Though the headmaster of the school learnt about the incident when midday meal workers checked the tank after the school reopened on October 5 following the quarterly examination vacation, he neither informed the Education Department nor the police.

The incident came to public light only after the news spread among villagers, who staged a protest condemning the headmaster for not informing them about the incident. “Why did he take steps to clean the water tank without informing the people or the authorities?” the villagers questioned.

Dismissing the headmaster’s claim that the tank was used only for cooking and washing, Marimuthu, a relative of a student from Manur village, said, “Due to water scarcity, the school management is using only this tank for cooking and drinking purposes.”

The overhead water tank in the school was not in use due to the water shortage. The 750-litre tank was located on the ground close to a village water pipeline.

When Dindigul Superintendent of Police S Jeyakumar conducted a preliminary inquiry on Wednesday, the headmaster told him that human faeces-like material had been found in the tank when the school reopened on October 5.

“The headmaster said the tank was immediately cleaned,” the SP said.

He also told the police the water tank was used only for cooking and washing purposes.

Based on his complaint, police registered an FIR under Sections 272 (malignant act done with intent to spread infection of a disease dangerous to life), 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc.) and 279 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Meanwhile, during a parents-teachers meeting held on Thursday in the presence of senior Education Department officials and police, parents complained that the headmaster, who joined the school as a teacher and has been working there for nearly 17 years, had not taken steps to improve basic amenities at the school.

“If the school had a watchman or CCTV cameras, this incident could have been avoided,” the parents told Education Department officials.

The villager claimed that teachers were forcing students to return home to attend nature’s call, citing the scarcity of water. “If there is a water shortage, how can the teachers alone use the toilets while discriminating against the students?” the parents asked.

The villagers also allegedly informed the police during the investigation that the headmaster is getting all the construction work done through a benami.

During the meeting, Education Department officials assured the parents that a new water tank would be installed, basic amenities would be improved.

School Education Department clarifies water supply

The School Education Department said a preliminary inquiry found that the Syntex tank was not used for drinking water.

According to a Maalaimalar report, the headmaster inspected the tank on the morning the school reopened and found it dirty and without water. He subsequently cleaned it with bleaching powder.

The department said drinking water for students is supplied through a pipe from another location and that students had not used the Syntex tank.

A detailed investigation is being carried out by the police.

Leaders seek detailed probe

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss condemned the incident and called for an inquiry into "whether there was any conspiracy behind it."

"At the same time, an inquiry must be conducted and arrest of those responsible," he added, besides calling for compound walls around government schools and replacement of the water tank at the Manur school.

AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran also demanded a detailed investigation and strict action against those responsible.

He also asked why the school administration did not immediately lodge a complaint and sought action against officials found to have acted negligently.

(With Online Desk inputs)

The government bus was travelling along the Tirunelveli-Thoothukudi highway near Prancheri with more than 20 passengers when the accident occurred.

According to preliminary information, the lorry, which was coming from the opposite direction, reportedly went out of control and crashed into the bus.

The impact severely damaged the front portion of the government bus. Ajith Melvin Arthur (52), a native of Kanniyakumari district and the conductor of the bus, sustained critical injuries in the collision and died at the scene.

More than 20 passengers travelling on the bus were also seriously injured in the accident.

On receiving information, police and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and began rescue operations.

The injured passengers were evacuated from the damaged bus and taken to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The injured are currently receiving intensive medical care at the hospital.

Meanwhile, police registered a case in connection with the accident and launched an investigation. The lorry driver is being questioned as part of the probe to ascertain the circumstances that led to the collision.

The accident caused panic among motorists and residents in the area, while traffic movement on the highway was affected for some time following the crash.

Justice V Lakshminarayanan reserved the orders after hearing arguments from senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the ruling TVK’s president, and advocate Ashok, appearing for a voter who filed the petition. The judge directed the parties to file their written submissions by October 14.

In the May 2026 Assembly election, Vijay secured 1,20,365 votes from Perambur, defeating his immediate rival RD Shekar of the DMK by 53,715 votes. Later, Dinesh, a voter from the constituency, filed an election petition challenging the victory while Vijay filed a plea seeking its dismissal.

During the hearing, Ashok submitted that details of a Panruti property worth around Rs 30 crore were suppressed in Vijay's nomination papers. Also, a 50-cent land in Kodaikanal that Vijay claimed to have purchased is shown in Revenue Department records as government poramboke, he said, adding that candidates must not furnish false information or suppress material facts in their nomination papers.

Noting that any direct or indirect suppression of assets would amount to undue influence under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, he said whether it was wilful could be decided only during the trial.

He added that the election officer could conduct only a summary inquiry within 24 hours of filing the nomination. Hence, discrepancies could be raised in an election petition even if no objection was made at the time of nomination.

In counter, Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that non-disclosure of assets could not be equated with non-disclosure of criminal antecedents, as voters would already know that Vijay was wealthy. He also contended that the petitioner must show that voters were actually influenced by the non-disclosure.

The delay has left teachers waiting for the first instalment of the payment for work completed more than a month ago.

In Nagapattinam, the teachers who participated in the first phase have submitted a representation to the Collector seeking the immediate release of their pending honorarium.

The representation stated that the teachers had completed the assigned census work well ahead of the deadline but were still awaiting payment.

The first phase of the census-related works was conducted from August 1-31, with teachers deployed across rural and urban areas of the State.

Teachers said that they had carried out the work as an additional responsibility alongside their regular teaching duties, and travelled to the locations allotted to them.

They completed the assigned work by August 20 itself, following directions from the district administration.

As per the government provisions, the census enumerators are entitled to an honorarium of Rs 9,000 for completing the first phase, apart from the training allowance.

Despite the work being completed several weeks ago, the first instalment has not reached the teachers, who were expecting to be paid soon after completing the assignment.

Teachers have urged the authorities to ensure that the funds already released for the census exercise are transferred without further delay.

They said that the pending payment would provide some financial relief, particularly during the festival season when household expenses tend to increase.

A division bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and GK Muthukumaar observed that, at this stage, it was not a fit case for suspension of the sentence and refused to grant bail to Abirami, dismissing her petition.

The court adjourned the main appeal to November 4.

According to the prosecution, Abirami, a "reels star" known as ‘Biryani Abirami’, began an affair with Meenatchisundaram, a biryani delivery man from a shop frequented by her family. When their affair was exposed, Meenatchisundaram allegedly pressured her to eliminate her family.

In September 2018, Abirami mixed sleeping pills in their milk. While her husband Vijay (30) and son Ajay survived the initial dose, her daughter Karnika died.

The next morning, she allegedly smothered the drowsy boy with a pillow. She then hid both bodies and waited to kill Vijay when he returned from work.

But as he returned late, Abirami abandoned her plan. Instead, she met Meenatchisundaram, pawned her wedding chain, and fled with him to Kanniyakumari.

