The move marks the first major project-preparation step following the announcement made by the Chief Minister in the Assembly during the recently concluded session.

Vijay had announced the establishment of the Digital FinTech Hub in Coimbatore at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore, with the project intended to strengthen the State's financial-technology ecosystem and create a platform for technology-driven financial services.

The consultant’s assignment will involve preparing the techno-economic feasibility report, which will form the basis for assessing the project's viability and planning its subsequent implementation. The initiative comes as the State seeks to widen its technology and innovation footprint beyond Chennai.

Coimbatore, one of TN’s major industrial and technology centres, already has an established IT ecosystem, with major companies operating from the city’s IT parks. The city also has a regional hub of the Tamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub, focused on supporting startups, researchers and industry in western Tamil Nadu.

TIDCO has previously been involved in developing the State’s FinTech infrastructure, including the FinTech City and FinTech Tower at Nandambakkam in Chennai. The corporation’s existing FinTech projects are aimed at creating an ecosystem for financial-services and FinTech companies.

The appointment of a consultant for the Coimbatore project will now pave the way for a detailed assessment before the government moves to subsequent stages of project development and implementation.

Kavin murder case

Kavin, 24, a software engineer from Thoothukudi district, was allegedly murdered in broad daylight on July 27 last year over his relationship with a woman. Since Kavin belonged to a Scheduled Caste community, the murder was alleged to have been caste-motivated.

CB-CID investigation

The Palayamkottai police initially investigated the case before it was transferred to the CB-CID. The police first arrested Surjith, the woman’s brother, along with her father Saravanan and relative Jaipal. Nine months later, CB-CID officials arrested Surjith’s mother Krishnakumari, who was absconding, in connection with the case.

Surjith’s father and mother Krishnakumari were serving as Sub-Inspectors in the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force. Both were suspended following the incident.

Chargesheet quashed

Hearing the case on Tuesday, Justice R Vijayakumar quashed the chargesheet filed against Surjith’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari. Following the order, Saravanan and Krishnakumari have been discharged from the murder case.

Meanwhile, the court dismissed Jaipal’s petition seeking to quash the chargesheet filed against him.

Thirumavalavan reacts

Reacting to the order, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said it was “shocking” that the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench had quashed the chargesheet against the parents of Surjith.

He said that the court has the authority to acquit the accused after a trial if there is insufficient evidence, but quashing the chargesheet before the commencement of the trial would set a wrong precedent.

Thirumavalavan also pointed out that Saravanan, who was arrested in connection with Kavin’s murder, was arrested again in another murder case after securing bail, allegedly for his links with contract killers.

He said the High Court’s order could create an impression that Saravanan and his wife were innocent despite the circumstances surrounding the case.

Thirumavalavan urged the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to appeal against the order on behalf of the VCK.

The mayor cancelled the meeting, citing lack of quorum and postponed it until further notice.

The Tiruchy City Corporation meeting was held, chaired by the mayor Mu Anbalagan in the presence of the Commissioner N Ponmani, in which the DMK members were present wearing black dress, condemning the state government for failing to release funds for the civic administration for the past four months, which affected developmental works in the city.

The DMK members said that they are being questioned by the residents for failing to undertake basic amenity works or any developmental projects in the city after the TVK formed the government.

The members also claimed that the commissioner had returned an allocation of Rs 6 crore meant for establishing bore wells in the Kollidam river to ensure a regular drinking water supply.

They also said that the commissioner, without even consulting the council, had taken the decision and acted. Saying this, they walked out of the meeting hall and staged a protest in front of the main building.

Soon after the DMK members walked out, the AIADMK members headed by KK Ambikapathi said that the DMK members staged a walkout against the DMK mayor. They said that the act was unusual and staged a walkout condemning the DMK members who spoiled the meeting process.

While the AIADMK members had gone out, the VCK member N Prabakaran, who was holding Dr Ambedkar’s statue, raised slogans against the Greater Chennai Corporation for removing the portrait from the hall. He condemned the Chennai Corporation administration and staged a walkout.

While the members went out, the Congress and Left party members who remained in the meeting hall demanded that the mayor go ahead with the meeting, as they had a series of issues to be raised in the meeting. Suddenly, a few DMK members who came back to the meeting hall asked the mayor not to continue the meeting, as the council lacked a quorum.

But the Congress and Left party members continued to demand that the mayor go ahead with the meeting, and this triggered an altercation between the DMK and the other members in the meeting hall. But the mayor postponed the meeting until further notice.

The accused, Senthilkumar (44), who works as a welder in Chennai, also sustained stab injuries and is undergoing treatment at the Palayamkottai Government Hospital.

The deceased were identified as Dalton (76), a resident of Manipuram near Nellai Town, and his elder brother Nicholas Rajarathinam (78). Dalton owned a petrol pump in the area.

According to the source, the hostility between Senthilkumar and Dalton's family was not new. Senthilkumar's family owns land near Dalton's house, and there had been a long-standing dispute between the two families over Dalton's family parking cars on the vacant land surrounding the temple. The parking issue had been a source of friction between the families for some time.

The simmering dispute came to a head on Tuesday morning when Senthilkumar was leaving his house on a motorcycle. At that time, Dalton's son Narendra (27) was taking his car parked in the area.

An argument broke out between Narendra and Senthilkumar, which escalated into an assault.

Nicholas Rajarathinam attempted to intervene. Senthilkumar allegedly took out a knife he was carrying and stabbed Nicholas.

Dalton, who tried to stop Senthilkumar, was also allegedly stabbed repeatedly. Both brothers collapsed.

Dalton's other son Naveen (29) then attempted to wrest the knife from Senthilkumar. The scuffle resulted in Naveen and Senthilkumar suffering injuries.

The three injured men were immediately taken to a private hospital by Dalton's family, where Nicholas died.

Dalton, who was subsequently shifted to the Palayamkottai GH, also died. Naveen was undergoing treatment in the hospital. Senthilkumar is also being treated at Palayamkottai GH.

Nellai City Police Commissioner Deshmukh Shekhar Sanjay and Deputy Commissioner Saravanan, among other officials, visited the spot of the crime. Police personnel were deployed in the area as a precaution.

Nellai Junction police registered a case and examined CCTV footage from the street.

As Senthilkumar and Naveen are undergoing treatment at the same hospital, police have also been deployed there to prevent any untoward incident. Police personnel led by Medical College Hospital Inspector Alagar are providing security at the hospital.

The incident has caused tension in the area.

The deceased officer was identified as Kannaki (35), who was attached to the Parthibanur police station in Ramanathapuram district and posted on duty at the Paramakudi government hospital.

According to police, a few youths who had sustained injuries in a brawl arrived at the hospital late Monday night for treatment.

Soon after, members of the two groups clashed again on the hospital premises.

When Officer Kannaki intervened to stop the fight, a youth identified as Karuppu Raja forcefully pushed her.

Kannaki lost her balance and fell backward, suffering severe head injuries.

Though she was immediately admitted for emergency medical care, she succumbed to her injuries without responding to treatment.

Upon receiving information, Ramanathapuram district superintendent of police G Chandeesh and Paramakudi deputy superintendent of police Sugumaran visited the hospital to conduct an investigation.

Police have launched a search to trace and arrest Karuppu Raja, who fled the scene following the incident.

During Tuesday's hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that the two accused had not been properly arrested or produced before the court within 24 hours. As the police had completed their interrogation, there was no need for their continued custody, the counsel argued.

