, the resource is intended to help scientists identify potential therapeutic targets and deepen their understanding of the tissue damage caused by the condition.

Ischaemic stroke occurs when a blockage interrupts blood flow to part of the brain, damaging brain tissue. The atlas offers researchers a detailed resource for examining these changes and exploring avenues for further investigation.

Established in March 2022 with support from Sudha and Kris Gopalakrishnan, the centre brings together expertise in neuroscience, engineering, advanced imaging and computational science to map the human brain at cellular resolution.

Its work has already produced significant research resources. In 2024, the centre released DHARANI, a three-dimensional atlas of the human foetal brain comprising digital images of 5,132 brain sections. In June 2026, it released ANCHOR, a three-dimensional atlas of the human brainstem mapping more than 200 nuclei and fibre tracts.

The centre's whole-brain imaging platform enables scientists to examine cellular structures across large volumes of brain tissue, generating detailed datasets for collaborative research.

The latest initiative expands this effort into a collection of brain maps covering different life stages. By making these resources available to the international research community, the centre aims to deepen understanding of the human brain and support future investigations into neurological diseases.

Addressing a gathering at IIT Madras campus here, Modi described the occasion as a historic day for Tamil Nadu and said the projects would strengthen industry and commerce, improve connectivity and generate employment. “The Centre’s assistance to Tamil Nadu will continue. We are ready to work together with you. Viksit Tamil Nadu will lead to Viksit Bharat,” he said, underlining the importance of Centre-State cooperation in advancing the country’s development.

Recalling his 25 years in public office as Chief Minister and Prime Minister, Modi said his experience as Gujarat Chief Minister had helped him understand the aspirations of States. He recalled working with former Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers M Karunanidhi, J Jayalalithaa, O Panneerselvam, Edappadi K Palaniswami and M K Stalin, and said he would follow the same spirit of cooperation with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Emphasising urban mobility as a key component of development, Modi said expanding road networks alone was insufficient and that efficient public transport was essential to easing the daily commute of ordinary citizens, students and senior citizens.

He cited the expansion of metro rail connectivity across India, saying the number of cities with metro services had risen from five in 2014 to 25, while the operational network had grown from around 250 km to more than 1,100 km.

The Poonamallee–Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Rail Phase II, built at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore, was among the key projects inaugurated. The corridor features a 3.7-km double-decker structure and advanced signalling systems designed to support driverless operations.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for national highway projects worth around Rs 3,700 crore and railway infrastructure projects worth over Rs 750 crore. These included sections of NH-744 and the Madurai Ring Road, the Thiruvarur bypass project, the Karaikal–Peralam railway line, three railway flyovers in the Coimbatore region and five redeveloped Amrit stations.

Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s maritime potential, Modi said port-related projects at Chennai, Kamarajar and V O Chidambaranar ports would strengthen cargo-handling capacity and improve logistics. He also laid the foundation stone for a Rs 1,620-crore Group II/III Lube Oil Base Stocks project at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s Manali refinery.

In the scientific research sector, Modi dedicated the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT Madras to the nation, launched a mission to map more than 100 human brains at cellular resolution and released C-STROKE, an atlas of the human brain affected by ischaemic stroke.

Earlier, he extended Navaratri greetings and recalled the contributions of Jayaprakash Narayan and other national leaders.

Tamil Nadu Governor in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Union Minister of State L Murugan, State ministers N Anand, K A Sengottaiyan and P Venkataramanan, BJP leaders Nainar Nagenthran, Pon Radhakrishnan, among others, attended the event.

The initiatives included those in the road and rail transport and petroleum sectors.

The PM, along with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for the developments projects at an event held at the IIT Madras.

The projects include those in National Highways worth around Rs 3,700 crore, initiatives in the Chennai Port, Kamarajar Port and V O Chidambaranar Port and Amrit railway stations. He also dedicated to the nation, the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) at IIT Madras.

SGBC is a pioneering global scientific mission to map more than 100 human brains into three-dimensional atlases at cellular resolution, across the human lifespan - from the foetal stage to old age.

The PM also released C-STROKE, a one-of-a-kind human ischaemic stroke atlas. Featuring over 1,000 annotated microscopic sections from a stroke-affected brain, the atlas will help researchers worldwide identify novel therapeutic targets.

