The deceased, identified as Periasamy, a daily wager of Bungalowthotti village, was returning home after work with a food parcel for dinner when he came under attack by the carnivore.

As he didn’t reach home, the family members and villagers searched and found his partially consumed body along a stream near the forest fringes on Sunday. As the body bore injuries consistent with a wild animal attack, the shocked villagers informed the Hasanur police and the forest department.

Forest officials, who inspected the spot, suspected that a leopard had strayed out of the forest and attacked him before feeding on his body. The irate villagers staged a protest refusing to allow the forest department to take the body for a post-mortem.

They blamed the forest department of failing to trap the animal preying on their livestock for the past several months. After the forest officials assured that efforts would be taken to trap the leopard, and patrolling intensified by deploying additional anti-poaching watchers, the villagers withdrew their protest.

The body was subsequently sent to Sathyamangalam Government Hospital for post-mortem. An official of the forest department, however, said that only a post-mortem would reveal the carnivore involved in the attack.

Murugumaran, who served as an AIADMK organising secretary, announced his resignation and subsequently joined the TVK in the presence of party general secretary N Anand, a move that could strengthen the fledgling party’s organisational base in Cuddalore district.

In his resignation, Murugumaran recalled his long association with the AIADMK and said the party had played a significant role in his political career. However, he expressed dissatisfaction with how the party has handled affairs lately.

He alleged that workers who had remained committed to the party for years were being overlooked, while financially influential individuals were being given greater prominence.

Murugumaran had represented the Kattumannarkoil Assembly constituency in 2011 and 2016. He later received the AIADMK ticket to contest the reserved Tittakudi constituency in the 2026 Assembly election, where he finished third.

His exit comes as the TVK expands its organisational network by inducting leaders and functionaries from established political parties, particularly the AIADMK.

In a representation to the CEO, Archana Patnaik, G Chandrabose, deputy secretary of the DMK state legal wing, said campaigning for the October 6 by-elections must end at 5 pm on Sunday, when the silence period begins.

The DMK said the ECI had issued instructions requiring political parties and campaigners to observe the silence period across media. The party alleged that the proposed TVK campaign after the deadline on Sunday could undermine the restriction and give the party an unfair advantage by enabling continued electioneering.

The DMK sought directions restraining campaigning in the two constituencies after 5 pm, including through social media, digital media, video messages, live broadcasts, advertisements, public statements, interviews and online promotions.

The DMK functionary also sought instructions to District Election Officers, Returning Officers, flying squads, media-monitoring committees, social media monitoring teams and police authorities to ensure implementation of the silence period.

He urged the authorities to monitor violations and take immediate action in accordance with the law against individuals or political parties for any such violation.

The representation said urgent intervention was necessary to ensure a free, fair and level playing field for all candidates and preserve the purity and integrity of the electoral process.

The deceased, Anwar Basha of Vellalapatti Old Colony, was walking near the Vellalapatti panchayat office around 9 am, when the accused Ezhumalai confronted him and slit his throat with a butcher's knife.

Police inquiries revealed that the duo quarrelled while consuming liquor at a private bar a month ago. As a quarrel broke out over the same issue on Sunday, Anwar Basha grabbed a knife from a meat shop located nearby and attempted to attack Ezhumalai, who, however, overpowered him, snatched the knife and slit his throat.

Police said the accused then fled away from the spot and later surrendered at the Karuppur police station. Meanwhile, the relatives of the deceased staged a protest demanding the arrest of the accused and closure of the liquor shop in their neighbourhood. Following their demand, the officials of the revenue department inspected and ordered the liquor shop and the bar to be locked and sealed.

Campaigning ended at 6pm, as mandated by the Election Commission, ahead of Tuesday's polling in the two reserved constituencies. TVK, DMK, AIADMK, NTK and the Left parties are locked in a five-way contest.

Counting is scheduled for October 9.

The TVK is seeking to win both seats and raise its strength in the 234-member Assembly to 109, nine short of the majority mark.

The bypolls were necessitated by the resignation of sitting AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama, who joined the TVK. Vijay has renominated both, turning the contests into a direct battle with the DMK and AIADMK.

The DMK has fielded former MLA I Paranthamen in Madurantakam and Suganya in Dharapuram, while the AIADMK is seeking to regain the seats. The NTK, CPM and CPI have also fielded candidates.

The Left parties accused the TVK and other parties of distributing cash.

The arrest was made in Tamil Nadu and the agency will approach the court seeking transit remand of the accused officer to bring him to the national capital for questioning, they said.

The agency had received inputs about the alleged bribe demand following which an FIR was registered, the officials said.

The wet spell will continue into October 7 and 8, with moderate rain likely over the Western Ghat districts, southern districts, and the Delta region. Light rain is expected to cover the rest of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during this period, it added.

According to the weather bulletin, an atmospheric trough extending from an upper air cyclonic circulation lying over the Gulf of Mannar and adjoining south coastal Tamil Nadu across interior Tamil Nadu and north Kerala toward the East Central Arabian Sea is likely to bring rainfall to several parts of the State.

Also, moderate rain with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds is likely over Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Tirupattur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Karur, Tiruchy, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Kanniyakumari, and also Puducherry and Karaikal area.

In Chennai, light to moderate showers with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur during the evening and night on Monday. The city's maximum temperature may touch 36 degrees Celsius on Monday, while the minimum temperature will hover around 26 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature is expected to rise by 2-3 degrees above normal on Monday and will be near normal for the next couple of days over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal areas.

The relatives, who questioned the hospital over the circumstances surrounding her death, also alleged that doctors performed a surgical delivery without informing the family and later took her for surgery to remove her uterus. Police attempted to hold talks with the protesting relatives, but they refused to receive the body.

Vanitha of Keezhachalur village near Sivaganga, wife of Kannan, was pregnant with their third child. The couple has two daughters, Rithika, 5, and Rishika, 3. Doctors had reportedly told the family that Vanitha was expected to deliver after October 10.

Vanitha went to the hospital for a check-up on September 29. According to her relatives, doctors told them that her blood count was low and advised her to undergo a blood transfusion the next day. She was given the transfusion on September 30.