Opposing the bail pleas, the State submitted that Shanthi had allegedly taken Rs 24.63 lakh from Veeramani to delete evidence related to the case. The police also argued that releasing the accused on bail could result in them influencing witnesses or threatening the minor girls and their families.

The prosecution further submitted that the accused could flee abroad if released and said the investigation was still at an initial stage, and sought dismissal of both bail petitions.

A private charitable organisation also filed an intervention petition opposing the grant of bail to the two accused.

After hearing the arguments, Judge S Padma of the Special Court for POCSO Act Cases reserved orders on the petitions.

The case came to light after a pen drive containing a video clip purportedly showing an elderly man sexually assaulting a minor girl was sent to the Intelligence and Technology Police Unit (ITPU) in October 2025. The police identified the man in the video as Veeramani.

The Central Crime Branch's Anti-Vice Squad registered a case on October 7, 2025, based on a complaint by a social activist. However, no immediate action was taken, police sources said.

The case was subsequently transferred to the ITPU, which arrested Veeramani, Mahendra Simhan and Shanthi on August 29 under provisions of the Pocso Act, IPC, and Information Technology Act in connection with the alleged sexual assault of minor girls.

Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan later moved the Pocso court seeking bail.

Addressing reporters on Sunday, District Superintendent of Police Anshul Nagar said investigative teams nabbed the accused and recovered stolen valuables after the high-profile break-in.

According to him, the incident occurred on Thursday night when Madhumitha, the YouTuber, her husband and their child had gone shopping.

Taking advantage of their absence, intruders gained entry by cutting open the rear door lock using a specialised tool.

The burglars broke open the bedroom wardrobe and fled with nearly 118 sovereigns of gold, diamond jewellery, and cash, together valued at approximately Rs 1 crore.

Anshul said five special teams were immediately deployed to investigate the case.

"After examining footage from nearby CCTV cameras, conducting forensic analysis at the crime scene, and tracking local movements, police managed to identify and nab the primary suspect involved in the break-in", he added.

The victim routinely uploaded reels and videos on social media showing off bundles of cash, gold purchases made every month, and live updates of her family's travel locations and outings.

Investigators suspect that these online posts may have made the household an easy target by revealing both the presence of wealth and the exact moments when the house was left unattended.

Police confirmed that further interrogation of the suspect is underway to trace and recover any remaining missing valuables and determine if any accomplices assisted in planning or executing the crime.

The move follows an announcement by Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh in the Assembly on August 31, offering a slew of measures for Tasmac employees. The minister had announced a monthly provision of Rs 5,000 for shops in corporation areas, Rs 4,000 for those in municipalities and town panchayats, and Rs 3,000 for shops in rural areas.

According to the circular dated September 29 issued by Tasmac, covering all 4,048 retail vending shops in the State, the allocation will be credited to the shop supervisor along with the monthly salary. It can be used for cleaning materials, disinfectants, garbage bins and bags, and drinking water. A local person can also be engaged for cleaning work using the provision.

But the money cannot be spent on rent, electricity, building repairs, furniture, equipment, or expenses for which Tasmac already has a separate provision. It also approved a 5 per cent annual increase in the maintenance rates from April 1, 2027, with the revised amounts to be rounded up to the nearest Rs 100.

The move comes amid months of complaints from Tasmac employees over shop-level expenses and additional duties. Unions have flagged rent, electricity and unloading charges, besides the manpower and costs involved in the empty-bottle buy-back scheme, which they said were being borne by shop staff.

The government had begun addressing some of the employee demands. Earlier, the government did a wage revision, taking the monthly pay of supervisors to Rs 33,023, salesmen to Rs 30,284, and assistant salesmen to Rs 28,680 from September 1.

Earlier this month, TASMAC had sanctioned an interest-free festival advance of Rs 20,000 a year for eligible employees of its retail vending shops, allowing each employee to avail the benefit for one festival of their choice.

Few weeks back, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had witnessed heated exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition DMK over the Rs 10 collected per liquor bottle at TASMAC outlets. Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh defended it, saying the amount was not a government charge, but began as a Rs 2 collection to support low-paid shop employees and later rose to Rs 10 to cover electricity, rent and maintenance costs.

Ayudha Puja falls on October 19 and Vijayadashami on October 20, giving people a four-day holiday including the weekend. Many are planning to travel to their hometowns on October 16 and 17, resulting in increased demand for omni buses.

Passengers have expressed shock over the fares, with tickets to Kodaikanal priced at up to Rs 4,999 and Ooty at Rs 3,500. Fares to Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi have crossed Rs 3,000.

Fares to Madurai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Kovilpatti and Virudhunagar have also reportedly risen to around Rs 3,000, compared with the usual Rs 2,000.

For return journeys on October 20 and 21, fares have reportedly risen further. Routes to southern districts that normally cost around Rs 1,200-1,500 are being priced at more than Rs 3,500.

Even passengers booking tickets two to three weeks in advance have reported high fares, with prices dropping on days immediately before and after the holiday period.

Omni Bus Owners Association State President Anbazhagan said the maximum fares for omni buses were fixed and announced in 2024 and that most operators charge accordingly.

“Charging more by a few operators gives all omni bus owners a bad name. Immediate action should be taken against those charging more than the prescribed fare,” he said.

He added that the issue of higher fares tends to recur during festive seasons and consecutive holidays.

Purse seine fishing is a method that uses a vertical net attached to a vessel to encircle schools of fish in open water.

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe termed the issue serious as instead of complying with the court's direction, the state government completely banned it.

"We have seen the order. It's no breeding season order which bans fishing during the specific period.

"We will call your secretary. How can our orders be overreached? File your reply in two weeks," the bench told counsel for the Tamil Nadu government.

Advocate Jaya Sukin, appearing for fishermen from Tamil Nadu, submitted that immediately after the court's order of September 2 which allowed fishing by purse seine nets subject to certain conditions, the state government came out with a notification dated September 9 completely banning such kind of fishing.

The plea filed by fishermen said that the state government has deliberately violated this court's order dated September 2, despite the fact that representatives of the state and the director of fisheries were also members of the expert committee and they accepted the final report of the expert committee on fishing by purse seine nets.

On September 2, the top court frowned upon the "unwritten ban" imposed by the Tamil Nadu government on fishermen by not granting access passes for using purse seine nets in the Centre's Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), and said it is necessary for the Union and the state to abide by the principle of cooperative federalism.

It ruled that the rights and liabilities of the parties will now be governed according to the relevant laws, EEZ Rules, 2025 and the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020.

The top court said that the laws, rules and regulations addressing the issue of access to the EEZ for fishing using purse seine nets and transiting through the territorial waters of the state have come into force and are operating.

Giving a reality check, the top court had flagged that out of 257 applications made, 226 applications are still pending verification by Tamil Nadu.

It further directed the state government to frame necessary rules/ regulations designating a specified channel under Rules 15(5) and (6) of the Marine Fishing Regulation Rules, 2020 for transit of vessels from its territorial waters to the EEZ for fishing using purse seine nets.

It noted that the expert panel constituted by the court earlier has broadly said that purse seine nets do not cause any major environmental harm in the maritime zones on the population of fishing stocks.

"The panel has suggested no outright blanket ban on purse seine fishing but it was of the view that there must be effective regulation on the use of these nets," it said.

The bench said the powers of both the Union and the state are equal and autonomous in each of their legislative spheres.

On August 4, the top court, while reserving its decision, told the state government that fishermen must be allowed to go for purse seine fishing beyond the state's territorial waters but any such activity should be within the exclusive economic zone with due permission.