Vijay discovered the bodies the next day and alerted the police. Based on his complaint, the Kundrathur police launched an investigation.

Delivering the verdict in July 2025, Principal District and Sessions Court, Kancheepuram, judge Pa U Chemmal had observed that "life imprisonment alone is insufficient" and that they "must remain in prison for their natural lives."

The court sentenced them to three consecutive life sentences under different sections, in addition to a fine of Rs 15,000.

Challenging the order, Abirami filed a petition before the High Court seeking suspension of her sentence and grant of bail.

The organisation has announced a series of protests beginning on Thursday, with demonstrations planned outside 2,852 section offices of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) across the state. Protests will subsequently be held outside all executive engineer offices on October 12, 13 and 14 and supervising engineer offices on October 15.

The organisation's general secretary, T Jaisankar, said it would conduct a public outreach campaign from October 22 to 29, after which employees would go on an indefinite strike in the first week of November.

The protests are against a tender issued by TNPDCL on October 7 to install smart meters under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The tender covers five electricity projects in the Chennai region and 12 other regions, including Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Vellore, Coimbatore, Erode, Karur, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Madurai and Tirunelveli.

Jaisankar said the smart meters were proposed to be installed under the TOTEX model, under which the implementing agency would invest and recover the cost over the contract period. He alleged that handing over smart metering-related operations to private agencies would eventually lead to the privatisation of distribution.

The organisation further warned that the project could result in job losses among electricity board employees and affect employment opportunities for youth. It also raised concerns over the impact on reservation and social justice.

Calling the smart meter project a move to hand over the State's electricity distribution system to private players, Jaisankar demanded that TNPDCL immediately withdraw the tender and abandon the project.

However, the rain has affected salt production in the coastal areas, with several salt pans getting submerged.

The district had been witnessing high temperatures, while the lack of adequate rainfall had also caused local ponds to dry up.

Farmers had staged protests demanding the full release of Thamirabarani water from the Papanasam Dam for agricultural activities.

Little relief for farmers

Farmers had hoped the rainfall would benefit banana cultivation spread across around 2,000 acres in the district. However, the rain was only light in the agricultural areas and provided limited relief to farmers.

In contrast, heavy showers in the coastal areas resulted in salt pans being inundated. The disruption has brought salt production to a halt and affected the livelihood of more than 25,000 workers dependent on the industry.

Salt production would resume after a month

Salt producers said it could take around a month for production to resume in areas such as Pazhayakayal and Pulla Veli, as the inundated pans would need to dry out.

Production at Mullakkadu, located near the Thoothukudi port, could resume within a week if there is no further rainfall, producers said.

The district recorded 12 mm each at Kayalpattinam and Vaippar, 7 mm at Keela Arasaradi, 5.520 mm in Thoothukudi, 5 mm at Tiruchendur, 4 mm at Kulasekarapattinam and Ottapidaram, 1.10 mm at Srivaikuntam and 1 mm at Maniachi.

For this unusual ceremony on Thursday (October 8), the villagers formed themselves into two groups representing the bride and groom’s families to conduct the rituals traditionally.

The villagers took out a ceremonial procession by placing the male and female frogs in two miniature-sized bullock carts specially made for the occasion.

The villagers also carried umbrellas along with traditional wedding offerings.

The frogs were taken to a local temple, where customary wedding rituals were performed and special prayers offered. After the wedding ceremony, the pair of frogs was released into a well. As part of the ritual, the villagers also sacrificed a goat as an offering and served food for the public.

“Our ancestors followed this practice of frog weddings whenever the village faced a prolonged dry spell. As acute water shortage prevails and farmers are unable to do agriculture, we believe that conducting frog weddings will bring rain and provide relief,” said R Muthupandi, a farmer from the village.

Another villager, H Narendran, said, “Whether conducting such rituals brings rain or not, the ceremony brings the community together and keeps our traditional practices alive. We are happy to be part of the ceremony.”

The unusual wedding between frogs also attracted a large number of curious people from neighbouring localities to watch these traditional customs.

An order issued by Chief Secretary Saikumar requires employees to disclose their immovable and movable assets, savings and loans.

It also makes clear that properties purchased in another person’s name must be included in the declaration.

Only employees who submit the required details within the stipulated period will be included in the list for promotion, the order states.

Those who fail to furnish the information will be treated as having violated the government employees’ conduct rules.

The directive requires a declaration of financial holdings and liabilities. Employees must register all the specified details through the government’s online system, bringing information on property, savings and borrowings together in their submissions.

The disclosure requirement extends beyond assets held directly in an employee’s own name. If an employee has bought property in the name of another individual, the declaration must identify that person and specify the relationship between the individual and the employee concerned.

This means that registering a property under someone else’s name does not remove the obligation to report it. The order specifically requires employees to provide both the property information and the relationship details in such cases.

The government has linked compliance with the deadline to eligibility for inclusion in promotion lists.

Employees seeking consideration for advancement must therefore ensure that their asset information is submitted within the prescribed period.

The order separately addresses failure to disclose the required information, stating that such non-compliance will constitute a breach of the conduct rules applicable to government employees.

The requirement applies to all Tamil Nadu government staff covered by the directive. Employees must disclose loans alongside their assets and savings, ensuring that the submission records liabilities as well as financial holdings.

Both movable and immovable property fall within the scope of the information sought. The directive places responsibility on employees to complete their declarations through the Integrated Finance and Human Resource Management System website before the deadline.

Timely submission is necessary for inclusion in promotion lists, while failure to submit the details will be regarded as a violation of the conduct rules.

For the proposed MMLH, TIDCO has sought a consulting firm to prepare a Detailed Feasibility Report and examine project-structuring options. The exercise will provide the technical and financial framework for assessing the viability and possible implementation models of the proposed facility.

The move comes weeks after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced in the Assembly that a multi-modal logistics hub would be established in the Tiruchy region. The government had said the region’s concentration of manufacturing industries and micro, small and medium enterprises made it a suitable location for such infrastructure.

The proposed hub has also received in-principle approval for development as a dry port, with the facility expected to serve exporters in Tiruchy and neighbouring districts.

Separately, TIDCO has invited consultants to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for establishing the Sivakasi Pyrotechnic Common Facility Centre in Virudhunagar district.

The incentive, sanctioned from the State exchequer on the directions of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, will ensure that farmers receive Rs 4,000 per tonne of sugarcane, including the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) fixed by the Centre.

For the 2025-26 crushing season, the Centre has fixed the FRP at Rs 3,290.50 per tonne for sugarcane linked to a 9.5 per cent sugar recovery rate. The State’s special incentive of Rs 709.50 will take the total price to Rs 4,000 per tonne.

Farmers whose sugarcane records a sugar recovery rate above 9.5 per cent will receive a proportionately higher price, exceeding Rs 4,000 per tonne, according to the government.