Earlier, PM Modi inaugurated the Poonamallee-Vadapalani stretch of Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, built at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore.

PM Modi and CM Vijay together flagged off the new services and travelled on the Metro train.

The new services are covered under Corridor four of Phase two of the Metro Rail project.

In the newly inaugurated stretch, there are a total of 11 elevated Metro Stations covering approximately 15 km.

The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has invited bids to procure 61,84,566 ready-to-eat sponge cake slices, each weighing up to 45 grams, for delivery to its operational godowns across Tamil Nadu by November 10. The proposed distribution marks a new addition to the State’s Children’s Day celebrations.

The procurement follows a reference from the School Education Department and will be processed through an expedited tender procedure to meet the deadline.

The proposed supplies will include fruit, vanilla, chocolate and butter or milk sponge cake variants. Each slice must be individually sealed in food-grade, moisture-resistant packaging carrying details such as ingredients, nutritional information, batch number, manufacturing date and expiry or best-before date.

Bidders must be established cake manufacturers or brand owners with valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licences and distribution networks covering all districts. They must also submit laboratory-backed shelf-life reports and product samples for technical evaluation.

The tender requires suppliers to replace defective, damaged, underweight or expired consignments within 24 hours at their own expense. Delayed deliveries will attract penalties, while failure to meet the deadline could lead to forfeiture of performance security and blacklisting proceedings.

Consumers can send their grievances and enquiries to the number, according to an official statement.

The announcement comes amid the State government's efforts to ensure the availability of onions at affordable prices following a sustained rise in market rates.

As part of the intervention, onions are being sold at Rs 35 per kg through 8,914 fair price shops and cooperative outlets across Tamil Nadu.

The National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) has also been directed to supply 700 metric tonnes of onions to meet demand across the State.

The procurement and distribution arrangements involve the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the NCCF.

Onion sales at the PDS shops began in Chennai on Saturday (October 10), with distribution scheduled to extend to outlets in other districts from Sunday (October 11).

Ration cardholders are eligible to purchase onions under the initiative.

The government has said the measures are intended to ease the financial burden on consumers, particularly economically weaker and middle-income households, by ensuring access to onions at reasonable prices.

The Inspector of Tiruvottiyur police station was transferred to vacancy reserve following the incident. A detailed inquiry has been ordered into their conduct.

Four policemen in plain clothes went to the house of advocate Sridhar Babu by posing as a real estate brokers. After asking for the original documents of a plot in Porur, the men identified themselves as policemen and told Babu that they would be taking the documents in connection with a complaint pending at their police station.

An argument followed, and two of the men then took the deed and fled in a car. Babu locked the other two inside his house, raised an alarm and alerted his neighbours. Residents gathered at the house and detained the two men before informing Sevvapet police.

Police reached the spot and confirmed that the two men were constables Mani and Perumal, attached to Tiruvottiyur police station. Police said the four had come to retrieve the deed on the instructions of their senior officers following a complaint registered at Tiruvottiyur station.

Police sources said they had registered a Community Service Register (CSR) entry in connection with the land dispute to favour one party. Villagers refused to release the policemen after which police intervened and contacted the policemen who escaped with the documents.

The two men later brought the deed to Sevvapet police station. Police were questioning all four to establish the details of the original complaint, ownership of the property and the circumstances under which the deed was taken from Babu. Further investigations are underway.

According to police, the complainant, was contacted on WhatsApp in 2025 by a person claiming to be Rajeev Mehta, Chief Investment Officer of an investment firm operating from Bangalore. He was then added to a WhatsApp group named ‘FYERSHNIVIP’ which had 50 members.

Police said the group circulated fake chats showing huge profits from investments to lure the victim. Believing it to be genuine, the victim transferred a total of Rs 3.40 crore in 13 installments to various bank accounts across different states as instructed by the fraudsters. When no profit was returned and the phone numbers became unreachable, he realised he was cheated.

He first filed a complaint on the national cyber helpline 1930 in 2025, and later at the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office. A special team was formed to investigate the money trail, which led them to Visakhapatnam, where they secured one of the prime accused, Konathala Krishna (52).