The NGO 'Fisherman Care' alleged that the state was neither allowing it to do fishing in its territorial waters nor was it allowing them to go beyond 12 nautical miles in the Centre's jurisdiction of the exclusive economic zone.

On January 24, 2023, in a relief to fishermen, the top court conditionally allowed purse seine fishing beyond the territorial waters of the state but within the exclusive economic zone of the Centre.

It noted that some coastal states like Gujarat, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Goa and West Bengal do not have any restrictions on this type of fishing within their territorial waters.

The top court formed an expert panel which had suggested that a ban on purse seine fishing was not justified and may be allowed with a proper access plan for the fishermen.

The top court said that the fisheries department would give permission to only those boats where an approved vessel tracking system had been installed and which should be kept running during the operating time of the vessels.

The state government contended that fishing entities could use their vessels with purse seine nets in the territorial waters itself while proceeding to the EEZ and their concern was that under the guise of fishing in the EEZ, the fishermen could employ purse seine nets within 12 nautical miles.

Acting on specific intelligence regarding narcotics movement, a specialised police team intercepted the consignment in Poobalarayerpuram.

Hashish oil is a concentrated extract derived from the cannabis plant, containing high levels of THC, the substance responsible for its intoxicating effects.

According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the high-value contraband was transported by car from Coimbatore to Tuticorin on Monday.

The suspects had planned to launch a boat to smuggle the illicit haul across the sea into the Maldives.

The arrested individuals are all residents of Tuticorin.

Police officers seized the hashish (ganja) oil along with the vehicle used for transportation.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act.

The police are currently interrogating the accused to trace the source of the hashish oil in Coimbatore and identify the alleged international syndicate members waiting for the consignment in the Maldives.

Further investigation is under way.

The packets were ingeniously concealed inside the false bottoms of the checked-in baggage.

The recovered contraband weighed 3,424 grams (net weight) and tested positive for Ganja/Marijuana using the Narcotic Drug Detection Kit.

The contraband was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act. The seized drug worth approximately Rs 1.20 crores in the illicit market.

The passengers have been arrested under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act and remanded to judicial custody.

Further investigation is in progress, the release added.

Ganja worth Rs 1.2 crore seized at city airport

Meanwhile, KM Guru Rajesh, Joint Commissioner of Customs, Chennai International Airport, in an official release here, said that based on passenger profiling, officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), Chennai Customs, intercepted an Indian female passenger, who had arrived at Chennai International Airport from Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

The passenger attempted to exit through the green channel without making any declaration to Customs.

Upon detailed examination of her checked-in baggage, four transparent airtight packets containing dried greenish-brown flowering and fruiting tops of a plant, suspected to be high-grade hydroponically cultivated Cannabis (Ganja), were recovered.

The packets were ingeniously concealed inside the false bottoms of the checked-in baggage.

The recovered contraband weighed 3,424 grams (net weight) and tested positive for Ganja/Marijuana using the Narcotic Drug Detection Kit.

The contraband was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act. The seized drug is worth approximately Rs 1.20 crores in the illicit market.

The passengers have been arrested under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act and remanded to judicial custody.

Further investigation is in progress; the release was added.

The class 12 girl took the extreme step on Monday.

According to preliminary police investigations and a complaint filed by her parents, the teenager decided to end her life after persistent phone calls, stalking and harassment by two polytechnic students.

The alleged harassment had caused distress to the victim over recent weeks.

Outraged by the incident, aggrieved relatives and locals staged a protest outside the Shoolagiri police station to demand swift and stringent action against all individuals involved.

Demonstrators held a dharna outside the station premises, refusing to disperse until safety assurances and justice were provided.

Following the public uproar, the police registered a case and arrested both the 18-year-old college student and his 17-year-old accomplice.

Further investigation into the matter is underway to ensure comprehensive action against the perpetrators, police added.

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The victim-centric study, the results of which was published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, examined semi-structured interviews with 33 financial cybercrime victims from Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The sample comprised 22 men and 11 women, including 12 senior citizens. Interviews were conducted in English, Hindi, and Tamil, and analysed using the Gioia methodology.

The study comes against the backdrop of India's rapid digital transition, driven by widespread mobile access, UPI, and digital payments. The researchers noted that while official cybercrime figures capture reported financial breaches, they do not adequately reflect the human trauma experienced by victims.

Many victims had backgrounds in computer science, information technology, or management, and worked in IT, finance, banking, and public-sector organisations. Some even had cybersecurity certifications and experience in the field. That is, their digital familiarity did not save them from being deceived by carefully crafted social-engineering tactics.

Victims were often targeted while dealing with difficult circumstances, including illness in the family, retirement, job searches, workplace stress, and concerns over financial security or family reputation. The researchers identified anticipated gain, fear, lack of awareness that a fraud was under way, and the desire to prove one's worth as prominent situational vulnerabilities.

Fraudsters typically built rapport before escalating pressure. Digital-arrest scams used threats of arrest and reputational damage, while task and stock-trading scams relied on staged profits, apparently credible platforms, and social-media groups to build confidence and persuade victims to transfer more money.

Victims described the experience as a "brain freeze" or "hypnosis", saying intense pressure, fear or temptation impaired their ability to think independently. In some cases, fraudsters persuaded victims to borrow money after their own funds were exhausted.

The financial losses ranged from a few thousand rupees to millions – one participant reported losing Rs 90 lakh. The consequences extended beyond money, with victims reporting shame, sleeplessness, emotional distress, damaged family relationships, and prolonged efforts to recover their funds through banks, police, and courts.

"Our findings show that financial cybercrime is not simply a problem of inadequate digital literacy. Even highly educated and digitally experienced individuals can become vulnerable when fraudsters exploit fear, stress, and urgency," said Prof Nandan Sudarsanam of IIT-Madras.

Retired IPS officer Prof Kandaswamy Paramasivan said the response to cybercrime must move beyond blaming victims and called for stronger systems for early detection, rapid intervention, and coordinated action by banks and law-enforcement agencies.

The study, authored by Kandaswamy Paramasivan, Akanksha Jaiswal, Ameeta Fernando, and Nandan Sudarsanam, received support from IIT-Madras's Wadhwani School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

The researchers recommended targeted awareness campaigns, stronger cyber-forensic capabilities in police cyber cells, faster fraud detection by banks, and closer coordination among banks, police and courts. They also stressed the need for financial and psychological support for victims.

The study cautioned that its qualitative sample was drawn from metropolitan and largely professional groups and cannot be generalised to smaller cities, rural communities, unorganised-sector workers or unreported victims. Future research is proposed with larger quantitative samples and wider geographic and occupational coverage.

Citing apprehensions of widespread displacement and threat to their traditional fishing livelihoods, the fishermen say such a massive structure on over 24 acres land will destroy the traditional fishing grounds and public access to the sea.

Hundreds of members from the community including women sat in protest at Srinivasapuram Beach in Pattinapakkam (Foreshore Estate) while another section took out a black flag procession to draw the government's attention to their plight, amidst heightened police presence, barricaded areas and traffic diversions.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led government had announced the plan to shift the power centre from the historic Fort St George to the sea-facing Pattinapakkam area and later issued a government order (GO) on September 8, 2026, granting in-principle approval to initiate the construction process for the new Secretariat-Assembly complex at Foreshore Estate.

As protests from the fishing community and political parties swelled, the government clarified that only the detailed project report (DPR) process is underway, asserting that the process is only in the preliminary stage.

The fishers, however, commenced the protest today demanding the government to formally rescind the GO which posses a threat to their traditional livelihoods and coastal ecology.