The decision follows the long-standing demand of sugarcane growers for a higher price and is aimed at safeguarding their interests. The government expects the measure to encourage sugarcane cultivation, improve the functioning of sugar mills and increase the production of sugar and its by-products.

The incentive will cover farmers who supplied sugarcane to 29 mills that undertook crushing operations during the 2025-26 season. These comprise 12 cooperative, two public-sector and 15 private sugar mills.

Details of eligible farmers, including the quantity of sugarcane supplied, Aadhaar numbers and bank account details, have been collected. The beneficiaries will be identified after recommendations by district-level committees headed by Collectors and scrutiny by the Directorate of Sugar.

Direct transfers to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts are scheduled to begin from the upcoming Deepavali festival. Around 90,000 sugarcane farmers are expected to benefit from the scheme.

In an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party said the entire country has been witnessing protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

"But the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have stayed away from it," it said.

The party said the AAP has differences with the Congress. "But the AAP and the Congress should at least come together to release the country from the shackles of dictatorship," the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.

AAP's convenor Arvind Kejriwal has bitter experience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Election Commission. While Kejriwal was the chief minister of Delhi, he was put behind bars in a "false" case. Kejriwal's defeat was engineered by deleting names of voters from his constituency, it alleged.

So it is not in the AAP's interest to stay away from the INDIA bloc, the party said.

Even if Punjab assembly polls, where the two parties are principal opponents, could be a matter of dispute, Kejriwal should take part in the fight against Modi and Shah, the Sena (UBT) added.

The DMK was defeated in Tamil Nadu and C Joseph Vijay's TVK came to power with the help of the Congress. This riled the DMK, the editorial said, adding, "But this stand of the DMK is not in the interest of the country."

The Sena (UBT) lauded the stand of Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which participated in the INDIA bloc's protest against CEC.

The opposition offensive against the CEC picked up further pace on Wednesday as Rahul Gandhi led the INDIA bloc leaders' street protests in Delhi for the second consecutive day before being detained again along with many MPs by police amid dramatic scenes of resistance.

While Akashvani Bhawan in the national capital was the epicentre of Tuesday's protest where Rahul Gandhi staged an over eight-hour sit-in along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders till their forcible removal, Wednesday evening saw a confrontation between police and protesting leaders.

The accused police personnel, Ben Singh, a native of Thoothukudi, is currently working in the police department in Tirupattur district.

Thoothukudi Superintendent of Police R Shiva Prasad had sent a report on the alleged involvement of Ben Singh in the incident to Tirupattur SP Akshay Anil Wakhare.

The FIR was registered under Sections 308(4), 351(3) and 296(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 294 of the IPC against the four accused involved in the case.

Kannan, a resident of Levinchipuram in Thoothukudi, runs a TASMAC bar in the Sivandhakullam area on his own property. His son, Venkatesh, manages the bar.

According to the complaint, Ben Singh, along with his friends Madhan, who runs a bar in the Muthiahpuram area, and local rowdies Joshua and Ramesh, had been threatening Venkatesh and demanding that he hand over the bar to Madhan.

The complaint further stated that the four accused had allegedly visited the bar at night on several occasions and taken Rs 50,000 kept there. On October 5, Madhan, Joshua and Ramesh allegedly threatened Venkatesh with a knife and told him to hand over the bar to them and leave, failing which they would kill him and his family. They allegedly then locked the bar and took away the keys, the complaint stated.

Following the incident, Venkatesh lodged a complaint with the Thenpagam police and handed over CCTV footage. Police subsequently registered a case and launched an investigation.

In his complaint, Venkatesh alleged that Ben Singh also threatened him through WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Venkatesh appeared at the Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police’s office and submitted a petition seeking protection. He stated that he feared for his life and that he was legally operating the bar on his own property after obtaining it through a tender and regularly paying the required amount to the government.

A source claims that Ben Singh and Madhan were also allegedly jointly running a gambling club in the Mappillaiurani area of Thoothukudi and a bar in Muthiahpuram.

The scrutiny will cover medicines, medical devices and consumables, with inspectors examining procurement costs alongside patient bills to identify suspected overcharging and any breaches of pricing or labelling requirements.

A separate communication has directed officers to intensify checks against the unauthorised sale of habit-forming prescription drugs. Reports of misuse of Tapentadol and Nitrazepam were cited as a public health concern requiring stronger surveillance.

S. Gurubharathi, Joint Director of Drugs Control and Controlling Authority-cum-Licensing Authority, issued both communications on October 1 to assistant directors, outlining the records to be examined and the reporting requirements.

The exercise follows concerns over differences between the prices hospitals pay to procure products and the amounts charged to patients.

Inspectors have been asked to document significant price variations, suspected overcharging, discrepancies in records and violations of pricing or labelling provisions. Any findings must be supported by relevant documents.

The inspections are to be completed on priority, with a consolidated report submitted to the directorate.

Where pricing contraventions are established, action will be initiated under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, Gurubharathi said.

Action-taken reports, accompanied by supporting documents, must also be forwarded to the directorate for further proceedings.

The second communication described reports of prescription drug misuse as a public health concern and directed officers to strengthen surveillance and enforcement within their jurisdictions.

Assistant directors have been told to arrange surprise inspections at retail and wholesale outlets, focusing on areas where complaints or information about misuse have been received.

During these checks, officers must verify valid prescriptions, purchase and sale records, bills, stock positions and other relevant documents.

They have also been instructed to pay special attention to disposable syringes and needles that could be misused or diverted. Any mismatch between available stock and entries in the records must be investigated, with officers required to verify inventories and establish the nature of discrepancies found during inspections.

For hospitals, checks will include purchase invoices, procurement prices, printed MRP, sale prices and billing, particularly for high-value medicines and injections. Significant findings must be documented and supported by records before reports are submitted to the directorate.

CK Suresh sought a direction to shift a Tasmac shop situated on Melpatti Ponnappan Street, submitting that the people who visit the shop were preventing him from entering or coming out of his house.

Justice N Senthilkumar directed the Home, Prohibition and Excise Secretary to file a report on the safety measures taken to prevent disturbances caused in the neighbourhood.

The DC (North) was also directed to file a report specifying the liquor shop number and location, the number of drunk driving cases registered, and the challans paid by inebriated drivers as penalties.

The court directed that both reports be filed within three weeks and posted the matter after three weeks.

The three boys studying at a private school left home for school on Tuesday morning but did not return in the evening.

Their parents went to the school, only to learn that the boys had not attended classes that day. Based on a complaint, Udumalpet police launched a search.

Police tracked the trio using their mobile phone numbers and found that they had boarded a train bound for Mumbai. Upon alert, the Railway Police in Andhra Pradesh searched a train that arrived at a railway station there and found all three students.

During questioning, the students told the police that they had left home and boarded the train as they were not interested in continuing their studies.

A team from Udumalpet police subsequently travelled to Andhra Pradesh, brought the three students back to Udumalpet and handed them over to their parents after counselling them.