However, as her condition reportedly deteriorated, doctors performed a surgical delivery without informing her relatives, they alleged. Vanitha delivered a baby girl.

Her condition subsequently worsened and doctors took her to the operation theatre for surgery to remove her uterus, according to the relatives. Within a few minutes, doctors informed them that Vanitha had died due to heavy bleeding.

The relatives questioned the doctors over the decision to perform a surgical delivery without obtaining her husband's consent. They also questioned why a surgical delivery was performed when her two previous children had been delivered normally.

The relatives later refused to receive the body and allegedly had a heated argument with hospital staff, claiming that Vanitha died due to medical negligence.

Embraer and Mahindra said on October 1 that they were working with the Maharashtra government and had identified Nagpur as a potential site for a Final Assembly Line (FAL) for C-390 aircraft in India. The facility, however, will be established only if the Centre selects the C-390 for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) programme and places an order.

The announcement prompted Rajaa to question why Tamil Nadu could not retain the project despite its established aerospace and defence ecosystem and engineering capabilities. He said the State had earlier showcased its aerospace strengths to Embraer and maintained that projects of this scale required sustained engagement and follow-up.

“Investment projects do not come on autopilot. They require relentless follow-up and sustained government effort,” Rajaa said in his social media post.

His reaction came after Mahindra said it was working with the Maharashtra government to complete the processes required for the proposed facility. The company also acknowledged the state government’s support in facilitating land and other requirements.

The proposed Nagpur facility is expected to support aircraft assembly, systems integration, manufacturing engineering and development of a domestic aerospace supply chain. If the partnership secures the IAF contract, Indian aerospace companies are expected to be progressively integrated into manufacturing, maintenance, training and lifecycle support.

The development has opened a fresh political debate in Tamil Nadu over its ability to compete for large aerospace and defence projects, with Rajaa questioning whether the State’s investment-promotion machinery did enough to retain a potentially significant industrial opportunity.

In a statement, the Directorate said documentary verification established that S Uma Maheswari was from Karnataka. She had come to her mother’s house for delivery and underwent a Caesarean section at the Karaikudi government hospital on September 17, 2026.

The department said she received all medical treatment free of cost and was provided adequate postnatal care following the delivery.

It said Uma Maheswari was informed at the time of her discharge from the hospital on September 29 that she was not eligible to avail herself of the benefits under the 'Thai Maman Thanga Mothiram' scheme.

The clarification was issued after the department verified her documents and established her state of origin, according to the statement.

The Directorate stressed that her ineligibility for the gold-ring scheme did not affect the maternity services provided to her at the government hospital. She received the Caesarean procedure as well as postnatal medical care without charge, it said.

The clarification comes amid attention over the scheme's eligibility criteria, with the health department reiterating that the woman was provided free medical care despite not qualifying for the gold-ring benefit.

She said frequent elections caused inconvenience to the public. “Instead of focusing on roadshows, if the Chief Minister concentrates on people’s problems from his office, people will benefit more,” she said.

Talking to reporters after flagging off the ‘Happy Doctor Marathon 2026’ at Island Grounds here, organised to honour doctors for their service, Tamilisai said the event was a tribute to the medical fraternity and its contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the marathon also sought to promote awareness about preventive medicine and the importance of maintaining physical and mental health. Regular running and exercise would help people stay healthy, she said.

Recalling the role of doctors during the pandemic, Tamilisai said they had risked their lives to protect people and deserved society’s gratitude.

She urged the younger generation to spend less time on mobile phones and pay greater attention to walking and exercise. She also advised people to reduce their consumption of foods such as pizza and burgers and include more vegetables, fruits and traditional foods in their diets.

Traditional foods such as idli and dosa provide essential nutrients, including carbohydrates and protein, she said, stressing the need for moderation in food intake and maintaining a healthy weight.

“No matter how much we earn, health is our basic capital,” Tamilisai said, highlighting the importance of initiatives that promote health awareness.

“I will tolerate criticism directed at me, but I will never remain silent when women are subjected to disrespectful remarks,” Vijay said, referring to alleged body-shaming remarks by DMK president MK Stalin against the party’s candidate for Dharapuram constituency, P Sathyabama.

“Not only him, but those brought up under his leadership have also resorted to similar comments. I did not say this merely for votes,” he said, while making a stopover during his nearly 30 km road show.

Vijay further alleged that the DMK had a long history of making derogatory remarks against women, dating back to the days of former Chief Ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. “Both leaders stood firm against the DMK and were cautious about aligning with it. But see what is happening today,” he said, in an apparent reference to the present political alignments.

Without naming the AIADMK, Vijay alleged that the DMK and other parties had entered into a discreet understanding. Rejecting the charge that he had returned to Dharapuram for a second campaign visit out of fear of defeat, Vijay said he was not someone who met people only during elections.

“I am not someone who comes to meet people only during elections. I will meet my sonthangal (kin) anytime and as often as possible,” he said.

The actor-turned-politician's 30 km roadshow was marked by a bullock-cart ride and interactions with farmers. At the Five Roads junction, he climbed onto a bullock cart and drove it for a short distance. En route, he got down from his campaign vehicle to pose for photographs with two Kangayam bulls brought to welcome him in Kulathupalayam.

During a visit to a drumstick farm, farmers presented Vijay with a bunch of drumsticks. He also walked along parts of the route, waving to people who had gathered to see him.

In a video message on the final day of campaigning, Stalin appealed to voters to assess the government’s performance and the issues affecting their daily lives before exercising their franchise.

Addressing voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, Stalin alleged that the TVK government had failed to serve the people and accused it of taking Tamil Nadu backwards.

His remarks came shortly before campaigning ended for the October 6 bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram.

He further alleged that the government’s priority was to find ways to ‘buy MLAs’ to protect itself in office, instead of addressing the people's concerns.

Stalin also accused the ruling party of betraying voters and alleged that it had put the self-respect of those who voted for it ‘up for sale’.

“They have put a price on the self-respect of those who voted. You should teach them a fitting lesson in this election so that such injustices do not recur in the future,” he said.