The proposed complex is expected to come up on 25.55 acres of land while early design and initial department transfers estimate a plot size of about 25.16 acres. The GO formalised an aggregate of 25.55 acres at Pattinapakkam.

The Public Works Department has been given a three-month deadline to complete and submit the DPR along with cost estimates, as per the GO.

The villagers from Mullikuppam, Mullima Nagar, Mylapore, Srinivasapuram, Nuchikuppam, Ennore and Kovalam and other coastal areas have joined the protest in support of their demands which also include declaring the coastal stretch as a traditional residential area for fishermen, providing the promised housing for community and land titles (pattas).

Over 200 police personnel have been deployed to ensure security in the area.

Today's protest is part of a structured flash protest and token strike with the community leaders warning of launching an indefinite protest and multi-phase agitations if their demands were not met.

The fishermen from across 12 hamlets halted the fishing activities for the day and conducted black flag demonstrations.

According to a press release issued by the Salem Railway Division, additional coaches will be attached to the following express trains:

1. Coimbatore-Nagercoil Express (Train number 22668) departing from Coimbatore Junction at 7:30 pm from September 29 till January 4, 2027.

2. Nagercoil-Kevai Express (Train number 22667) departing from Nagercoil Junction at 9:55 pm from September 30 till January 5, 2027.

3. Karaikal-Ernakulam Express (Train number 16187) departing from Karaikal at 4:30 pm from September 29 till January 5, 2027.

4. Ernakulam-Karaikal Express (Train number 16188) departing from Ernakulam Junction at 10:25 pm from September 30 till January 6, 2027.

5. Coimbatore-Rameswaram Weekly Express (Train number 16618) departing from Coimbatore Junction on Tuesdays at 7:45 pm from December 6 to 29.

6. Rameswaram-Coimbatore Weekly Express (Train number 16617) departing from Rameswaram on Wednesdays at 8:15 pm from December 7 to 30.

Tamil Nadu Private Bus Owners Federation president K Thangaraj said in a statement on Tuesday that Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan and Transport Minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban had contacted the federation and assured them that their major demands would be considered.

“Based on the assurance given by the ministers, we have decided to defer the one-day token strike announced for Wednesday,” Thangaraj said.

The operators had announced the strike demanding revision of private bus fares and extension of the women’s free travel scheme to private buses with government subsidy.

Around 7,000 private buses operate across Tamil Nadu, excluding Chennai, Madurai, Nagercoil and Udhagamandalam. Operators had said fares had not been revised since 2018 despite a steep increase in diesel and spare parts costs, resulting in mounting losses.

Federation of Bus Operators Association of Tamil Nadu secretary D R Dharmaraj had said private bus operators were currently running at a loss of around 65%.

A federation of private bus owners’ associations had approached the Madras high court in March last year seeking directions to revise fares in view of the increase in diesel prices. Following the court’s direction, the government sought the views of operators and the public on fare revision, but no further action was taken, the operators had alleged.

The operators had also opposed the proposed expansion of the women’s free travel scheme from Oct 2, pointing out that state transport undertakings received government subsidy for the scheme while private bus operators did not receive any compensation.

They had demanded that the scheme be extended to private buses with government subsidy and that fares be revised to make the operations financially viable.

The federation said nearly three lakh employees depended on the private bus sector and several lakh passengers used private buses every day.

The move marks the first major project-preparation step following the announcement made by the Chief Minister in the Assembly during the recently concluded session. The feasibility report is expected to provide the technical and economic assessment required to firm up the project’s contours and take it forward.

Vijay had announced the establishment of the Digital FinTech Hub in Coimbatore at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore, with the project intended to strengthen the State’s financial-technology ecosystem and create a platform for technology-driven financial services.

The consultant’s assignment will involve preparing the techno-economic feasibility report, which will form the basis for assessing the project’s viability and planning its subsequent implementation.

The initiative comes as the State seeks to widen its technology and innovation footprint beyond Chennai. Coimbatore, one of Tamil Nadu’s major industrial and technology centres, already has an established IT ecosystem, with major companies operating from the city’s IT parks. The city also has a regional hub of the Tamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub, focused on supporting startups, researchers and industry in western Tamil Nadu.

TIDCO has previously been involved in developing the State’s FinTech infrastructure, including the FinTech City and FinTech Tower at Nandambakkam in Chennai. The corporation’s existing FinTech projects are aimed at creating an ecosystem for financial-services and FinTech companies.

The appointment of a consultant for the Coimbatore project will now pave the way for a detailed assessment before the government moves to subsequent stages of project development and implementation.

The initiative was earlier implemented as the ‘Meendum Manjappai’ campaign during the previous DMK regime.

What is the 'Thunippai Scheme' aimed at?

The scheme was aimed at encouraging people to use cloth bags instead of single-use plastic bags.

How did the 'Meendum Manjappai Scheme' begin?

The then AIADMK government had banned single-use plastic bags in Tamil Nadu in 2019.

In December 2021, the then DMK government launched the ‘Meendum Manjappai’ campaign to promote cloth bags as an alternative. Machines were installed at public places where people could obtain cloth bags by paying Rs 10, and funds were allocated for the initiative.

What is the 'Thunippai Scheme'?

Following the change in government, questions were raised over the continuation of funding for the initiative. The government has now removed the ‘Manjappai’ name and is continuing the as the 'Thunippai Scheme’.

Under the scheme, steps have been taken to provide cloth bags and install machines at public places.

Where will 'Thunippai Scheme' machines be installed?

In the first phase, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has started the process of inviting tenders to install machines at 105 locations and provide the cloth bags required for them.

The award aims to recognise women whose contributions have transformed lives, strengthened communities and inspired others, but whose work may not always have received the visibility it deserves, Aspire K Swaminathan, general secretary of "We The Leaders" said on Tuesday.

According to him, across Tamil Nadu, countless women continue to make a difference in education, agriculture, community development, social service and several other fields, often working quietly and away from public attention.

The Kamaraj Award seeks to identify such women, bring their stories before a wider audience and recognise the values of perseverance, service, leadership and social responsibility that their journeys represent.

This year, around 12 outstanding women from different parts of Tamil Nadu and from diverse spheres of activity have been identified for recognition.

Each awardee has distinguished herself through sustained effort, personal commitment and meaningful contribution in her respective field.

The award has been instituted in the name of "Perunthalaivar" K Kamaraj, whose public life continues to be remembered for simplicity, integrity, commitment to education and concern for the welfare of ordinary people.

Through this recognition, "We The Leaders" seeks to celebrate women who continue to reflect these values through their work and service.

The awardee will then be invited onto the dais to receive the honour from Annamalai, following which she will briefly share her thoughts and experiences with the audience.

After launching "We The Leaders", Annamalai have undertaken several key social activities and events across Tamil Nadu.

Recently, Annamalai visited Madurai to participate in the "Vaigai Sirpi" awards event, highlighting the movement's massive cleanup drive which removed approximately 1.63 lakh kg of waste from the Vaigai River.

Annamalai also addressed public meetings such as speaking at Signograph 4.0 in Tiruppur on September 25 emphasizing corruption-free governance, transparency, grassroots participation, and the elimination of drug and liquor abuse.

"Urged our Indian entrepreneurs to invest more in innovation and personal fulfilment. India’s next phase of growth will be driven not just by the scale of our businesses, but by the ambition, innovation and courage of our entrepreneurs to solve tomorrow’s problems today," Annamalai said.