The move was announced in the State Assembly during the recently concluded session.

In an order issued on Wednesday, the Commercial Taxes and Registration Department accorded administrative sanction to implement the new system under Project STAR 3.0, subject to software readiness.

The four categories covered under the initiative are Settlement Deeds, Release Deeds, Partition Deeds, and Revocation of Settlement Deeds relating to family arrangements.

Under the new system, people will be required to create deeds online and upload supporting documents through the designated registration portal. The documents will subsequently be processed electronically, eliminating the need for repeated physical handling, movement, and scanning of records.

However, the government clarified that the introduction of paperless registration would not dispense with the physical appearance of parties before the Sub-Registrar. They must visit the concerned Sub-Registrar Office for identification and Aadhaar authentication.

According to the Government Order, the initiative will facilitate electronic processing, improve traceability of registration transactions, and enable systematic digital preservation and retrieval of registered documents.

The order recalled that the government had introduced Phase-I of the Anywhere Registration initiative on August 17, covering the first sale of plots by promoters and the first sale of flats by builders with consecutive deposit title deeds.

However, the government clarified that the parties concerned will still have to visit the Sub-Registrar Office for identification and Aadhaar authentication

The initiative was inaugurated by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and received a positive response from citizens, the order stated.

Following this, the Registration Department proposed extending paperless registration to family arrangement deeds as part of its continued technological transformation. The Inspector General of Registration has been directed to implement the new system from November 2, subject to the necessary software arrangements being in place, the order added.

EASY DEEDS FOR

• Settlement

• Release

• Partition

• Revocation of settlement

Of the 17 murder cases that ended in conviction during the month, Thoothukudi accounted for five cases, the highest among the districts in the zone. The police attributed the convictions to close monitoring of grave cases, coordination with prosecutors and sustained efforts to ensure the appearance of witnesses before courts.

Besides murder cases, two robbery cases and two grave theft/burglary cases ended in conviction, resulting in six accused being convicted.

The police also secured convictions in 26 Pocso and rape cases, involving 34 accused. Among them, one was awarded a death sentence, two were sentenced to double life imprisonment or more, and 11 were awarded imprisonment of 20 years and above. And fifteen history-sheeters were also convicted in murder and Pocso cases during September.

The police said the results reflected the impact of the Case Officer Scheme recently introduced across all districts in the south zone. Under the scheme, Superintendents of Police identify key grave cases for close monitoring and ensure timely service of summons to witnesses and effective support to prosecutors, the release said.

As of September 30, a total of 19,488 non-bailable warrants were executed across the south zone as part of efforts to bring wanted accused before courts, the police said.

According to the protesting farmers, the water released for samba cultivation on September 1 had not reached the tail-end parts in Tiruvarur, and so the farmers from Muthupettai who undertook cultivation at an area of 10,000 ha under direct sowing had failed to receive water till date, and so the crops have started to wither away. 

Similarly, Korayaru irrigated crops in around 5000 ha in more than 10 villages, including Udayamarthandapuram, Keezhakadu, Natchikulam, Pinnathur, Palliyamedu, Thillaivilagam and Idumbavanan, have also been drying up.

The irate farmers who gathered at the ECR in Udayamarathandapuram blocked the traffic, in which leaders from various political parties and farmers' associations took part. 

On receiving information, the PWD Executive Engineer Guru Sakthivel and the police held talks with the protesting farmers. Upon assurance by the official that the water would reach their places before October 10, they withdrew the protest. The traffic was disrupted in the ECR for more than an hour. 

According to a government statement, women whose native place is in Tamil Nadu but who are residing outside the State can avail themselves of the gold ring under the scheme, provided they meet certain conditions.

The delivery of the woman's child should take place at a government hospital in Tamil Nadu. Further, the woman's parents should be permanent residents of Tamil Nadu. Eligible women will have to submit valid documents to avail themselves of the benefit.

The government said the expanded eligibility would benefit women who have moved to other States but continue to have their family roots in Tamil Nadu. As part of the expanded scheme, Uma Maheshwari, a native of Karaikudi, received a gold ring after delivering a child. She is currently residing in Karnataka.

The expansion of the scheme has been implemented with effect from June 22.

According to police, Selveeswari (27), a native of Sivakasi, has been working as an office assistant at the Sattur No. 2 Judicial Magistrate Court.

After completing her regular court duties each day, she was reportedly required to go to the judge’s residence and attend to household chores, according to a police source.

Selveeswari told police that this had caused her severe work pressure and that she had been under mental distress for the past few days.

On Tuesday, Selveeswari came to work as usual and suddenly consumed ant poison (pesticide) that she had brought from home on the court premises, police said.

After she felt dizzy, Selveeswari informed her colleagues that she had consumed poison. Shocked by this, her colleagues immediately rescued her and admitted her to a private hospital opposite the court for treatment. She is undergoing intensive treatment.

Based on a complaint filed by Selveeswari, Sattur Town police have registered a case and are conducting an inquiry. The incident, in which a woman employee allegedly attempted suicide on the court premises, has caused a stir in the area.

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YouTuber Varaaki approached the court seeking transfer of the probe from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), apprehending that the State police may not conduct an independent and effective investigation.

The petitioner said as high-ranking official officials are suspected to be involved, an independent investigation was necessary to ascertain whether there was any interference, improper influence, or financial or other consideration affecting the probe, whether the pen drive containing a video of one of the alleged sexual abuse was properly preserved and forensically examined, and whether any relevant investigative lead was omitted, disregarded, or prematurely abandoned.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice V Lakshminarayan, State Public Prosecutor R John Sathyan filed a status report on the investigation conducted so far and sought 10 more days to file a further report.

Opposing the petitioner's request to transfer the investigation to the CBI, the judge quipped, "We can transfer the case to Mossad (the Israeli intelligence agency)." The judge added that if the case was transferred to the CBI, it would start the investigation again from scratch.

The judge also questioned why the petitioner suspected the Tamil Nadu police and observed that the Pocso court judge was doing a good job and must be given time to deal with the matter.

Finding that substantial progress had been made in the investigation, the court directed the Registrar to keep the case records in safe custody, and posted the matter to October 26.

The deceased was identified as Shailesh Kumar, who had recently arrived in Chennai along with seven other youth from Uttar Pradesh in search of work. After reaching MGR Chennai Central railway station, the group travelled to Sriperumbudur. The eight youths rented a house in Salaiyanur village near Sriperumbudur and joined work at a canteen located in the Sriperumbudur Sipcot.

As it was a holiday for the workers on Tuesday, the youth consumed liquor in their house. Later that night, some of them went to a nearby grocery shop and asked for gutkha, tobacco products which are banned in Tamil Nadu. When the shopkeeper told them that such products were not being sold at the shop, an argument broke out. The youth assaulted the shopkeeper and left the spot.