The DMK chief urged voters to reject what he described as the ruling party’s arrogance and to make their choice after considering the impact of decisions such as the electricity tariff hike and the rising cost of essential commodities.

In a statement on Sunday, the association referred to Indian Road Congress (IRC) code 67-2022, which deals with road signs, and said Clause 16.3.2.5 contemplates direction signs carrying more than two languages and refers to English, Hindi, and regional-language fonts. It said the code is applicable to roads open to public travel, including State Highways, and is intended to provide clear and timely information to road users and promote road safety.

The suspension required reconsideration, as there was no evidence to establish that the two engineers had deliberately violated the government’s two-language policy or had instructed, approved, measured, or certified the disputed signboard, the association said.

The association stressed that, in its view, the technical provisions of IRC:67-2022 did not override Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy, which it said it fully respected. It further claimed that neither engineer had instructed or approved the contractor to provide the Hindi lettering.

The association said the mere erection of a signboard by a contractor within an engineer’s jurisdiction could not, by itself, establish misconduct or personal responsibility on the part of the engineer. It called for the records relating to the contractor’s instructions, execution, inspection, approval, measurement, and certification to be examined before responsibility was fixed.

The association said the work had been executed through the National Highways Wing under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) funding and that the contractor had previous experience in National Highway and NHAI works. It said this raised the possibility that the contractor had independently adopted a multilingual sign layout based on its previous experience, which it said should be verified from the official records.

Also, the additional lettering could be removed without causing structural damage to the road or permanently affecting road safety, it said, arguing that the nature and gravity of the alleged lapse should be assessed objectively and proportionately.

The association urged the government to review and revoke the suspension, examine the matter with reference to IRC:67-2022, the sanctioned estimate, agreement conditions and applicable government instructions, and verify whether the two engineers had actually instructed, approved, measured, or certified the disputed signboard.

It also sought an examination of the contractor’s role and the complete execution records, and said individual responsibility should be fixed only on the basis of established facts and due process.

The association reiterated its support for the State’s two-language policy but said disciplinary action against engineers should be based on established individual responsibility, documentary evidence, applicable technical provisions, and principles of natural justice.

He made the remarks during roadshow in bypoll bound Dharapuram in Tiruppur district and alleged DMK leaders were attacking women.

Pointing to recent political speeches targeting women leaders, he said, "I told you earlier if you vote for the DMK and certain others, it amounts to endorsing those who speak obscenely about women and humiliate them in public spaces. I didn't say that just to score political points. Look at what happened the day before yesterday".

He was referring to certain alleged controversial remarks by DMK president M K Stalin against TVK's Dharapuram bypoll candidate P Satyabama. Vijay and his party leaders have described Stalin's criticism as amounting to "body-shaming" the woman candidate.

"What kind of vile speech did he (Stalin) make against our sister, Sathyabama. It was so vulgar that one cannot even bear to listen to it. And is he the only one speaking like this. Every single person he has nurtured and brought up is delivering the exact same cheap rhetoric."

"Speak whatever you want about me. I will take it. But if you dare speak against our sister, or against the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our households, I will not stay quiet. This marks a return to the era of MGR," he said referring to late CM and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran.

During his roadshow on his preferred customised caravan, the TN CM also interacted with the voters. He also took a bullock cart ride for a short distance.

He also received several gifts, flowers, garlands and party towels during the road show.

On the way, he offered prayers at Moolanur Vanchiamman shrine, where he was accorded traditional temple honours.

The deceased was identified as Laiju (40), a native of Koodathayi in Thamarassery, while the injured was Shafeeq Abdul Salam (35), a native of Kollam.

Police have taken Paneerselvam and Egan, natives of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, into custody in connection with the incident, officials said.

The incident occurred around 9 pm on Saturday at a rented accommodation in Anappara, Pulpally, where they were residing, police said.

According to police, a fight broke out while they were consuming liquor together, following which one of the accused allegedly attacked Shafeeq and Laiju with a machete.

Laiju suffered serious injuries to his neck, while Shafeeq sustained injuries to his back.

Both were rushed to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, where Laiju succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Pulpally police registered a case and launched an investigation.

Police are interrogating Paneerselvam and Egan, and their arrest will be recorded later, officials added.

The body of the deceased will be handed over to relatives after postmortem, police said.

According to official sources, the espionage operation involved a social media "honey-trap".

The Andhra Pradesh Police Counter Intelligence (CI) cell arrested 31-year-old Pradeep Mukherjee on October 3 at INS Agrani, a naval leadership training facility in Coimbatore.

Mukherjee, a West Bengal native who joined the Navy in 2014, was actively posted with the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.

At the time of his arrest, he was attending a management development course and had been at the Coimbatore facility for approximately one week.

A female Pakistani intelligence operative reportedly contacted Mukherjee several months ago. Over time, the handler leveraged the online relationship to extract sensitive data regarding strategic naval assets, fleet movements, and the operational framework of the Visakhapatnam base.

The CI cell, a specialised unit tasked with countering cross-border espionage and terror threats, initiated the investigation after detecting suspicious digital footprints linked to the sailor, subsequently placing him under surveillance.

TN CM Vijay left Chennai in a special aircraft around 11.30 am and reached Coimbatore at about 12.20 pm.

TVK sources said that he flew to Dharapuram by a helicopter.

He was received by his senior cabinet ministers, including TVK general secretary and Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources N Anand, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K A Sengottaiyan at Dharapuram.

Vijay started his campaign around 1 pm.

The planned campaign route is expected to cover more than 20 public-contact points over around 40 km in the Dharapuram area.

The campaign procession will pass through key stretches, including the Periyar statue junction, five roads junction, and Meenakshipuram, before proceeding toward Kulathupalayam, Karaiyur, and the Vanjiamman temple area.

With Sunday being a holiday, huge crowd have already gathered since morning 11 am along the route.

This will be Chief Minister Vijay’s second campaign visit to the constituency, following his September 30 rally.

Polling for the Dharapuram and Madurantakam constituencies will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9.