He also recently claimed "in many constituencies, more than 30,000 leaders are part of our 'We The Leaders' organization. In every constituency, we must set as our goal the creation of at least 30,000 leaders on behalf of our organization".

The film, which focuses on the need for accessible and barrier-free housing for the ageing population, follows the emotional journey of an ageing father and his son and explores the relationship between the environment, community and care.

It highlights the importance of residential spaces that enable people, regardless of age or disability, to live independently and with dignity. A key feature of the project was the participation of persons with disabilities in technical and artistic roles, aiming to position them as creators and professionals in mainstream media rather than merely subjects of stories. 

The screening was followed by an expert panel discussion on practical solutions for inclusive urban living, with professionals from real estate, engineering, architecture, assistive technology and community management participating. 

If not done, vendors warned of protests and also to campaign against the TVK in the Tiruchy East bypoll.

The general body meeting of the vendors welfare association was held in Tiruchy, chaired by the president MK Kamalakannan, in which the members raised the issue against the shifting of Gandhi Market from the existing spot.

The members expressed that the Gandhi Market is located in the heart of Tiruchy City, and thousands depend on the market for their livelihood.

Apart from wholesale merchants, several hundred platform vendors and retail vegetable vendors are also involved for their daily earnings.

They pointed out that the previous DMK government faced a setback when it attempted to shift the Gandhi market to the new location at Panjapur. They also said that the Tiruchy East segment is where Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was elected and later resigned.

They cautioned the Chief Minister that the Gandhi Market, which is located in the Tiruchy East segment, would face a severe setback in the upcoming bypoll if the government plans for the shifting of the market.

Subsequently, they passed a resolution against the shifting of the market and insisted that the state government drop the plan for the new location at Panjapur. They also resolved to stage a series of protests and even campaign against the ruling TVK in Tiruchy East.

The direction, issued by the Union Ministry of Power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003, will be in force from October 1 to December 31.

Six captive power plants located in Tamil Nadu figure in the list of 112 plants listed by the ministry. They include DCW Ltd, Sahupuram in Thoothukudi (108 MW), Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd (TNPL), Unit 1, Karur (103.62 MW), TNPL, Mundipati in Trichy district (30 MW), Ramco Cements, Govindapuram Works (60 MW), JSW Steel Ltd, Salem Works (97 MW), and Ultratech Cement Ltd (India Cements), Sankarnagar unit (48 MW).

The six plants have a combined installed capacity of 446.62 MW. Of these, five plants with a combined capacity of 416.62 MW have an installed capacity of 50 MW or more and fall within the threshold specified in the Centre's directive.

The ministry has asked the eligible plants to maximise generation after meeting their own captive power requirements. Any surplus electricity available is to be offered through power exchanges in accordance with applicable regulations.

The plants have also been asked to maintain adequate coal stocks to ensure fuel availability and enable maximum generation. They will have to submit weekly reports to the Central Electricity Authority detailing generation, captive consumption, sale of power through exchanges or other permitted avenues, available capacity and coal stocks.

The ministry said the directions were aimed at optimising electricity generation from all available sources, including captive generating stations, to ensure adequate power availability amid the prevailing demand-supply situation and expected rise in demand.

After campaigning in Dharapuram, he will campaign in Madurantakam the next day, seeking votes for his party candidate I Paranthamen.

DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin is campaigning in both constituencies and seeking votes for the party candidates. His campaign will conclude in Dharapuram on October 4.

DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi Rajathi Karunanidhi is also campaigning for the party candidates.

After Dharapuram, she will campaign in Madurantakam.

The by-poll campaign will conclude on October 4, while polling will be held on October 6. Counting of votes will take place on October 9.

The by-polls to the two Assembly constituencies are witnessing a five-cornered contest, with 49 candidates in the fray after the withdrawal of nominations.

From the moment Vijay landed at Madurai airport until he left the city after visiting the Gandhi Memorial Museum and the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, the mood was celebratory. But the tightly controlled arrangements, long waits in the heat and restricted media access offered a less celebratory side to the high-profile visit.

Party cadres had reportedly been kept inside barricaded areas for nearly three hours, with inadequate access to water. Around 10 people reportedly fainted during Vijay’s visit to the Rajaji Hospital and were taken for treatment by police personnel. Another four people who had gathered to see the Chief Minister reportedly fainted from the heat and were treated by medical personnel.

Yet for those who managed to catch a glimpse of Vijay, the wait seemed worthwhile.

At the Gandhi Memorial Museum, Vijay viewed artefacts, personal belongings and historical documents associated with Mahatma Gandhi. After inaugurating the renovated museum, refurbished at a cost of Rs 10.25 crore by the Heritage wing of the Public Works Department, and garlanding Gandhi’s statue, he wrote in the visitors’ book: “Very happy to have visited this holy place.”

The mood turned more exuberant at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, where crowds packed the Chithirai Streets. Vijay entered through the Potramarai Kulam, got down near the Amman Sannathi on East Chithirai Street and walked towards the temple, folding his hands as he acknowledged people gathered on either side.

Inside the temple, the political leader gave way to the devotee. Vijay requested special archana in his name, under the Poosam star, and in the names of his family members. Priests performed the archana and special deeparadhana for Meenakshi Amman before applying kumkum as prasadam on his forehead.

At the Sundareswarar shrine, special archana was performed in his name and those of his family members, followed by the recitation of Thevaram and Thiruvasagam hymns and presentation of prasadam.

Temple trustee board chairman Rukmani Palanivel Rajan presented Vijay with a statue of Meenakshi Amman, a silk saree and a veshti. Vijay enquired about her well-being and sought her blessings by touching her feet.

For the media, however, the visit unfolded from a distance. Journalists were kept away from several points of the programme, leaving them largely dependent on official releases, visuals, and other secondary sources for portions of their reports.

That distance stood in contrast to the extraordinary public access surrounding Vijay, with supporters lining the streets and waiting for hours for a glimpse of him.

By the end of the visit, Madurai had witnessed two very different moods at once — the fervour of a leader being welcomed by thousands and the strain of a crowd enduring the heat and tightly managed arrangements. It was a homecoming wrapped in devotion and celebration, but one that also exposed the human cost that can accompany such mass gatherings.

Announcing the strike from midnight on Sept 29 to midnight on Sept 30, Federation of Bus Operators’ Association of Tamil Nadu president K Thangaraj and secretary DR Dharmaraj said nearly 7,000 private buses operate in the state.

The sector, employing around three lakh people and catering to lakhs of daily commuters, faces mounting operational losses.

"Fares have remained unchanged since 2018, while diesel prices shot up from Rs 64 to over Rs 100 a litre. We are currently operating at a 65% loss, making the private bus sector unviable," they said.

Recalling their petition in the Madras High Court last March seeking fare revision aligned with fuel prices, operators alleged that despite public consultations following court directions, the government took no further action.

The federation also strongly opposed expanding the women’s free travel scheme to more government bus categories from October 2.

Pointing out that state transport undertakings receive government subsidies while private operators get no compensation, they said: "This expansion will further worsen our financial position. The government must extend the scheme to private buses with adequate subsidies or revise fares immediately."

The CDRI assessment mapped 48,416 telecom towers across the State and found 27,690 (57%) exposed to high or very high cyclonic winds and 16,113 (33%) exposed to medium-to-very high flood depths.

Another 6,796 towers (14%) are vulnerable to storm surges of over six metres, while 516 towers are exposed to landslide risk.

“These figures indicate exposure to hazards and should not be interpreted as the number of towers expected to fail,” CDRI Director General Amit Prothi said.