Following the incident, the shopkeeper complained to Gnanamoorthy, a traffic police personnel attached to the Guduvanchery police station who owns the house where the youth are staying.

Gnanamoorthy along with the shopkeeper and a few other residents went to the house and questioned the eight youths. He told them that they should not have consumed alcohol in the house, and asked them to vacate the premises immediately. An argument broke out between them. During the confrontation, they assaulted the youth and Shailesh sustained injuries.

The group then took Shailesh back to the house where they were staying. However, on Wednesday morning, he was found dead. Following his death, the other youth approached the Sriperumbudur police station and filed a complaint claiming that Shailesh died after being assaulted by the house owner, the grocery shopkeeper, and others from the locality.

The Sriperumbudur police registered a case of suspicious death, recovered Shailesh’s body and sent it to the Chengalpattu District Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and questioning the people involved in the incident.

The Advisory Committee meeting, chaired by MP Durai Vaiko, was held on the airport premises, in which the Airport Director G Gopalakrishnan and Chief Executive Officer (Cargo Services) K Selvakumar took part.

The meeting discussed in detail the approval of the air courier service that was given in 2024 and the delay in the commissioning of the service. The Express Courier Operators Association president, SA Syed, raised the issue during the meeting and sought details on the staff allocation and other infrastructure facilities. He also suggested that integrating cargo capabilities into a courier service would generate a huge income for the airport.

Responding to his query, officials said that infrastructure facilities for the courier service have been established at an estimated cost of Rs 40 lakh adjacent to the air cargo services. The officials clarified that due to a few operational issues, including a lack of registered agents, the service was put on hold.

The officials also noted that the private partnership is essential to run the service. As there was no proper player to go ahead with the services, the Airports Authority has decided to take over the service, and the courier service would start functioning from November at the old terminal adjacent to the air cargo terminal premises, the officials stated.

At present, Indian astronauts, most recently Shubhanshu Shukla, have to be sent to Russia for the training, as there is no such faciltity in India.

The facility, planned at the Simulator Hall of the facility, will replicate the challenging conditions astronauts could face during extended missions in space, while allowing researchers to study crew performance, psychology, human factors, experiments, systems integration, and mission operations under isolated, confined, and resource-limited conditions.

The facility is being developed to support simulations of missions lasting up to 60 days. The project is part of India's preparations under the Gaganyaan programme and is expected to play an important role in training and evaluating Indian astronauts, or Gaganyatris, for future long duration missions.

The proposed habitat will have a core module measuring about five metres in diameter and five metres in height, spread across two levels. The first level will include three crew workstations, equipment racks, and a payload rack, while the second level will have a galley, dining area, avionics dashboard, and exercise facilities, including a treadmill, cycle ergometer, and strength trainer.

It will also include an airlock module equipped with an air shower and spacesuit rack. A separate crew personal module will provide two storey sleeping bunks, a vacuum toilet, mist shower, and waterless washing machine.

One of the key features will be its closed loop habitability system, designed for a four-member crew. The habitat will maintain controlled environmental conditions, including temperature between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.

The system will also monitor carbon dioxide levels, with the nominal concentration maintained below 1,000 ppm. An off-nominal experimental mode will allow researchers to simulate CO2 concentrations of up to 5,000 ppm to study crew response to abnormal conditions.

The habitat will also feature a communication system capable of simulating deep-space communication delays ranging from 0 to 20 minutes in one direction. This will allow the crew and mission controllers to train for communication challenges that could arise during future deep space missions.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning enabled 4K cameras will also be deployed for detecting fire, smoke, falls, and unauthorised intrusion.

More than 200 sensors are proposed across the facility to continuously monitor parameters including temperature, humidity, pressure, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, noise, light levels and water quality. The data will be monitored in real time from the Mission Control Centre.

The habitat will also feature tunable circadian lighting, with LEDs capable of changing between 2,700K and 6,500K to replicate day-and-night cycles and help researchers study the impact of controlled lighting on crew members during extended isolation.

The documents said 100 TB of storage and two mission servers will support the facility's data requirements.

The development of the human space analog habitat is expected to provide ISRO with a controlled environment to study how astronauts adapt physically and psychologically to prolonged isolation, limited resources and operational challenges. The facility could become an important testing ground as India moves beyond the initial Gaganyaan missions towards more ambitious human spaceflight programmes, including the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

They are also hoping for guidance on an alternate crop cultivation pattern for those who are willing to take it at least by November.

The water level in Mettur dam stood at 68.70 feet on Wednesday evening against its full level of 120 feet, and the storage was 31.596 TMC against the full capacity of 93.470 TMC (33 per cent against the full capacity). The storage is expected to decline further in the coming days as the inflow was just 763 cusecs while the outflow was 15,000 cusecs.

Farmers said that despite their warning, the state government released water from Mettur when it stood below 90 feet. Now, the water released from Mettur on September 1 is yet to reach the tail-end parts of the Delta region as of Wednesday. In just another week, the 45-day duration will be completed, after which the water release will stop, citing poor storage.

However, several farmers, on the suggestion of the State government, had commenced samba cultivation with the groundwater and with the expectation of river water, but now they sit with their fingers crossed since the water has not so far reached the tail-end parts, and the farmers are sceptical about whether to go ahead with the cultivation.

The farmer leaders are now appealing to the state government to draft a plan to tackle the water shortage at the earliest and initiate steps to introduce alternative crop cultivation to those farmers who are willing to take it up at least by the month of November.

“The storage of 33 per cent water in Mettur is not adequate for going ahead with the cultivation and as per the government decision, only a week is remaining, and we are yet to understand what would happen once the period of 45 days of water release ends up and the government should clarify to us,” said PS Masilamani, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to CPI.

Masilamani further said that the State government should derive an action plan for saving the samba and thalady already cultivated in the region and implement the plan immediately to save those crops.

He also said that the State government should initiate steps for compulsory crop insurance in this unusual scenario and bear the insurance premium. He appealed to the government to establish a monitoring committee to streamline the supply of water and suggest alternate crop cultivation based on the interest of the farmers and announce an incentive for manavari crop cultivation.

Masilamani also appealed not to stop the release of water from Mettur and maintain at least 12,000 cusecs for a few more days and ensure a proper turn system of irrigation which would recharge the groundwater as well.

RECEDING LEVELS

(Mettur status on Wednesday evening)

• Current level: 68.70 feet (full level: 120 feet)

• Storage: 31.596 TMC (full capacity 93.470 TMC)

• Inflow: 763 cusecs

• Outflow: 15,000 cusecs

RELEASE FROM GRAND ANICUT

• Cauvery: 6,528 cusecs

• Vennar: 2015 cusecs

• GA Canal: 1804 cusecs

Voicing his concerns, educationalist PB Prince Gajendra Babu has also criticised the State government for amending the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act to facilitate the establishment of more private universities. The criticism comes after the UGC granted final approval to the University of Western Australia to establish its first Indian campus at Velachery in Chennai.