While addressing a gathering from a campaign vehicle near the Periyar statue on the Dharapuram-Udumalpet Road on Saturday, Udhayanidhi had a boy brought onto the vehicle.

The boy also made disparaging remarks against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay while seeking votes for the DMK. A video of the incident subsequently circulated on social media, following which TVK functionaries lodged a complaint with the Dharapuram police and election officials.

Following this, the police registered a case against Udhayanidhi under provisions relating to the violation of election guidelines prohibiting political parties and candidates from involving children in election campaigns. An inquiry is under way.

The fishermen were arrested on Saturday for having crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line in Sri Lankan waters south of Delft Island, Jaffna, the island nation's navy said in a statement.

"During the operation, one Indian fishing trawler was seized, while nine Indian fishermen on board were taken into custody by SLNS Samudura," it said.

Those apprehended were taken to Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for further legal proceedings.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.

The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.

Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other’s waters.

The seizures were made as the Election Commission stepped up surveillance to prevent the clandestine distribution of cash and gift articles to voters. Campaigning for the bypoll ends on Saturday evening.

In the latest seizure, flying squad officials intercepted a car near Sotthupakkam Road on Friday while it was travelling towards Vandavasi and found Rs 4 lakh being carried without valid documents. The cash was seized and handed over to the treasury at the Madurantakam Tahsildar's office.

Earlier, during a vehicle check near Ramapuram on Saturday morning, a flying squad stopped a car travelling from Vandavasi towards Chennai and found Rs 31.30 lakh concealed inside it. Another car checked in the same

Poll officials seized Rs 31.30 lakh cash during a vehicle check near Ramapuram in a Chennai bound car from Vandavasi area was found carrying Rs 80,000, which was also seized.

In a separate check on Bazaar Street in Achcharapakkam, officials intercepted a car and seized Rs 2 lakh being carried without supporting documents.

The flying squad also conducted a search at a private lodge near Sotthupakkam and seized Rs 13 lakh from a person who could not produce valid documents for the cash.

The Election Commission has deployed 12 flying squads in the Madurantakam constituency to conduct intensive vehicle checks and inspections during the final phase of campaigning. The seized cash was handed over to the treasury.

Speaking to reporters at the Sivaganga Congress office, Chidambaram said Vijay appeared to be adapting to the demands of electoral politics.

His comments came amid questions about the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)’s campaign and allegations that the party was distributing money to voters in a by-election. Chidambaram said he had no information about the alleged money distribution.

If such payments had indeed been made, he added, it would not be the first time such a practice had occurred in Tamil Nadu.

The Congress MP also touched upon the changing political alignments in the State, noting that one party had left the INDIA bloc while another had joined it. He welcomed the TVK’s participation in the day’s meeting, signalling the evolving political equations ahead of the elections.

The electoral process itself, however, needed greater attention, he said, taking aim at the Election Commission. The poll body was expected to facilitate voting for citizens aged 18 and above, but he alleged it instead focused on removing eligible voters.

Moving from electoral politics to issues affecting voters in their daily lives, Chidambaram backed the free bus travel scheme for women, saying greater use of public transport could reduce private vehicle use, traffic congestion and fuel expenditure. He also welcomed increased reliance on government transport services.

The use of government transport infrastructure for political branding, however, was another matter, he said, observing that ruling parties painting transport corporation buses in their party colours was a common practice.

Similarly, he said, questions of accessibility and public convenience should guide decisions on road signboards, referring to the controversy over the use of Hindi.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has registered another case against the businessman, taking the total number of cases against him to five.

The SIT did not divulge any details of the complaint except that it is from a Chennai resident.

On the same day, a woman from Tiruvannamalai approached the SIT through their WhatsApp helpline 9345319676, alleging that Veeramani sexually abused her when she was a minor.

No case has been registered so far, as the police are still verifying the veracity of her complaint.

Veeramani, who ran GEM granites and a group of companies and his associates have been in prison since August 29.

A pendrive with the video was sent to the city police’s Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit in October 2025 and a case was registered on October 7, 2025.

However, the city police filed a closure report in February 2026, stating that the video was unclear; the report was, however, rejected by a special court judge, forcing the police to begin their investigations again.

The police identified the elderly man in the video as Veeramani and began a probe. Another person, Ganesan (42), a former employee of Veermani, was arrested for being in possession of a video of Veermani sexually abusing a minor and not alerting the police.

The case has eventually been transferred to an all-woman SIT, supervised by the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj.

On Thursday, Amalraj had issued orders directing to detain Veeramani and two of his associates, Mahandra Simhan (63) and Shanthi (60), under the Goondas Act.

Veeramani case: Initial investigator moved to VR

Inspector C Mahesh Kumar, who was part of the anti-vice squad (AVS) team that initially probed the complaint against Gem Granites chairman R Veeramani in 2025, has been transferred and placed on Vacancy Reserve (VR) with immediate effect on administrative grounds on Saturday.

Mahesh Kumar, who was serving as an Inspector at the Meenambakkam police station, has been directed to report to the police control room.

He had served as an AVS inspector in 2025 when an NGO submitted a complaint against Veeramani along with a pen drive containing a video clip that, according to the complaint, showed the businessman sexually abusing a minor girl.

The complaint was initially registered by the Chennai Central Crime Branch (CCB) and was later forwarded to AVS for investigation.

Mahesh Kumar was assigned as the investigating officer after the complaint was transferred to AVS.

A group of 20 tourists from Tiruvannamalai arrived in Munnar on a sightseeing trip in a mini-bus on Saturday morning.

While travelling towards Munnar via Nedumkandam in Idukki district, the bus went out of the driver's control near Karunapuram, beyond Nedumkandam on the Nedumkandam–Munnar road, tilted to one side and met with an accident.

Fourteen tourists travelling on the bus were injured in the accident.

Residents rescued them all and sent them to Theni Government Medical College Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.

Association general secretary PS Masilamani said the order would exclude a large section of farmers from accessing subsidised fertiliser. He also objected to the requirement for farmers to register their identity through the Framework for Fertiliser Sale (FFS) mobile app, which allows access only on submission of land ownership documents.