The vulnerability, however, extends beyond the towers themselves.

Chennai and Chengalpattu are among the districts with the highest concentrations of towers exposed to very high flood levels and cyclonic winds.

Kancheepuram is among the districts with high flood exposure, while Tiruvallur is among those with high cyclonic-wind exposure.

The assessment does not provide district-wise tower counts.

For flood exposure, locations identified by the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority were assessed using a 2-km buffer to identify telecom towers in affected areas.

The findings highlight the need to assess telecom resilience at the network level, as cyclones or floods can trigger several failures at once — from damaged towers and antennas to power outages, flooded backup systems, disrupted fibre links and inaccessible sites.

Damage to fibre routes can sever links between towers and the wider network. “Connectivity can therefore be affected even when towers themselves remain structurally intact,” Prothi said.

Ahead of the Northeast Monsoon, CDRI recommends that operators inspect sites in flood- and cyclone-prone areas, check tower supports and antennas, improve drainage and protect cable entry points.

For long-term resilience, hazard exposure needs to be considered when telecom infrastructure is planned and built.

In coastal and flood-prone areas, this could include stronger structures, elevated equipment, protected cable routes and alternative fibre routes.

A police team has allegedly been following the movements of Akash Delison’s parents and activist M Lenin, who has been supporting the family in taking up the issue on various forums.

“Police personnel asked us whether we had any plan to block the Chief Minister’s convoy. Even after we told them that we had no such plan, they continued to harass us,” said Lenin, coordinator of the Justice for Akash Delison Murder Campaign Group.

Akash’s father, Rajesh Kannan, opened his shop in the morning to attend to his business, but the police allegedly continued to monitor his movements.

“Police personnel waited near his shop and watched his movements. They also came looking for him at medical shops where he had gone to purchase medicines,” Lenin alleged.

Only after Rajesh Kannan threatened to self-immolate did the police leave him alone, Lenin said.

When contacted, a senior police officer confirmed that police personnel had been deployed to prevent the family from causing any disruption to the Chief Minister’s convoy, referring to their earlier attempt in Chennai.

“It will also affect their safety. We did not harass them,” the officer said.

It is worth recalling that Akash Delison's kin had attempted to approach the convoy of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and submit a petition outside the Secretariat (Fort St George) in Chennai on September 3, 2026.

The tender document also reduced the annual turnover requirement for bidders from Rs 300 crore to Rs 150 crore.

According to a corrigendum issued to the tender document, the annual selling capacity required of bicycle manufacturers has been reduced from six lakh units to three lakh units.

The required production capacity has also been reduced from 10 lakh units to five lakh units per annum.

Before the corrigendum, the tender conditions stated that the bidder should be the manufacturer of the bicycle frame and fork and should possess valid BIS certification in its own name for the components.

The revised document states that the bicycle frame and fork need not have BIS certification.

The government has also made changes to the technical requirements. The earlier document required bidders to furnish details of the installed production capacity of their manufacturing facility, with a capacity of 10 lakh units per annum.

The revised document only requires bidders to furnish details of the installed production capacity of the manufacturing facility.

The requirement to submit copies of the latest valid ISI licence certification issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for the frame and fork has also been removed.

Another condition requiring bidders to demonstrate cumulative sales of 75,000 units of the proposed model in the Indian domestic retail market during the previous three financial years has also been removed.

Addressing an election meeting in Dharapuram, Palaniswami said the TVK government was acting out of fear of defeat and said attempts to curb the AIADMK would only strengthen its resolve.

“If you try to curtail the AIADMK, we will only rise further. I also warn the police against foisting false cases on our functionaries who are involved in the election campaign. We will not be cowed down by threats. If this continues, I will lead a protest against Vijay when he comes to Dharapuram,” he said.

Claiming that TVK Ministers were approaching AIADMK MLAs and inviting them to join the ruling party, the AIADMK leader said, “A majority of those in the DMK and TVK are from the AIADMK. They underwent training in the AIADMK and then went on deputation to other parties.”

Taking a dig at Vijay, Palaniswami said the TVK leader had contested from two constituencies in the Assembly election because he lacked confidence in winning from a single seat. “Vijay had come to power by accident and was now attempting to retain his government through horse-trading of AIADMK MLAs,” he said.

On allegations of an understanding between the AIADMK and DMK, Palaniswami asked why the two parties would contest separately if they had joined hands. “If the DMK is an evil force, then TVK forming a government with its allies should also be called an evil force,” he said.

Referring to the Karur stampede case, Palaniswami said the fate of the present government would ultimately depend on the outcome of the case pending before the court. “This government will not last long,” he said.

"If you cannot change it, at least change the person writing it,” she said, referring to his repeated references to the DMK as an “evil force” and his party as a “pure force,” adding that people had grown tired of hearing the same dialogue.

Campaigning for DMK candidate Suganya in the Dharapuram bypoll, Kanimozhi said the TVK government’s “drama and reels” would not last long and accused it of failing on law and order, governance and its election promises.

Taking a dig at Vijay’s frequent references to the DMK, she said, “He spoke for 30 minutes in Maduranthakam. Mentioned DMK 40 times. He will come here too and seek votes in the name of the DMK.”

Kanimozhi also mocked Vijay for referring to DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin as “sweet uncle”. “Vijay is now our relative because he calls our leader Thalapathy ‘sweet uncle’. From now on, I will call him dear younger brother,” she said.

Attacking the TVK government over rising crime and law and order, Kanimozhi claimed that more than 200 murders, over 300 sexual offences and eight custodial deaths had occurred under the government. “You may have voted for Vijay thinking he would save you as he does in cinema. But is this the ‘pure force’?” she asked.

She also alleged that the government had failed to act against a Cabinet minister despite a complaint by a woman lawyer from the same party, who alleged that she was asked to pay money in connection with an appointment as a government prosecutor. Instead, action was taken against the woman, she claimed.

Kanimozhi also questioned the government over an alleged sexual assault of a child on a school campus in Chennai, accusing it of trying to cover up the incident. Referring to Vijay’s appeal to kids to insist at home and secure votes for him, she asked what the government had done for his “Nanbas and Nanbis”.

She also alleged that DMK leaders were being subjected to repeated searches out of political vendetta. “Every week, searches are being conducted at the houses of our leaders,” she said.

The DMK leader criticised the government over unfulfilled election promises and raised issues relating to power cuts, price rise, farmers’ water problems, unemployment assistance and financial support for women.

On power cuts, she referred to an earlier remark by Stalin that the contest was between “power cuts and sickle cuts”. “They say the power cuts are due to the absence of rain and wind and that someone is pulling out the fuse. For four months, don’t they even have the ability to find out who is responsible?” she asked.

Kanimozhi also took a dig at Vijay over his foreign travel, saying he had claimed he went to London to attract industrial investment after visiting a race. “He could have gone to Delhi for the company in Noida,” she said.

She also criticised the reported expenditure on a new office. “You ask people not to make sweets with ghee from someone else’s house, but spend Rs 6 crore to Rs 7 crore on a new office. I don’t know which pandit told him this. Is brother Vijay making kara boondi?” she asked.

On the Dharapuram bypoll, Kanimozhi accused the TVK of engineering the situation to increase its strength in the Assembly after Sathyabama, who had contested and won as an AIADMK candidate, joined the TVK.

“The TVK is projecting Sathyabama differently after previously describing her as a spent force while she was in the AIADMK. Now, after she has joined the TVK, she has become sister Sathyabama,” she said.