The association pointed out that more than half of Tamil Nadu’s 21 universities did not have adequate permanent faculty. “The University of Madras has only 180 teachers against a sanctioned strength of 515, while Madurai Kamaraj University has 202 against 405 and Bharathidasan University has 119 against 230,” he said.

Similarly, 188 government arts and science colleges have 7,198 vacant teaching posts, which have remained unfilled, the association noted.

Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System, said that the move would weaken public universities and dilute the government’s responsibility towards higher education. “Faculty supply in government universities and colleges has been woefully inadequate for more than a decade. This has affected the quality of higher education,” he added. “Allowing foreign universities is among the provisions of the National Education Policy and Tamil Nadu had now become the fourth State after Haryana, Karnataka and Maharashtra to permit a foreign university campus.”

The move was contradictory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on freeing the country’s education system from a colonial mindset and promoting an Indian education system, he said. “It will pave the way for reducing expenditure on public universities and, in the long run, public universities may gradually fade away,” he alleged. “TN’s tradition of social justice in education will be eroded if the government continues to encourage private universities.”

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam has opposed the permission granted to an Australian university to establish its presence in Tamil Nadu, alleging that it would undermine education rights, reservation and national sovereignty.

“Allowing an Australian university to operate in Tamil Nadu, without providing adequate infrastructure to government universities and arts colleges, is a serious attack on the right to education, reservation and the sovereignty of the country,” he said.

Under phase II of the MUMC project, CUMTA has identified three road stretches covering 26.2km: 3.7km of Taramani Link Road, 16.2km from Marmalange Bridge to Wallajah Road (Velachery-Tambaram Road) and 5.2km of GST Road between Tambaram and Pallavaram.

The proposed corridor will connect with bus-priority infrastructure planned under phase I on the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). The integration is expected to create a continuous bus-priority network across south Chennai and improve public transport connectivity between residential areas and the IT Corridor.

The bus-priority system could vary according to traffic and bus volumes at different times of the day. The proposal includes the possibility of bus-only lanes during specified hours, enforced through digital monitoring, or physically segregated lanes where required.

The road transformation will go beyond widening carriageways. The plans include uniform carriageways, green medians, service lanes, improvements to culverts and bridges, safer junctions and grade separators wherever required. Bus bays and stops, parking facilities, pedestrian infrastructure and cycling facilities will also be incorporated.

The DPR will examine ways to make bus stops safer and easier to access, with better arrangements for passenger boarding and alighting, along with footpaths, bicycle lanes and safe road crossings.

Pedestrian safety will be another key focus. The plan provides for at-grade crossings, foot bridges or skywalks wherever necessary, besides measures to improve safety for women, children and persons with disabilities.

The project will also address flooding along the identified roads. Flood-prone areas and watershed catchments will be studied and stormwater drainage systems, including suitable discharge points, will be designed to prevent water accumulation on roads.

Dedicated utility corridors are also proposed alongside stormwater drains for electricity, water, sewage and telecom cables. This is aimed at reducing repeated excavation of roads for laying or repairing utility networks.

The road plans will take into account existing and proposed Metro and MRTS infrastructure and seek to provide safe walking connectivity to stations. CUMTA will coordinate with agencies including CMRL, MTC, GCC, CMDA and CMWSSB while preparing the plans.

TNPDCL has floated a tender to procure power from private generators within and outside the state from October 12 to 31 through the Union government's Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price (DEEP) portal. The utility plans to procure up to 3,000MW between 6 pm and midnight, when demand is at its highest, followed by 1,500MW between midnight and 2 am. The rates will be known after the contracts are finalised.

The utility is already procuring up to 3,000MW through short-term and power-swap arrangements and buying a similar quantum through power exchanges during peak hours.

"Power requirement has been very high since last month due to the extended summer. Wind generation has considerably declined, and supply from central generating stations has also come down, making power purchases inevitable," a senior TNPDCL official said.

The official said the supply shortage was largely confined to the evening hours, with the state having surplus power during the day due to strong solar generation. If the northeast monsoon sets in by October 20, demand is expected to ease. TNPDCL would then have to take some of its thermal units offline for annual maintenance ahead of next summer.

"If the northeast monsoon is poor, we may have to repeat power purchases in November too," the official said.

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu recorded 432.6 million units (MU) of electricity consumption, close to the state's highest daily consumption recorded last year. Peak demand stood at 19,921 MW. TNPDCL's thermal plants supplied 80 MU, while central generating stations contributed 83.4 MU. Short-term purchases accounted for 38.5MU and power exchanges for another 36.5MU.

"Peak-hour demand has increased by 3,000MW compared with last year. At the same time, the 3,000MW expected from the central pool is not reaching us. Taking both factors into account, we have floated short-term tenders," said Minister for Energy Resources R Nirmalkumar.

The minister said Tamil Nadu had already procured 4,500 MW from the open market to manage the supply situation and would make additional purchases depending on demand. He attributed the pressure partly to low wind generation and reduced availability from central generating stations.

The latest exercise is expected to give a fresh push to the rollout of smart meters, which will replace conventional meters and enable TNPDCL to digitally monitor electricity consumption and reduce billing errors. The system will also pave the way for monthly billing.

Of the seven packages floated in the latest tender, two cover 56.85 lakh consumer connections in Chennai. The first covers 30 lakh low-tension (LT) consumers in Chennai Central, excluding T Nagar, Chennai North and Chennai West, and includes Avadi Municipal Corporation. The second covers 26.85 lakh consumers in Chennai South-1 and South-2.

The remaining 23 municipal corporations have been divided into four packages, covering 1.12 crore consumer connections. Six corporations in Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts form one package, while five corporations in Erode and Karur districts form another. Tiruchy, Thanjavur and Erode corporations are grouped in another package, while Madurai and Tirunelveli form the fourth package.

Alongside consumer metering, the TNPDCL is seeking to install 4.72 lakh smart meters on distribution transformers across all 38 districts. These meters will allow the utility to digitally monitor electricity flows at the transformer level, providing a wider picture of distribution losses and network performance.

The smart metering system will also enable remote operations. Connections can be disconnected remotely if bills remain unpaid after the due date and restored after payment or recharge, reducing the need for physical intervention.

The TNPDCL has planned a phased rollout under the latest tender. The first 5% of consumer meters are to become operational by the eighth month after the execution of the contract. The rollout is expected to reach 40% by the 15th month, with the entire connections covered by the 27th month.

The utility first floated a tender in August 2023 to install smart meters for all consumer connections except hut and agricultural services. The tender was cancelled in December 2024 due to poor participation from bidders and high maintenance costs quoted by them.

The TNPDCL floated fresh bids in March 2025 and subsequently decided to implement the project in two phases. The first phase was to cover 1.44 crore smart meters for all LT three-phase consumers, single-phase consumers with bimonthly consumption above 400 units, all high-tension consumers and distribution transformers. The second phase, covering the remaining consumers, was to be taken up after successful implementation of the first phase.