“Instead of regulating fertiliser distribution, the Union government has restricted the subsidy for fertiliser. This would affect farming activities,” he said.

Masilamani said more than 60 per cent of farmers in Tamil Nadu were tenant farmers who either cultivated land belonging to temples and mutts or leased land from others.

“The present order of the Union government would affect a large section of farmers in Tamil Nadu and so the order should be withdrawn immediately,” he said.

He also urged the Union government to extend the benefits of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and pension for farmers aged 60 and above to tenant farmers.

According to police, SP E Sundaravadanam formed a special team headed by the Thiruvonam Sub Inspector to curb the anti-social activities at Orathanadu.

Other team members included Head Constable Dharmalingam, policemen Jagan and Chinnadurai.

In such a backdrop, SI Kumaravel had secured an accused involved in a theft case at Orathanadu and retrieved the stolen jewellery.

Instead of handing over the recovered jewellery to the owners, the SI and his team had kept the jewellery for themselves.

Subsequently, the victim lodged a complaint with the SP Sundaravadanam, who conducted an internal inquiry in which the members of the special team were found to be lethargic and derelict in their duty.

Following this, the SP transferred the team to the Armed Reserve Force on Saturday.

After considering various car models, the government said it has zeroed in on the Mahindra Scorpio as the vehicle for MLAs, after the company showcased its lineup in a jiffy following an announcement in the Assembly. Around 175 of the 234 legislators, excluding those from the DMK, are expected to receive the SUVs within the next few weeks, a government official said.

The DMK, however, has made it clear that its 59 MLAs do not want government-provided cars. The party recently wrote to the Assembly Secretariat stating that its legislators did not require the facility. All its MLAs, including alliance candidates elected on the DMK symbol, have signed the letter.

The request has now been referred to the Chief Minister, who is yet to take a decision on whether to accept the DMK's refusal.

"Following that, other issues, including guidelines and the usage of the cars, will be decided. The letter is on the Chief Minister's table, and he will take the final call on the issue," the official said.

The DMK's decision sets it apart from several other parties in the Assembly. The AIADMK and PMK have decided to accept the government cars, while the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has taken a more selective approach.

The TVK has already announced that only MLAs who require the facility will use it, with those who do not need the cars opting out. However, it is yet to be known how many TVK MLAs will actually reject the facility.

The government car package goes beyond the vehicle itself. According to Chief Minister Vijay's announcement, each MLA will also receive Rs 75,000 a month towards the driver's salary, fuel and maintenance expenses. An additional Rs 25,000 a month will be provided as a personal assistance allowance.

With the Scorpio decision settled, the government's immediate task is therefore less about choosing the vehicle and more about settling who will actually take the keys.

Today, Sugandhi is a Bengaluru-based wildlife filmmaker-cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer, and has made My Otter Diary, a documentary she directed, filmed and narrated. Centred on Maya, a smooth-coated otter, the film follows her family while also looking beyond the animals to explore the river, its ecosystem and the fishing communities that depend on it. Sugandhi’s connection to the Cauvery, too, began in childhood. While visiting the river during her school holidays, she noticed something briefly surfacing in the water before disappearing. “I was like, what was that thing that I saw? Someone later told me it was an otter and I never saw it again, but the fleeting encounter lingered,” she recalls.

Years later, Sugandhi and her husband and filmmaking partner Raghunath ‘Rana’ Belur, both members of the IUCN Otter Specialist Group, went to the Cauvery to make My Otter Diary. “There we found a family of otters and started observing them. Otters are so elusive, like an illusion. That’s how she got her name Maya,” she explains. Sugandhi, Rana and Shivanna 'Shivu', a local fisherman who features in the film, spent weeks watching them, using long telephoto lenses from the opposite bank, camera traps and underwater GoPros. Gradually, the family revealed distinct personalities: Maya was graceful and poised, while the youngsters were playful. One sub-adult even used to chew anything made of rubber. “We never ever went close to them because that’s when we get to see them as they are,” Sugandhi says.

Living with the otters

Soon, the waiting became a way of life for them. After the COVID-19 lockdown, Sugandhi and Rana moved to a village near the Cauvery and rented a small house. Their days began around 5 am, with the two taking positions along the river based on previous sightings and camera-trap footage. There was no guarantee the otters would appear. “Some days we would just watch the river, enjoy the bird calls and get bitten by a thousand mosquitoes,” she chuckles.

One of the documentary’s most demanding sequences involved otters stealing fish from fishermen’s nets, something Shivu had observed. The filmmakers used underwater GoPros and developed a system using a special cable to remotely trigger the camera when an otter approached. After repeated attempts, they finally recorded the otters raiding fishing nets underwater. “For us, it was very special to actually have recorded that moment,” Sugandhi says. “There is this dedicated relationship between the fishing communities and the otters, but it’s also a complex one because otters have adapted to stealing from fishermen,” Sugandhi says. Pollution, changing landscapes and possible declines in fish numbers add further pressure to a river both depend on.

The river also constantly complicated the shoot. Rising water submerged camera traps and destroyed footage, while filming from a coracle made it difficult to maintain a steady frame. Disturbances along the riverbank also caused otters to shift dens, forcing the filmmakers to search for them again.

After years of filming, Sugandhi, Rana and Chennai-based editor Joseph Raja spent around nine months sifting through the footage to shape the final film. For Sugandhi, narrating the documentary brought the journey full circle. “I wanted my story, my journey to be in my voice,” she says.

My Otter Diary has received international recognition, including at the Jackson Wild Media Awards, Accolade Global Film Competition and Best Shorts Competition. “I want to talk more about lesser-known species, about the beautiful natural heritage that India has,” she concludes.

Justice Sunder Mohan confirmed the family court's order. The woman had filed a maintenance petition before the family court. She stated that she had been acquainted with her future spouse in 2014 through a common friend. The man had introduced himself as a movie producer and later said he had an educational institution, while the woman was a model.

The man, who was married at the time, had expressed his love for her, which she refused and later, in August 2016, he convinced her that he was in a troubled marriage and had divorced his wife. According to her, he also allegedly showed a copy of the divorce order.