Police said that around Rs 40 lakh, which was taken from the victim, was routed through Krishna’s bank account. A police team secured him on Tuesday (Oct 6) and brought him to the city.

Investigations revealed the Rs 3.4 crore sent in 13 transactions was layered through 20 levels, routed via 150 banks and 27 payment apps into a total of 8,574 bank accounts. So far, police have recovered around Rs 21 lakh and frozen the beneficiary accounts.

Police said most cyber gangs operate with a large network of agents, run transactions from abroad, and use current accounts of small businessmen by luring them with promises of loan or commission. They collect the account holder's SIM card, mobile phone, and net banking passwords to move money quickly.

The CCB has warned entrepreneurs with current accounts not to share bank details, SIM cards, or phones with anyone, stating that doing so is a criminal offence and will invite arrest. Police have appealed to the public not to trust unknown persons contacting via WhatsApp groups, websites, Facebook, or Instagram promising high returns, and to be wary of schemes that pay small initial profits.

To file a complaint about online fraud, call 1930 or click www.cybercrime.gov.in

No such communication had been issued by the Election Department after polling in the Assembly elections.

In a statement, Patnaik said the counting of votes in the by-elections had been completed successfully. She added that Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips had been taken out of the machines, placed in black envelopes and kept in the strong rooms for storage.

Detailing the security arrangements, she said the EVMs had been sealed in the presence of candidates and their representatives before they were locked in the strong rooms.

"EVMs will be kept in the strong room, as per the storage and security protocol prescribed by the Election Commission of India, till the finalisation of a list of election petitions by the Madras High Court. In case any election petition is filed, the EVMs will remain in the strong room till the final disposal of the petitions," Patnaik said.

According to sources, the Chief Electoral Officer issued the instructions to the electoral officers considering a surge in election-related petitions filed before the Madras High Court.

Around 55 election petitions challenging the victories of several high-profile candidates have been filed in 2026 in connection with the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections. This is significantly higher than the 23 petitions filed in 2016 and 14 filed in 2021.

The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election sprang several surprises, including the unusually high number of election petitions filed before the High Court, challenging the victories of several prominent candidates, including Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Poor weather conditions have affected paddy farmers over the past few months, driving prices up during the same period. With reduced paddy yields leading to a shortage, the price of 26-kg bags of rice has increased by Rs 300 to Rs 600, depending on the variety.

Rice required in Tamil Nadu is sourced from the Cauvery delta districts, including Thanjavur, and Madurai, Villupuram, Vikravandi, Salem and Kallakurichi. Supplies also come from neighbouring states Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and West Bengal.

Ponni surges

Traders stated that prices have risen particularly sharply for boiled Ponni rice, raw rice, and parboiled rice processed using steam, commonly known as steam rice. In July, a 26-kg bag of boiled Ponni rice was priced at Rs 1,400. In October, it saw a jump of Rs 500, costing Rs 1,900. Similarly, a 26-kg bag of RNR Ponni rice was priced at Rs 1,700 in July. Today it costs Rs 1,700.

Increase of Rs 20 to Rs 27 per kg

Based on the prices of the rice bags mentioned above, the price of rice has increased by Rs 20 to Rs 27 per kg.

Commenting on the rise in rice prices, Sankaralinga Nathan, owner of Nathan Traders in Chennai's Kothwal Chavadi, said, "Paddy yields have declined due to inadequate rainfall in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, pushing up rice prices."

"Similarly, rice exports from India to foreign countries are currently continuing without restrictions. As a result, traders buy rice here using rupees and sell it in dollars, earning substantial profits. This has also contributed to the rise in rice prices. Therefore, a ban on rice exports could be expected to bring prices down," the trader suggested.

On Saturday, storage at Mettur stood at 27.979 TMC. Of this, 10 TMC is dead storage, and it includes 4 TMC of accumulated silt. While the inflow was unchanged at 1,028 cusecs, outflow was 14,997 cusecs. The substantial difference between inflow and outflow has caused the rapid depletion of reservoir storage.

As the Cauvery delta is entering a critical phase in samba cultivation this year, the success of paddy cultivation in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and adjoining command areas depends on the availability of irrigation water from the Cauvery system, the timing and distribution of northeast monsoon rainfall, and the ability of farmers to manage water efficiently to prevent the adverse impact of water shortage.