The original project was planned as a single-phase rollout at an estimated cost of Rs 19,235 crore. Under the revised plan, the first phase covered 1.44 crore meters, including 93.59 lakh single-phase and 45.57 lakh three-phase LT meters. The second phase was to cover the remaining 1.57 crore single-phase and 3.90 lakh three-phase meters. The tender was subsequently cancelled after the bids were opened following the change of government.

A senior TNPDCL official said the utility was confident of awarding the smart metering contract this time as prices had come down.
“After the installation of smart meters, we will implement monthly billing in CMA and other municipal corporations,” the official said.

“If the programmes of the applicant pertain to worship and rituals, they will fall under the religious category. Religious organisations whose activities do not affect the nation’s secular fabric and social amity are entitled to obtain FCRA registration. But organisations engaged in converting people from one religious faith to another shall be denied FCRA registration,” observed Justices GR Swaminathan and MD Sumathi.

The Bench made the observations while dismissing the trust’s contention that its activities at the Zen Meditation Centre run by a Christian priest in Kodaikanal could not be labelled as religious.

Relying on the submission of the Centre’s standing counsel that the author of the trust and the moving spirit behind the appellant organisation was an ordained Christian priest, Rev. Fr. Ama Samy SJ, the Bench observed: “One cannot forget the fact that Christianity is a messianic religion. Their theological and religious mission is to bring everyone within the fold of Jesus Christ. Unlike Hinduism, which is inclusive, the Abrahamic religions are inherently exclusive.”

Holding that Zen Buddhism is a variant of the Mahayana Buddhist school and therefore comes under the broader category of Buddhism, the Bench stated that as the trust had not properly identified its nature as a religious organisation in its FCRA application, its application was rightly rejected.

The Bench then drew a clear distinction between a religious organisation and a cultural or educational entity. An organisation primarily engaged in the systematic teaching of Vedanta, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, Yoga and allied Indian Knowledge Systems through structured classes, residential courses, publications, research and preservation of manuscripts cannot be classified as a religious institution, it said.

As the trust had not properly identified its nature as a religious organisation in its FCRA application, its application was rightly rejected, stated the Bench of Justices GR Swaminathan and MD Sumathi

“Indian Knowledge Systems would fall under the category of education or culture,” the Bench observed, noting that the National Education Policy, 2020 recognises IKS, philosophy and yoga as fields of study. The foreign contribution framework should operate in tandem with the NEP and should not classify organisations teaching such subjects as religious institutions, it said.

The Bench held that an application seeking FCRA registration should correctly disclose the nature of the applicant and the failure to do so would result in rejection. Even if all the details are in order, the authority is at liberty to reject the request, as there is no right as such to receive foreign contributions, but only a privilege, it said.

A Division Bench comprising Justices P Velmurugan and KK Ramakrishnan directed the inquiry officer to appear in person before the court October 8 and explain the action taken against the accused officials.

Petitioner Sakthivel of Sivaganga alleged that government officials, including tahsildars, had misappropriated Rs 2.35 crore allocated for students staying in Adi Dravidar Welfare hostels between 2017 and 2023. He sought transfer of the investigation to the CB-CID, alleging that the police and revenue officials were acting in favour of those accused of misappropriating government funds.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel Siddharth informed the court that the police had registered an FIR and that eight tahsildars had been included as accused. However, no action had been taken against them, he submitted.

Some of the tahsildars accused in the case had allegedly been promoted, while some others were permitted to retire by the district Collectors, the petitioner's counsel alleged.

The judges then asked the Public Prosecutor appearing for the government whether departmental action had been initiated against the accused officials and whether charge memos had been issued to them. They also questioned why officers had not been appointed to conduct the departmental proceedings.

The judges expressed displeasure when they found that lower-rank officials had been sent to assist the Public Prosecutor during the hearing. Questioning why such officials had been sent in connection with a case involving an alleged multi-crore financial irregularity, the court directed them to leave.

The court subsequently directed the inquiry officer to appear before it and explain the action taken in the case, and adjourned the hearing.

The water level in Pillur Dam increased by a steep 7.75 feet in a single day to reach 96.75 feet against its full reservoir level of 100 feet following heavy overnight rains in the Nilgiris.

The reservoir level, which stood at 88.50 feet at 11 pm on Tuesday, rose to 89 feet by 6 am on Wednesday, when the inflow was 404 cusecs. The inflow then surged to 6,000 cusecs by 7.50 am, pushing the level to 94 feet. By 9 am, inflow increased further to 10,000 cusecs and reached 96.75 feet. The inflow, however, eased to around 5,000 cusecs by 4 pm, while 6,000 cusecs of water have been released into the Bhavani River.

“We are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance, and if the water level reaches 97 feet, water will be released through four sluice gates as a precautionary measure,” said an official.

Heavy rain also replenished the Siruvani reservoir, another crucial source of drinking water for Coimbatore. Its water level has risen by two feet in the past two days to reach 32 feet compared to its full storage level of nearly 50 feet, while a storage of up to 44 feet is permitted by Kerala. The widespread rain also led to a surge in water flow at Kovai Kutralam water falls, prompting the forest department to prohibit bathing as a precaution.

Ramraj, who has won three medals at the Asian Games, and Singh were given a traditional welcome by students at the Avadi campus. The reception included a chariot procession, flower garlands and ceremonial honours.

As a mark of appreciation, Velammal Nexus presented a car each to Ramraj and Singh. The institution said the gesture was in recognition of their hard work, commitment and sacrifices behind their success on the international stage.

The felicitation was conducted by MVM Velmohan, correspondent, Velammal Nexus. He honoured Ramraj and Singh on behalf of the institution, and highlighted Singh’s role in guiding Ramraj’s sporting career and said that her achievements could inspire students to pursue excellence in athletics.

A large number of students attended the event and celebrated the athlete’s achievements. Velammal Nexus said it has continued to encourage sporting talent by providing students with opportunities and facilities to pursue interests beyond academics. The institution said the felicitation was aimed at recognising sporting achievements and motivating students to take up sports.

Because of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, "manipulation" of elections has happened, and he must resign, and that is the demand of Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties, he said.

It is the right of the citizens to agitate in a democracy as the people are the bosses, he told reporters here.

When the government does something wrong, it is the people who have to fight against it, and that is their right as they elected the government, he contended.

Elangovan was answering a question on police in the national capital detaining leaders including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi over the protest seeking CEC Kumar's resignation.

"So, if the CEC plays a role in favour of the ruling party, that is undemocratic. They should respect the law. That is why Rahul Gandhi was agitating yesterday. But this government does not want him to agitate, because they want to run the country not according to law, but by their wishes. That is the problem," the DMK leader alleged.