The couple then married at a temple in Uthiramerur on January 20, 2020, and lived with their son, born in March 2021. His family members visited her and the baby and celebrated festivals with them.

She stated that the man stopped seeing her and their son from June 2022, but his parents continued to visit them. She claimed she was unable to maintain herself and the child, as she couldn't continue her job after childbirth. She sought Rs 6 lakh a month for herself and Rs 4 lakh for their son, claiming the man was earning Rs 30 lakh a month.

The man had denied the allegations, including that he had married the woman or lived with her. The family court held that the man had suppressed his existing marriage and could not take advantage of his own wrong. It awarded Rs 1 lakh a month as maintenance to the woman and Rs 1.5 lakh to the minor son in March 2026.

Challenging the order, the man approached the Madras High Court.

The High Court observed that strict proof of marriage was not essential for a claim under Section 125 of the CrPC when the relationship was continuous and had existed for a sufficiently long period, in which case marriage could be presumed.

The court also relied on the child's birth certificate, Aadhaar and photographs to conclude that the relationship had been continuous and that the man had treated the woman as his wife.

The court noted that the family court had determined the man's monthly income at Rs 10 lakh and that he had not disputed the finding. The man had claimed the woman had sufficient means to maintain herself and owned a flat worth Rs 1.70 crore and two luxury cars. However, evidence showed that the woman did not have a regular source of income.

Considering the parties' status and her lack of regular income, the High Court held that the monthly maintenance of Rs 2.5 lakh was reasonable and dismissed the criminal revision petition.

The Mylapore Area All Fishermen Village Panchayat Council has called for the protest, demanding withdrawal of GO 564 for the new Assembly with Secretariat Complex construction at Pattinapakkam.

The protest will be held at 10 am at the Mullikuppam-Srinivasapuram Loop Road junction. Residents will also hoist black flags along the beach stretches of the 10 villages.

The fishermen had earlier staged a protest on September 29, demanding that the government withdraw the order and retain the land for the fishing community. The latest protest was announced as part of their continued opposition to the proposed land allocation.

According to the Fishermen Village Panchayat council, the land covered under Survey Nos. 4592 and 4593 was acquired under GO Ms no. 3313 dated October 10, 1957, specifically for the rehabilitation and long-term housing of local fishermen.

The council said diverting the land for the Secretariat project would violate the government's earlier commitment. It also cited State climate vulnerability assessments, claiming Mullikuppam is projected to remain safe from sea level rise until 2050 and 2100.

Fishermen urged the government to recognise the area as a fishermen residential zone under the CRZ Notification 2019.

Polling in the two constituencies will be held on Tuesday from 7 am to 6 pm. Under the Representation of the People Act, public meetings and processions connected with the elections will be prohibited during the 48-hour period preceding the close of polling.

The public display or propagation of election-related matters through television, cinema, FM radio and electronic communication platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, X, SMS and the internet, will also be prohibited. Musical concerts, theatrical performances and other entertainment programmes cannot be used to propagate election-related matters during this period.

Violations of these provisions are punishable under the Representation of the People Act with imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.

Political functionaries and party workers brought from outside the constituencies who are not voters there have been directed to leave after 6 pm on Sunday. Officials will inspect marriage halls, community halls, lodges and guest houses to identify outsiders staying in the constituencies.

Candidates and their agents have also been barred from transporting voters to or from polling stations. Election booths can be set up only 100 metres outside polling stations, with a maximum of two persons manning each booth.

The police identified the deceased as K Srilekha (26), a resident of Vadakku Veedhi in Tiruvarur and a psychology degree holder. She was said to be in a relationship with a person from the locality for the past three years. However, her parents rejected their love and arranged Srilekha's marriage with a person from Mayiladuthurai, who was said to be working in a reputed firm abroad. They got engaged a few months ago.

In such a backdrop, Srilekha’s parents found that the groom was a menial labourer and stopped the wedding process. They started searching for another groom.

In the meantime, Srilekha had insisted that her parents approve her love relationship and arrange the wedding with her lover, which her parents opposed. This led to frequent family disputes.

On Saturday morning, after one such tiff over marriage, Srilekha poured kerosene over herself and set herself ablaze. Shocked, her father Kumar (60) attempted to rescue her but she died and Kumar sustained severe burn injuries. The neighbours rushed Kumar to Tiruvarur Government Medical College Hospital, where he has been undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, the Tiruvarur town police rushed to the house and retrieved the body of Srilekha and sent it to the Tiruvarur Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. A case was registered, and further investigations are on.

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.

The one-day weekend package tour, chalking out a 15-hour pilgrimage with a 53-seat air-conditioned bus for the devotees of Lord Vishnu, will commence its journey from Kumbakonam bus stand at around 5 am and return to Kumbakonam by around 8 pm during weekends.

The devotees can book tickets for this Srivaishnava Divya Desam temple pilgrimage tour (Saturdays and Sundays) online through www.tnstc.in or through the TNSTC mobile application by remitting Rs 1,350 fare per passenger.

The temples covered in this package tour include Sri Thadalanperumal temple in Sirkazhi, Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyar Kovil, Senganur, Sri Parimala Ranganatha Perumal temple in Thiruindhalur, Mayiladuthurai, Sri Kalyana Ranganatha Perumal temple in Thirunagari, Sri Pallikonda Perumal temple in Thirunangur, Sri Annanperumal temple in Annankovil, Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple in Thirumanikoodam, Sri Kudamedu Koothar temple, Ariyameya Vinnagaram, Sri Narayana Perumal temple, Manimadakovil, and Sri Vaikunthanathar temple, Sri Venpurushothamar temple, Sri Semponsei Perumal temple and Sri Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam.

On Saturday, V Dhakshinamurthy, the managing director of TNSTC, Kumbakonam Division, inaugurated the service.

In order to sustain the urban greenery, the Tiruchy Corporation launched the initiative to plant 3 lakh saplings and develop Miyawaki forests in several wards, for which the civic administration developed nurseries in every zone.