Defending the DMK against Vijay’s allegation that it was aligned with the BJP in the State, Kanimozhi cited the party’s opposition to several Union government decisions.

Referring to an Assembly speech by VCK leader Vanni Arasu, she alleged that remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been removed from the Assembly records.

During the meeting, he will brief the Collectors on precautionary measures to be taken ahead of the monsoon.

The Chief Secretary (CS) is expected to stress the need for advance preparedness in vulnerable areas and close coordination among various government departments to respond to rain-related incidents.

Special attention will be given to the possibility of landslides during the rainy season in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Theni districts.

The Collectors of these districts will be instructed to identify vulnerable locations and take necessary precautionary measures.

In the Delta region, the Chief Secretary will instruct the respective District Collectors to closely monitor paddy procurement and ensure that the procured paddy is protected from rain-related damage.

On the health front, instructions will be issued to intensify measures to prevent dengue and other rain-related diseases during the monsoon season.

The Collectors will also be asked to ensure preparedness at the district level and coordinate with the concerned departments to address any emergencies arising during heavy rainfall.

In a statement, Veerapandian said the devadasi system involved girls, particularly from certain marginalised communities, being assigned to temple-related duties on the basis of caste and across generations. Girls aged between eight and 11 were allegedly forced into the system through rituals such as 'pottukattuthal', he said.

The women were subjected to severe labour exploitation and were also sexually exploited by landlords, temple officials and dominant sections of society, besides facing various forms of abuse, he said.

Progressive forces had fought for decades against the patriarchal and caste-based system that deprived women of their rights and dignity and reduced them to a state of servitude, Veerapandian said.

He recalled the role of leaders including Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy and Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar in campaigning against the practice. Their efforts contributed to the enactment of the Madras Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act in 1947, which legally prohibited the practice in the then Madras Presidency, he said.

Veerapandian said regressive forces had opposed the legislation at the time and that the history of the struggle against the system could not be forgotten.

"It is strongly condemnable that some writers are now speaking in support of the devadasi system after a practice that violated women's rights has been abolished," he said.

He appealed to progressive forces to counter what he described as "toxic views" supporting the devadasi system and urged Tamil society to reject such views.

Justice V Lakshminarayanan allowed the petition and adjourned the matter. According to the prosecution, Anbil Mahesh allegedly cheated private schools for two years through an unregistered outfit called "Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association". 

He allegedly promised to secure permanent recognition, school upgradation, Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) approvals, and other statutory clearances using his political and bureaucratic connections.

Based on a complaint by Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) registered an FIR against Anbil Mahesh under Sections 316 (5) and 318 (4) read with 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The prosecution alleged that he failed to secure the promised approvals or refund the money collected and had swindled over Rs 100 crore.

The CCB searched nine premises linked to him in Chennai and Tiruchy on September 16 and questioned him for about eight hours on September 18.

Anbil Mahesh has moved the Madras High Court seeking to quash the FIR and stay the proceedings. In his plea, he stated that, at the highest, the allegations suggested that some persons had collected money using his name. He also said that his premises in Chennai and Tiruchy were searched and that he fully cooperated with the inquiry.

The Pamaniyaru, which branches from Vennar at Needamangalam in Tiruvarur district, flows for around 60 kms through 100 villages and empties at Muthupettai seashore via the storage point at Thoppathanaveli check dam located at Keezhakadu village near Thambikottai in Muthupettai.

It is said that Thoppathanaveli check dam plays a crucial role in preventing the intrusion of seawater and ensuring the recharge of the groundwater. 

The water is also stored at the nearby Peruga Vazhanthaan check dam, which has been used for irrigation purposes for several thousand acres of land in Tiruvarur and water used to be discharged only during the floodings. While there is a check dam at Serangulam at Mannargudi in Tiruvarur, which plays a major role for irrigation in the Mannargudi taluk in the district

Such a crucial branch river has started to stench for the past few weeks, reportedly after the discharge of sewage from the households resulting into contamination of the storage at Serangulam check dam which is at the distance of 5 km from Mannargudi town.

According to M Sivaraman, an environmental activist, the Mannargudi Municipal administration has already executed the sewage treatment plant; the civic administration should ensure the sewage from households is not discharged directly into the Pamaniyaru, which would pose a threat to the environment and spoil the groundwater as well. Since the river is contaminated due to the mix-up of sewage, it would pose a threat to the cattle also, the environmentalists said.

Meanwhile, on Monday, PR Pandian, president of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Association, who visited the Serangulam check dam, said the Pamaniyaru plays a vital role as an irrigation and drinking water source for the residents from several villages near Muthupettai. 

The sewage discharge into the river should be immediately stopped, and the Mannargudi civic administration should ensure the household sewage is released properly through the treatment plant. 

“If the civic administration fails to ensure clean water flow into the Pamaniyaru, the farmers, residents, traders and environmental activists together would stage a protest on October 2 at Muthupettai. It would be an indefinite protest until the demand was fulfilled,” Pandian warned.

The devotees, from Nasiyanur, had visited the Sitheswarar Temple atop Palamalai Hills and were trekking down after offering prayers when they took a wrong route and became stranded in the forest on Sunday night.

With darkness setting in, the group was left stranded in an area inhabited by wild animals. They were unable to make phone calls for some time due to poor mobile network coverage in the forest.

The devotees eventually managed to contact the police control room and alert authorities. Acting on the information, forest department personnel entered the forest, traced the group, and brought all seven to safety after several hours of searching. Palamalai Hills, located along the Erode-Salem district border, is inhabited by wild animals.

The incident comes a year after 36 people from Pallipalayam were similarly stranded inside the Palamalai forest. They were rescued after spending two days in the forest.

The long weekend comprises Thursday (October 1), Gandhi Jayanthi on Friday (October 2), Saturday (October 3) and Sunday (October 4).

From Kilambakkam, 1,580 special buses will be operated on October 1 to destinations including Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tirupur. Another 745 buses will be operated on October 2 and 895 buses on October 3.

From Koyambedu, 220 special buses will be operated on October 1 to Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur and Bengaluru, while 115 buses each will be operated on October 2 and 3. Another 200 special buses will be operated from Bengaluru, Tirupur, Erode and Coimbatore to various destinations.

From Madhavaram, 185 special buses will be operated on October 1. On October 2 and 3, 90 special buses each day will be operated to Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vellore, Hosur and Puducherry.

To facilitate the return journey to Chennai and Bengaluru, 1,471 special buses will be operated from various destinations on Sunday based on passenger demand.

According to TNSTC, 28,402 passengers had booked tickets for travel on Thursday, 5,497 on Friday, 6,744 on Saturday and 24,123 on Sunday (October 4). The number of advance bookings is expected to increase.

You can book tickets in advance on www.tnstc.in, or the mobile app to avoid congestion

The representatives put forth this suggestion agreeing for the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) to demarcate the brackish-water Pulicat Lake, at a joint meeting of officials of both the southern states held at Gummidipoondi Panchayat Union Office, about 45 km from Chennai.

Officials from both the states convened the joint meeting on Saturday to address the long-standing territorial and fishing disputes in the Pulicat Lake area.

The talks coincide with ongoing central government interventions aimed at addressing the root economic trigger of these clashes - dwindling aquatic resources.

Following representations by Tirupati MP Maddila Gurumoorthy, the Union Fisheries Ministry is executing a Rs 133.11 crore project to open and stabilise the Rayadoruvu sea mouth.

The representatives had expressed that the palmyrah tree trunks traditionally used as water-bound border markers rot in the saltwater, leading to frequent boundary confusion and disputes between the fishermen of the two states.