Excluding the dead storage, if the inflow and outflow are unchanged, the reserve storage could be exhausted in approximately 16 days.

"As per the current scenario, the daily inflow into Mettur is estimated at 0.136 TMC while the daily outflow is measured at approximately 1.296 TMC (with 15,000 cusecs outflow) and the net storage depletion is estimated at approximately 1,160 TMC. This is a mathematical projection, not a forecast of actual reservoir operation. In practice, releases would be expected to change as storage declines. Drinking-water requirements, outlet constraints and other operating considerations would influence decisions," said A Meenakshi Sundara Arasu, climate adaptation expert and former faculty member of Irrigation Management Training Institute, Tiruchy.

Arasu pointed out that the reservoir would reach the 10 TMC planning threshold by October 27 under the stated assumptions, and the government should plan accordingly to avoid any adverse impact on cultivation.

The water shortage would certainly have an impact in the tail-end regions. Wary of water availability, farmers in certain areas have not commenced cultivation, and it is up to the government to ensure availability for those who have begun cultivation.

Arasu stressed field-level inspection and localised water distribution so that command areas that are yet to commence cultivation are avoided, and areas where farming is under way are not left out.

“A crop can survive at least for four days with the available water source, and then it starts to wilt and wither away subsequently, and so it is essential to ensure water availability to the crops that are in the flowering stage," Arasu said.

He urged the State government to review daily inflow, storage and forecast conditions and divide the Delta into irrigation management zones with clear priorities for head, middle, tail end and commence rotational water supply. "The Agriculture department should compile crop stage information by village and prioritise water release to save the standing crops and field-specific advice," he said.

Arasu also urged the government to publish a daily water balance showing storage, inflow, outflow, estimated usable storage and the implications for irrigation releases. This would enable farmers and local officials to make informed decisions rather than relying on isolated storage figures.

"The immediate priority should be to protect standing samba crops through a transparent, demand-based irrigation strategy, while preserving sufficient water for essential needs and the remaining cultivation season," he added.

The launch was organised by Space Zone India, Martin Group and the US-based Global Help International Foundation at 7 am on October 10.

The two rockets, named RHUMI 1 and RHUMI 2, were developed using hybrid propulsion technology with an indigenous restart mechanism. Each rocket measures 3.1 metres in length and 164 mm in diameter and weighs 35 kg. Data gathered during the experiment is expected to support future research and technological development in the space sector.

The mission also aims to encourage school and college students to participate in practical space research. Students were trained in satellite technology, rocket science, payload systems, avionics, sensors, telemetry, communication and atmospheric studies. Scientific instruments developed by students were integrated into the rockets to collect atmospheric data.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar attended the event as the chief guest and initiated the launch. Former ISRO director and Padma Shri awardee Mylswamy Annadurai and former DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy were among the scientists who attended the event.

Space Zone India, led by Anand Megalingam, said it had trained more than 5,000 students in space technology. Its earlier initiatives included launching 100 femto satellites in 2021, 150 pico satellites in 2023 and a hybrid rocket in 2024.

The Martin Group has reportedly spent more than Rs 1.5 crore from its corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds on the mission, which seeks to expand student participation in India's growing space sector.

Speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, Rahul alleged that the BJP leadership had conspired against the people, democracy and the Constitution.

“What Narendra Modi and Amit Shah need to understand is that no matter what they do, the trap is closing on them. There is no escape from this trap because they have conspired against the people of this country, against democracy and against the Constitution,” he said.

“The entire Opposition and the youth of this country are slowly squeezing the space out. There is no escape. Let me repeat, there is no escape now,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Rahul addressed the Congress’s ‘Student Voice’ event at Island Grounds in Chennai, where he assured students that he would fight to protect their future.

The programme departed from the conventional format of political meetings dominated by lengthy speeches, featuring live music, rap performances and direct interaction with students. Popular music band Thaikkudam Bridge and rapper Therukural Arivu performed at the event. Students from various colleges attended the programme which combined cultural performances with political messaging.