Apart from the corporation staff, the Corporation also deployed volunteers in the plantation drive. As part of the drive, saplings of shady and flowering trees like Neem, Poovarasu (Pacific rosewood), Veppalai (ivory wood), Gulmohar (Royal Poinciana), Neermarudu, Vanni (Jammi tree) and Sarakondrai (Golden Shower tree) have been nurtured in the nurseries and distributed for planting.

On Saturday, the Corporation Commissioner N Ponmani inspected the nursery garden at Ambedkar Nagar, where more than one lakh saplings are being maintained. After inspection, the Commissioner said, "The 3 lakh tree plantation drive had already commenced, and 45 per cent of the plantation has been completed already. The remaining saplings would be planted in certain intervals." “This initiative by the civic administration has been made to beautify the city and to stabilise the temperature by augmenting green cover in the city," the commissioner noted.

She also said that the saplings would be planted in the corporation-owned public parks, near the overhead tanks, platforms and river banks. “Besides this, Miyawaki forests have also been developed in several parts of the city," Ponmani added.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday launched the Vettri Payanam scheme, expanding the existing free travel facility for women on ordinary fare buses to Express, LSS and Deluxe government buses operating in urban and city areas. The scheme also covers Mofussil Ordinary buses and Ghat Ordinary buses on hill routes exceeding 40 km.

However, the scheme is not being implemented on buses operating within Chengalpattu district during the election period. As a result, women travelling on services to Tambaram, Vandalur, Kilambakkam and other parts of the district are being asked to pay fares on buses that would otherwise come under the expanded scheme.

The confusion came to light after passenger Barani Kumar, who posted on X, sought clarification from MTC after travelling with his wife from Vandalur to Mylapore on a 21G Deluxe service around 10 am on October 3. He said he booked a ticket for himself through the Chennai One app and asked the conductor for a free ticket for his wife.

“The conductor told me that the bus did not come under the category. I then booked another ticket for my wife,” he said, seeking clarification from MTC on the buses covered under Vettri Payanam.

MTC Chennai, in response, said the bus originated in Chengalpattu district and that, as the Model Code of Conduct was in force, buses operating within Chengalpattu district would not be covered under the scheme.

A 21G conductor said the arrangement had become difficult to explain to passengers as several routes cross district boundaries. For instance, a woman boarding a 21G at Royapuram and travelling towards Vandalur could travel free up to Pallavaram, but would have to pay the fare thereafter as the route enters Chengalpattu district, he said.

“Many passengers argue with us as they do not understand the arrangement,” the conductor said.

MTC crews operating services to Chromepet, Medavakkam, Perumbakkam, Kelambakkam and Mahabalipuram are also facing similar difficulties as the routes criss-cross Chennai and Chengalpattu districts.

The situation has also raised questions among passengers over how the scheme should be applied when a single bus service operates across the district boundary, particularly on routes where the same service is covered by the scheme in one stretch but excluded in another.

The joining is significant, as Tagore earlier rejected any possibility of a Vijay-led TVK presence in the bloc, claiming the alliance is for parties with MPs, apparently keeping the door open for the DMK at the national level. Their latest development seems to be a reaction to DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi meeting non-Congress INDIA bloc leaders, in what is being speculated as the formation of a third force.

The alliance meeting adopted five resolutions, including one formally welcoming TVK and its leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for coming forward to work with the INDIA bloc. The leaders congratulated Vijay on his decision and said TVK's participation would strengthen the alliance.

The meeting also focused on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc parties announced a series of protests across Tamil Nadu, alleging that the revision could affect the voting rights of eligible voters.

One resolution condemned the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise and demanded his removal. The parties also alleged that the BJP-led Union government was using the Election Commission to undermine democratic institutions. The alliance made these political allegations in its resolution.

As part of the protest programme, the INDIA bloc decided to organise demonstrations at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu on October 13 and 14. A major demonstration has also been planned in Chennai on October 15, with leaders and cadres of alliance parties expected to participate. TVK is also set to join the Chennai protest.

The alliance appealed to like-minded political parties, voluntary organisations, and civil society groups to join the protests against the SIR exercise.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tagore said the INDIA bloc had welcomed Vijay's decision to work with the alliance and respectfully invited TVK.

Asked about the DMK's absence from the meeting and whether the INDIA bloc had invited the party, Tagore said invitations had been extended to parties opposing the BJP. He added that there was no need to discuss absent parties at the meeting.

Tagore also said TVK's participation in the protests against the Chief Election Commissioner would broaden the campaign.

The development comes after TVK, which formed the government following the 2026 Assembly election, had maintained a distinct political position while also forming the Secular Social Justice Vettri Alliance. Saturday's meeting marked the party's first formal participation in a Tamil Nadu-level INDIA bloc meeting. Aadhav Arjuna described it as a formal declaration of TVK being part of the alliance.

The State-level meeting was chaired by TNCC president Manickam Tagore and attended by leaders of various INDIA bloc parties, including MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian and VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan.

In a statement, the Chief Minister conveyed his wishes and congratulations to Sundar, saying that his achievement would give confidence and new energy to youngsters.

He also wished Sundar and his teammates success in the upcoming cricket tournaments and hoped that they would continue to perform well and achieve more victories.

India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to successfully defend its Asian Games men's cricket gold medal and claim its second consecutive title in the competition.

India posted a mammoth 211 for 6 in 20 overs before an unheralded Hasan Nawaz (96 off 51 balls) gave everything he had to make a match of it. But Pakistan were stopped at 192 for 6 in the end. India thus extended their dominance over the arch-rivals and kept the head-to-head since the start of the 2024 T20 World Cup to 6-0.

In between, Nawaz punished the Indian spinners before Jasprit Bumrah's experience (0/33 in 4 overs) and Washington Sundar's (2/29 in 4 overs) calmness ensured that there were no surprises in the end.

The 18th over in which Washington conceded only 8 runs turned out to be decisive.

Inputs from PTI

Addressing a campaign meeting in Madurantakam, Stalin said he had been told by ruling party functionaries that the party could win the by-election even if it fielded a dog as its candidate. He urged voters to restrain what he described as the ruling party’s arrogance.