Besides the local fishermen representatives, MLAs from Ponneri and Sulurpetta in Andhra Pradesh, Tiruvallur district collector S Kavitha and Tirupati district additional collector R Govinda Rao, participated in the meeting.

Instead of attempting to place fixed physical markers inside the shifting waters of Pulicat Lake, the proposed technological framework shifts accountability directly to the fishing vessels.

Motorised and traditional boats operating across the lake will be fitted with automated GPS transponders. Agencies like the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) will establish exact digital maritime coordinates and boats approaching or breaching the boundary line will trigger real-time alerts on board and notify Marine Police control rooms in both Tiruvallur and Tirupati, it was suggested.

The deployment aligns with pending amendments to the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, which will make intentionally disabling or tampering with a vessel's transponder a criminal offense, the official pointed out.

At the meeting, community leaders emphasised that a decade-old legacy of violence - tracing back to an April 2014 clash where homes, boats, and nets in Tamil Nadu’s Chinna Mangodu village were set ablaze - must be resolved.

With 199 police cases still actively pending against Tamil Nadu fishermen, local fleets have strictly refrained from venturing into waters under neighbouring Andhra Pradesh jurisdiction for over 10 years out of fear of arrest or fresh conflict.

The representatives made it clear that full peace will require both state governments to fast-track or mutually withdraw these pending charges.

Severe siltation and low summer water levels routinely choke the lake's inlets, restricting marine migration and forcing fishermen from both states to compete in crowded, shallow waters. Opening the sea mouth is expected to replenish fish stocks and significantly curb cross-border poaching friction, it was said.

Vijay — who has since translated his dream run at the box office into electoral success and become chief minister of Tamil Nadu — filmed key sequences of Leo at the cafe, transforming it into a bustling tourism hub. In the film, Vijay plays a cafe owner living a double life. Fans throng the cafe to relive some of his iconic scenes — from recreating the superstar's entry sequence to posing at the exact spot where his character stylishly takes off his jacket.

Located on the Khanbal-Pahalgam road near Mattan, roughly 40 km from Pahalgam and 60 km from Srinagar, the cafe called Sifar has emerged as an essential stopover on the Kashmir travel itinerary for tourists from south India.

"Since the film released, tourists from Tamil Nadu and other southern states landing in Kashmir ask for Sifar first. They order the exact same hot chocolate and trout fish that Vijay had in the movie, recreate his scenes, and take photos with our banners and menus," Sabzar Ahmed Lone, manager at the cafe, told PTI.

Named after the Urdu word for zero, the cafe has seen its fortunes take off since the month-long shoot in 2023 of the Lokesh Kanagaraj-directed film, which also starred Vijay's close friend Trisha Krishnan and Bollywood veteran Sanjay Dutt.

Lone admitted that he and the cafe staff were initially unaware of the sheer scale of the actor's stardom.

"He was extremely humble and would greet us every time he walked past. It was only after the release that we realised the level of his fan following. His visit has turned out to be a huge blessing for us," he added.

For Vishwa, a tourist from Chennai, visiting the cafe was the highlight of his trip to Kashmir.

"I have been a fan of Vijay sir since childhood. Standing at the exact spots where he shot and having lunch here was thrilling. The cafe has become a bridge between Kashmir and south India. It does not even need marketing anymore as everyone in the south knows about it and comes searching for it," Vishwa said.

The venue's celluloid appearance has proved to be its strongest promotional tool, integrating seamlessly with travel itineraries arranged by local drivers and tour operators as well.

Shweta, a traveller from Bengaluru, said she planned her stopover after recognising the location.

"We actually saw this cafe first in Leo, the movie. And since we were on the way to Pahalgam, we wanted to experience how this cafe was. In the movie there was a shot of Vijay entering the cafe, removing his jacket and all that. So that's why we came here.

"I watched the movie and it was so good. Vijay's acting, the sequences, the story of the movie. As soon as we entered, we thought of recreating the whole scene. It was really good coming here and specially we had to try the hot chocolate here, which is now famous," Shweta said.

With giant banners framing its entrance and themed menus inside, the cafe continues to capitalise on its cinematic footprint, with the manager expressing joy that its acceleration from zero to a hundred has been served extra hot.

The new case is based on a complaint by a woman who lodged a formal complaint against Veeramani alleging that he sexually abused her teenage daughter.

Another woman had approached the police two days ago claiming that her daughter, too, was sexually abused by Veeramani two decades ago and that the girl died by suicide in 2004, allegedly depressed over the sexual abuse.

The woman allegedly met the granite baron to seek financial help for her daughter's education and he helped the girl enrol in a school. According to the woman's complaint on Sunday, Veeramani sexually abused the girl when she was in class 12.

Distressed over the incident, the girl took her life and the mother filed a complaint at Ice House police station. However, the documents related to the complaint were allegedly damaged in the attack on Ice House police station during the Jallikattu protests in 2017.

The woman came forward to lodge a complaint on Sunday after learning about Veeramani's arrest in another case.

Tamil Nadu police chief Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal DGP has already constituted a four-member special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the Pocso Act case against Veeramani.

The team is headed by PC Thenmozhi, Additional Commissioner, Central Crime Branch, Greater Chennai Police. The other members are Disha Mittal, Joint Commissioner (Law and Order), West, GCP; J Mutharasi, SP/Media Relations Officer in the DGP's office; and V V Geethanjali, Deputy Commissioner, Crime Against Women and Children, GCP.

Apart from Veeramani, three other persons - Mahandra Simhan, his wife Shanti, and Ganesan, a former employee of Veeramani’s Gem group - were arrested by the police. MP Ranjan Kumar, Tamil Nadu Congress functionary who claimed that he approached the city police with a complaint in 2024 itself, was questioned by the SIT recently.

WhatsApp number to lodge complaints, share info

The Greater Chennai Police has set up a number – 9345319676 – on which those who want to lodge complaints, and persons who are aware of any information, facts, documents, or other important details related to the case, may share information directly or via WhatsApp.

The details of the informants will be kept confidential, inquiry will be held, and immediate action will be taken, the city police assured.

Addressing a press conference in Karaikudi, the former union minister stated that while those voters' names removed should have been included, the opposition party must prove its claims regarding the scale of vote manipulation.

"They (ECI) have removed them (voters). That is wrong. Those names should have been included. But it is not apparent to me that TVK won and DMK lost only because of that," Chidambaram said.

Turning to the wider nationwide controversy over SIR process, he announced that the opposition's next course of action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, including approaching the Supreme Court or moving a removal resolution in Parliament, will be decided at upcoming Congress Working Committee (CWC) and INDIA bloc meetings if the CEC does not resign.

His remarks came amid a report of differences within the three-member Election Commission over several decisions and instructions relating to electoral-roll revision, deletion and addition of names, changes to forms for new voters and access to voter data.

However, the EC has asserted that differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberations in any institution and all its orders carry full legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.

The Congress leader reiterated the demand previously raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for Kumar's resignation, registration of an FIR, and his arrest.

He noted that nationwide demonstrations were held following the expiry of a deadline for the CEC to step down, with protests organised across the country, including in Karaikudi.

Chidambaram also ruled out holding fresh elections, explaining that the Constitution does not permit re-elections for completed polls. Instead, he outlined key demands to remedy the situation: An immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in other states, the reinstatement of 13.3 crore voter names allegedly deleted across 20 states, particularly in Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, and West Bengal, and a return to standard annual revision protocols.