"So, they have come to power; it is not with the support of the people, but by manipulating elections. That is what has happened because of Gyanesh Kumar. So, Gyanesh Kumar should resign; that is the demand of Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party, and other parties. They should respect that, and Gyanesh Kumar should resign," the former MP added.

The male leopard, estimated to be around six years old, had been frequently sighted in the Chennampatti and Palamalai forest ranges along the Erode-Salem district border.

Over the past two months, it had repeatedly ventured into human habitations in Kittampatti, Komarayanoor, Masagoundanur and surrounding areas, preying on livestock kept near houses and farms.

With the animal making frequent incursions into the villages, residents recently staged a road blockade demanding that the forest department capture it. Following the protest, forest officials placed more than five cages at strategic locations, using goats as live bait. Surveillance was also stepped up with the installation of camera traps to monitor the leopard’s movements.

The leopard entered a cage set up in the Chinnamalai area near Kittampatti on Tuesday night. Hearing the animal’s loud growls, residents alerted the forest department. Officials rushed to the spot and secured the area, preventing people from approaching the cage.

“Veterinary examination showed that the leopard is in good health. Arrangements are being made to transport it and release it in a suitable dense forest area away from human habitation,” a forest department official said. As news of the capture spread, a large crowd gathered at the spot to catch a glimpse of the trapped leopard.

From Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus, Kilambakkam, special buses will be operated to Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tirupur. A total of 1,075 buses will be operated on Friday (October 9) and 845 buses on Saturday (October 10).

From CMBT, Koyambedu, special buses will be operated to Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur and Bengaluru. A total of 210 buses will be operated on (October 9) Friday and 180 buses on Saturday (October 10). In addition, 200 special buses will be operated from Bengaluru, Tirupur, Erode and Coimbatore.

From Madhavaram terminus, special buses will be operated to Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vellore, Hosur and Puducherry. A total of 145 special buses will be operated each day on October 9-10.

To facilitate passengers returning to Chennai and Bengaluru from their hometowns, 875 special buses will also be operated from various parts of the State on Sunday (October 11).

For Brahmotsavam festival at Tirumala, 150 special buses will be operated daily between Tirupati and various places in TN till October 21. The buses will be operated from Chennai, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai, Karaikudi, Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam, Sengottai, Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Nagercoil, Puducherry, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Vellore, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Tambaram, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Harur and Hosur.

Reservation facilities have also been provided for buses operated from Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Karaikudi, Nagapattinam, Sengottai, Tiruchendur, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Nagercoil and Puducherry.

The MD of State Express Transport Corporation said, “8,708 passengers have booked tickets for Friday, 3,950 passengers for Saturday and 7,480 passengers for Sunday. The number of advance bookings is expected to increase further in the coming days. Additional officials have been deployed at major bus terminals to monitor the operation of the special services.”

For bookings, use the TNSTC mobile app or click www.tnstc.in 

Addressing the guests at the National Day Reception of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Chennai on October 6, India’s Act East Policy and Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy are complementary to each other, bringing both countries as important partners in both diplomatic and economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors, information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, and green-energy technologies complement India’s strengths in talent, market size, and manufacturing capabilities. By working together, Taiwan and India can build stronger and more resilient supply chains,” he added.

Tamil Nadu has received substantial investments from Taiwanese companies, including by global behemoths like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron in ICT sector; footwear majors Feng Tay, Pou Chen, and Evervan Group, to name a few.

Pointing out the trade ties that the Southeast Asian country and the south Indian State have built over the years, Director-General Hsu reiterated his vision to make the coming years as the golden decade of Taiwan-Tamil Nadu relations: “Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu.”

S Vijayakumar, the head of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Branch Secretariat in Chennai, who was the chief guest at the event noted that the bilateral relations between Taiwan and India have grown steadily in recent years, with economic and trade exchanges showing particularly significant progress.

The official emphasized that India's Act East Policy seeks to create greater synergies in areas including the economy, technology, green energy, supply chains, and talent exchanges. “India hopes to engage in broad-based cooperation with Taiwan through the Act East Policy and jointly build more resilient and competitive industrial and supply-chain partnerships,” Vijayakumar added.

He also noted that Tamil Nadu enjoyed highly favorable conditions for development and said that he had personally witnessed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chennai's active efforts to promote exchanges in talent and other fields with stakeholders across the State, and assured support for D-G Hsu’s "Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu" vision.

Addressing reporters here on October 6, Raj maintained that while he belongs to no political party, he remains invested in people-centric politics, emphasising that the Constitution requires citizens to engage politically while elected representatives carry out governance.

He also criticised the ruling parties for avoiding transparency and denying democratic spaces for public protests and demanded accountability from those in power.

"Why are you refusing to hold press meets? Why are you disrespecting and demeaning the press?" Raj asked, emphasising that elected leaders, whether a Chief Minister or the Prime Minister, are duty-bound to answer questions posed by the media on behalf of the public.

Widening his criticism during the briefing, Raj launched a scathing offensive against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Union government over electoral integrity.

He voiced serious concerns regarding the appointment mechanism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, noting that replacing the Chief Justice of India on the selection panel with a Union Minister created an unfair 2:1 ruling party majority.

He also condemned legislative provisions granting sweeping judicial immunity to the CEC against legal action during or after their tenure.

Raj further alleged widespread flaws in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls, claiming citizens were arbitrarily disenfranchised under "absent" or "shifted" tags simply for being at work, hospitals, or away from home during official visits.

Highlighting that intense administrative pressure had driven booth-level officers to suicide amid a lack of training and public awareness campaigns, he also accused the authorities of defying Supreme Court directives on reporting alleged foreign infiltrators and manipulating poll schedules to facilitate prime ministerial campaign announcements ahead of the Model Code of Conduct.

Speaking to reporters at Anna Arivalayam, Bharathi said the DMK had filed a case against the SIR process in the Supreme Court and would argue the matter independently.

"In that case, the DMK will argue individually. The party will not work with any alliance of which the Congress is a part, " Bharathi said.

Reacting to Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore's remarks that the DMK had been isolated after the TVK joined the INDIA bloc, Bharathi said he was not concerned about Tagore's statement, alleging that he had not stood by his words in the past.

Bharathi also responded to a question on the by-elections in the two Assembly constituencies, saying that the DMK was confident of victory.

His remarks came after political parties belonging to the INDIA bloc held a protest in New Delhi against the SIR process and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The DMK, the principal Opposition party in Tamil Nadu, did not participate in the protest.

The DMK has been making efforts to form a third front at the national level. Against this backdrop, Bharathi's remarks indicated that the party would maintain its separate position and would not participate in events jointly organised with the Congress.

Meanwhile, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai, in a post on X, referred to the media report, claiming that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise altered election results in Tamil Nadu.

Taking a direct swipe at Rahul Gandhi with the phrase "Daro Math!" (don't be scared), Annadurai pointed out that while the Congress leader had forcefully claimed that elections were "stolen" in Bihar, he remained notably silent on developments in Tamil Nadu.