“Chief Ministers never campaign during by-elections. But Chief Minister Vijay has campaigned twice in each constituency. Because of electoral fear, he has no confidence in his own government. The government is being run by somebody behind the screen,” he alleged, adding that he liked the fear he had over any defeat in the bypolls.

Explaining the reasons for the DMK’s defeat in the Assembly election, Stalin said the party had fought its ideological opponent (referring BJP and its allies in the State). He described the TVK as a group of "clowns" and said the DMK had not considered it a serious opponent during the election.

But he rejected the notion of any TVK wave, saying that any such trend would have helped them secure 150 plus seats. "But it could not even secure a majority. The party did not have confidence in the alliance parties supporting the government. The TVK has planned to increase its MLA strength through horse-trading,” Stalin alleged.

Raising issues including the law-and-order situation and price rise in the State, Stalin questioned whether the TVK-led government could be called a “thooya sakthi” government and instead described it as a “government of grief sakthi”.

Questioning the TVK leadership, Stalin asked why the ruling party had not spoken about the demand for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. He alleged that the TVK leader had a secret alliance with Delhi and would eventually abandon all its alliance partners.

Appealing to voters, Stalin said punishing the TVK would prevent horse-trading by the ruling party in the future.

“Voters should give shock treatment to Chief Minister Vijay, who has brought his cinema fame into politics and is now indulging in horse-trading and diverting the people,” he said.

According to a Maalaimalar report, the arrested men have been identified as Dineshkumar (32), son of Chandran of Santhapettai, Kadaiyampatti, and Surya (26), son of Subbu of Santhapettai Kattuvazhu.

Police trace accused through stolen jewellery

The victims, Jayaraman (85) and his wife Amaravathi (70), were living in a house near the Olakkur tamarind tree bus stop on the road connecting Jodukuli and Chinnathirupathi. The couple was engaged in making coconut-leaf products.

On July 19, their grandson Navaneethan, who regularly brought them food, went to their house around 8 pm and found them dead with severe injuries to their heads.

The Theevattipatti police registered a murder case and launched an investigation. A sniffer dog was pressed into service and tracked the route towards the Salem-Bengaluru National Highway for about 500 metres. Police subsequently examined CCTV footage along the route and formed more than five special teams to trace the suspects.

Meanwhile, a series of burglaries reported in the Omalur sub-division helped police make a breakthrough. A three-sovereign gold chain was stolen from the house of Suman in Kadaiyampatti while his family had gone to Velankanni. In another burglary at Jodukuli Pudur, 1.5 sovereigns of gold jewellery and silver anklets were stolen.

In a separate incident, the house of Retired Army personnel Selvaraj in Thoppur, where he lived with his wife Shenbagavalli and son Nandakumar, was burgled while the family had gone to a temple in Tiruvannamalai. The burglars allegedly stole eight sovereigns of gold jewellery and Rs 14,000 in cash.

During the investigation, police traced some of the stolen jewellery to a jewellery shop in Kadaiyampatti. The documents and CCTV footage obtained from the shop helped investigators identify Dineshkumar and Surya as the suspects.

Accused surrender before VAO

Police went to the suspects' houses but found them missing. After learning that police were looking for them, the duo surrendered before Kadaiyampatti South Village Administrative Officer (VAO) Sudhakar. The VAO subsequently handed them over to the Theevattipatti police.

During interrogation, police said Dineshkumar had been working at a beauty salon in Nachinampatti, where he became friends with Surya. According to police, Dineshkumar, who allegedly wanted to lead a lavish lifestyle, had previously been involved in assault and robbery cases.

Police said Surya was in need of money as marriage talks were underway for him. The duo allegedly decided to commit burglaries together and targeted several houses.

According to the police, they attacked and killed Jayaraman and Amaravathi before stealing their gold jewellery. They later allegedly burgled the houses of Suman, another house at Jodukuli Pudur, and the residence of Dineshkumar's aunt Shenbagavalli and her husband Selvaraj.

Police said about 14 sovereigns of gold jewellery, silver articles and cash allegedly stolen by the duo were recovered.

The accused were produced before the Omalur court and remanded in Salem Central Prison.

Based on a tip-off, a team led by Inspector Venkatesh of the Crime Intelligence Unit, Tirunelveli Range, conducted an intensive vehicle check on the highway from Vilathikulam to Keezhavaippar beach on Friday night. The team lay in wait and began checking vehicles. At midnight, a mini container fish lorry bearing an Andhra Pradesh registration number was travelling through Puliankulam between Vilathikulam and Kulathur, followed by a luxury car. The police surrounded both vehicles.

During the inspection, police found empty plastic tubs used to transport fish stacked in the front section. When they removed the tubs, they discovered gunny bags behind them. Further search revealed 338 kg of ganja packed into 169 bundles weighing 2 kg each. The consignment was valued at Rs 3 crore.

The Crime Intelligence Unit police handed over the contraband, the container lorry, the luxury car and the three detainees to the Prohibition Enforcement Wing police station at Kovilpatti

The police immediately detained three people -- the container lorry driver and two men travelling in the luxury car that was following it. During questioning, the police identified them as Joshua Kanaraj Adhi (47), Thanavel (51), and Srinivas Kalyan (24), from Kakinada of Andhra Pradesh. The investigation revealed that the ganja had allegedly been brought from Andhra Pradesh under the guise of fertiliser bags and was intended to be smuggled to Sri Lanka by sea through Keezhavaippar, near Vilathikulam.

The Crime Intelligence Unit police handed over the 338 kg of ganja, the container lorry, the luxury car and the three detainees to the Prohibition Enforcement Wing police station at Kovilpatti. A case was registered, and the police questioned the trio.

The three arrested men were subsequently taken to Thoothukudi for further investigation, along with the seized 338 kg of ganja, luxury car and mini container fish lorry. The incident, in which an attempt was allegedly made to smuggle ganja worth Rs 3 crore from Andhra Pradesh to Sri Lanka via Thoothukudi, has caused a stir.