Addressing the students, Rahul spoke about the importance of education, independent thinking and curiosity. Referring to the teachings of Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar and Periyar, he said education should empower individuals to think independently and question authority.

He accused the PM Modi of launching a "full-scale attack" on Tamil language, culture and history, while also claiming that the delimitation exercise is designed to "punish" the State and reduce its voice in Parliament.

He stressed that asking questions and remaining curious were essential qualities for students, adding that a strong future cannot be built by severing ties with a State’s roots.

Addressing the fifth graduation day ceremony of ESIC Medical College and Hospital here as the chief guest, Arlekar said medical education was not merely about acquiring knowledge and clinical skills but also about safeguarding human life, alleviating suffering and serving society with dedication.

Arlekar wished the graduates success in their professional careers and called upon them to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat through dedicated service, professional integrity and a commitment to equitable healthcare.

He called on the graduates to place patients at the centre of their professional practice, emphasising that a doctor's distinction lies not only in clinical competence but also in empathy, integrity, and a strong sense of social responsibility.

The Governor underscored the need to make healthcare accessible and affordable, particularly for disadvantaged sections of society who often face barriers to medical treatment.

He urged the graduates to put their medical knowledge to the service of society and help build a healthier, more inclusive nation.

Emphasising that a nation's progress should not be measured solely by its scientific and technological achievements, the Governor said equal importance must be given to the dignity, care and opportunities extended to every citizen.

The Governor also distributed assistive devices to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) initiative, highlighting the importance of dignity, accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities. Such devices can enhance mobility and independence, enabling beneficiaries to participate more fully in everyday life, he added.

In a joint statement, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian and CPI (ML) Liberation state secretary Pazha Aasaithambi alleged that the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces had unleashed repression, arrests and attacks ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Left parties and mass organisations had extended their support to the protest, they said.

The statement alleged that 254 trains to Delhi were cancelled, 54 Metro stations shut and 35,000 police personnel deployed. It also accused the authorities of ignoring the Supreme Court’s advice that people had the right to hold peaceful protests.

CPM general secretary MA Baby, CPI general secretary D Raja, leaders of CPI(ML) Liberation and several senior party functionaries were among those arrested in Delhi, it noted, adding that leaders and functionaries of Left youth and student organisations had also been detained. Those arrested were allegedly being kept in police vehicles and driven around for several hours.

The Left parties further alleged that the Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel had prevented protesters from assembling at Jantar Mantar by making arrests at different locations. Offices of political parties and mass organisations had also been surrounded by security personnel, they said.

Describing the action as an attack on democracy and the right to protest, the three parties strongly condemned the alleged repression and arrests. They called on their units to organise immediate protest demonstrations at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu, condemning the crackdown and reiterating their demand for Kumar’s removal.

The court was hearing a petition filed by V Durairaj, a Salem resident, challenging the freezing of his bank account and recovery proceedings initiated by the HR&CE department. He was accused of auctioning buffaloes donated by devotees to Arulmigu Bathrakaliamman Temple in Mecheri without authorisation and making unlawful gains.

Durairaj contended that the order freezing his bank account was passed without issuing a show-cause notice or providing him an opportunity for a personal hearing, thereby violating the principles of natural justice.

After hearing the petition, Justice Krishnan Ramasamy observed that the sale of over 200 buffaloes raised serious concerns about the supervision and management of the temple's livestock. The court noted a serious lapse on the part of the temple's Executive Officer in safeguarding the animals.

Despite the authorities claiming that a notice had been issued to the petitioner, the court found no reference to it in the impugned order. Holding that the order violated the principles of natural justice, the court set it aside and directed the bank to allow Durairaj to operate his account.

The court, however, clarified that the authorities could initiate proceedings against him after issuing proper notice, providing an opportunity for a personal hearing and conducting a detailed inquiry.

When the state informed the court that the unauthorised sale had fetched approximately Rs 83 lakh, the court directed the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action against all those responsible. It specifically called for action against the temple's Executive Officer for failure to discharge supervisory duties.

In a statement, Stalin alleged that former Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and Manik Sarkar, along with CPM general secretary MA Baby and leaders of various student organisations, had been detained while protesting to protect people's voting rights.

He criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for remaining in office with Z plus security while those protesting against the SIR exercise were being detained.

Stalin alleged that the protests had exposed a conspiracy behind the SIR exercise and criticised the restrictions imposed in Delhi, including barricading and internet shutdowns. He said such measures would not suppress the protests by young people across the country.

Turning his criticism towards the TVK-led alliance government, Stalin alleged it was trying to appease the Union government by detaining CPM state secretary P Shanmugam and other activists protesting the SIR exercise and demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.

Stalin demanded the immediate release of all those detained, the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from office, a halt to the SIR exercise and accountability for those responsible for what he described as a betrayal of the people's interests.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the arrest of youths who staged a peaceful protest in Besant Nagar demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

Udhayanidhi accused the TVK government of suppressing democratic dissent and demanded the immediate release of the arrested protesters.

He questioned why the Chief Minister was acting against the protesters when their agitation had received support from various quarters, including some parties which support the Vijay government from the outside.

The promotion was made on the instructions of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in recognition of her achievements in the sport.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had also announced and presented an incentive of Rs 60 lakh to Chinappa recently for her performance at the Asian Games. Chinappa had won a bronze medal in mixed doubles with fellow Indian player Velavan Senthilkumar and another as part of the Indian women's team at the 2026 Asian Games.

A prominent figure in international squash, Chinappa has represented India at seven Asian Games between 2002 and 2026. She won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2014 Asian Games. With her two latest bronze medals, her overall Asian Games medal tally has risen to seven.

Chinappa had been serving as deputy director of sports at TNPDCL while continuing to compete at the international level. Her elevation to director of sports recognises her long-standing contribution to the sport and her recent achievements at the Asian Games.

TNPDCL congratulated Chinappa on her promotion and sporting achievements and wished her success in her future sporting career and official responsibilities.

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s breakfast scheme has been recently expanded to cover students from Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools. Renamed Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme (PKBFS), the expanded programme now covers around 34.64 lakh students across 44,984 schools, with an additional 15.30 lakh students brought under the scheme through the latest expansion.

Sources: New breakfast menu for govt school students: Check details 

https://negd.gov.in/isl/Directory/statedata/477

https://www.tnpscthervupettagam.com/articles-detail/tamil-nadu-chief-minister%E2%80%99s-breakfast-scheme-part-1/?cat=gk-articles

https://en.vikaspedia.in/viewcontent/schemesall/state-specific-schemes/welfare-schemes-of-tamil-nadu/perunthalaivar-kamarajar-breakfast-scheme-of-tamil-nadu-govt?lgn=en

https://www.tnsocialwelfare.tn.gov.in/en/specilisationsnutritious-meal-programme/chief-ministers-breakfast-scheme

https://www.govtschemes.in/tamil-nadu-perunthalaivar-kamarajar-breakfast-scheme

The clarification comes amid objections to the temporary postings, with doctors raising concerns over the absence of the usual counselling process, relocation difficulties and the implications for their choice of permanent workplaces.

Explaining the rationale, Arunraj said the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted medical education and counselling schedules, leading to administrative complications in previous years. Counselling for doctors who completed their postgraduate courses in October 2025 was held only in December, creating difficulties in salary payments and other service-related procedures during the intervening period.

The government introduced the temporary arrangement to ensure that the current batch did not face similar problems, he said.

According to the minister, the postings were allotted based on the three preferred locations submitted by doctors in their applications. Where vacancies were unavailable at their chosen locations, nearby alternatives were assigned, taking into account family circumstances and the difficulties of relocating over long distances.

The government would issue guidelines requiring Last Pay Certificates (LPCs) and transferring service registers within 30 days, to enable doctors to receive their salaries without interruption from the first month at their new postings, the minister said.

He stressed that the arrangement was purely temporary and would not curtail doctors' rights in the regular counselling process.

Under Government Order 131, all posts filled through the interim arrangement would be included in the next counselling exercise. Regular counselling would be conducted transparently based on the Civil Medical List (CML) and seniority, allowing doctors with temporary postings to compete for vacancies in accordance with their eligibility and seniority, Arunraj said.

The minister also said the government was addressing procedural delays in the counselling schedule to ensure that future exercises were conducted on time and similar administrative complications were avoided.