Wednesday, 15 March 2017
Inmate of Vellore prison threatens police inspector over phone
Friday, 18 November 2016
Red sanders smugglers launder loot through tribals; Rs 10 cr deposit in Jawadhu Hills in 10 days
Red sander smugglers outsourcing Jawadhu tribals to legitimise their black money
Tiruvannamalai
Red sander smugglers and agents are hunting for ways to legitimise the unaccounted money accumulated by felling and smuggling the precious wood. They have literally outsourced the job to tribals of Jawadhu Hills, and are depositing the ill-gotten money into banks through them.
Sources in the Hills said ever since the government demonetised Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, many smugglers and agents have been approaching neighbours, relatives and friends at Jawadhu Hill, asking them to deposit their illegal money into their respective bank accounts.
In fact, the price is being paid for the job. In return for their help, the tribals are receiving a few thousands from the agents and smugglers.
“They (red sander smugglers/agents) have been giving Rs 10,000 to Rs 49,000 to each person, asking them to pay in their respective accounts. They have also promised a few thousand rupees for helping them legitimise the black money earned through smuggling of red sander logs,” said a source familiar about the activities of the red sander smugglers in the hills.
In fact, cash flow to Indian Bank, the sole bank on the hill, in Jamunamaruthur has been not only non-stop but surpassing all records. Since November 10, crores of rupees have been credited in the Indian Bank.
“So far, the tribals have credited over Rs 10 crore and the footfalls are also on the increase day after day to credit Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currencies. Over 60 percent of the amount credited in the bank here is amassed through red sander smuggling activities,” said a government employee in the hill.
On November 13 alone, the customers of the Indian Bank have credited Rs 2.57 crore. “On regular days, the inflow of cash will not exceed Rs 12 lakh. Now, it is more than 10 times. We are wondering why they have not utilised the bank service all these years,” said an official.
A man familiar about the activities of red sander mafia and agents, who supply wood cutters from Jawadhu Hills, said that it was a tip of the iceberg. “The smugglers have promised 5,000 to Rs 10,000 to many in the hills and plain areas to legitimise their lakhs and lakhs of rupees,” said the 30 year-old man in Mel Kubsanavur, who is privy to the illegal activities.
They are also crediting the black money in banks in Polur, Chengam and Kannamangalam in Tiruvannamalai district and Vaniyambadi, Alangayam and Vellore City in Vellore district. “The smugglers are like bees in turning the black money into white. Smugglers comes in a group to Kanamangalam and are crediting the money with the help of locals,” claimed the source in Amirthi.
Going by the regular financial activities of the tribals, the amount of currencies credited in the bank is clearly example of money earned through illegal activities. “It should be probed by revenue intelligent and IT department to unearth the source of such the money,” said a senior police officer
Amount credited in bank in Jamunamaruthur (according to details availed from the Bank)
November 10 – Rs 74.33 lakh
November 11 – Rs 27.13 lakh
November 12 – Rs 1.30 crore
November 13 – Rs 2.57 crore
November 14 – Rs 98.57 lakh
November 15 – Rs 1.06 crore
November 16 – Rs 1.28 crore
November 17 – Rs 1.75 crore
Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Dalits of Namandi ends age-old practice set their foot inside century old village temple
After decades of oppression, Dalits set their foot inside temple
J. Shanmugha Sundaram
Tiruvannamalai: There was nothing special about October 25 for 32-year-old Sudhakar, a Dalit in Nammandi colony, until the sun began its downward journey. It was a short walk from home that made a difference to his life as it was on a path not tread before.
After years of being denied entry into Arulmigu Thulukanathamman Temple, which is just a few yards away from their dwelling, a group of 60 Dalits of Nammandi colony set their foot in the temple with the help of revenue officials on Tuesday. The Vanniyars of Hariharapakkam where the temple is located have been discriminating against the Dalits for several decades.
As the temple doors were opened, the extreme feelings of joy and anger took over the village. While the Dalits were short of words to express their happiness, the Vanniyars turned furious.
Even as an uneasy calm prevailed in the village, Sudhakar stood rapt in the wonder of the moment that was forbidden for his father and grandfather. His feet turned chill, like the cold floor of the temple on which he was standing for the first time in his life. “I have no words to explain how I feel right now. It is a divine experience,” he exclaimed.
For Dass, an auto driver, this was like the festival of harvest. “Pongal is months away but today is Pongal for me. We have not been allowed to enter the temple for several decades. Why, even my grandfather has not stepped inside, and I never thought I would,” he said.
But this experience that left them in awe did not come easy. It was a result of a seed sown by a group of youngsters – Sudhakar, Aruldass, Pandiyaraj, Prakash, karthick and Parthiban - of the colony. Unable to withstand the oppression, the youngsters appealed to the district administration to take steps to put an end to this discrimination three months ago. After a series of peace talks were of no avail, officials closed the temple two months ago.
Nevertheless, the Vanniyars were in no mood to give in and they locked the temple.
Following this, T. Prabhu Shankar, sub-collector of Cheyyar along with police officials made arrangements to take the Dalits inside the temple on Tuesday. The officials broke open the lock put by the Vanniyars to let the Dalits enter into the temple. A few days ahead, the revenue officials brought the Vanniyars under a bond to prevent them from obstructing the entry of the Dalits.
“We gave them a chance to settle the issue amicably but the Vanniyars failed to give in. So, we decided to take the Dalits inside the temple,” the sub collector said.
The Dalits offered prayers and performed poojas for the presiding deity. “It is a life-changing experience. This moment has to be cherished for life long,” said Thirunavukarasu, a class XI student.
For elders like 62-year old K Shanmugam, this was possible only because of the efforts of the youngsters.
A police team will camp in the village for nearly a week to maintain law and order, he added. /eom/shan/
Friday, 7 October 2016
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Thursday, 6 October 2016
NGT's expert team to visit Girivalam path
Marrying outside their caste is a sin here
Families ostracized for marrying outside caste, violating village orders Shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com Tiruvannamalai Several families, including retired government employees, in Hasanampettai panchayat near Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai district have been ostracised by village elders for marrying outside their caste and not abiding by their diktat. Marrying outside their community (Senguntha Mudaliyar) is an offence in the village. Many youngsters, who have married girls of other castes, have faced the wrath of the village elders, and have ended up being ostracised along with their families. The village elders (ooru nattamai) are also against persons approaching police and courts against their orders. Those who do so are also ostracised, and this included many government employees. “Over 99 percent of the families in the village are Senguntha Mudhaliyars. Even the panchayat president should follow the orders of the village elders. They have been running the Kangaroo Court and calling the shot in each and every activity in the panchayat,” a government official in the village administrative office told TOI. The village elders had ostracised several families after the sons married women belonging to other sub-class of Mudhaliyar community, said S Chozhan, who was sitting in his deserted tea shop. Until four years ago, he was running a mini tiffin-cum-tea shop and making good business.But things had changed after his son married a girl belonging to the “Agamudai Mudhaliyar” community. “They (village elders) asked me to bring the community certificate of my daughter-in-law. After they learnt that she was not from our community, they asked me to shun away the relationship with my son and pay fine. I refused to do so,” said Chozhan, who was ostracised from the village. Since then, the villagers stopped coming to his shop. P A Ellappan, one of the victims, succumbed to the pressure of the Kangaroo Court and paid a fine of Rs 5000 and fell on the feet the “ooru nattamai” after his two sons married outside their community. “My father died six months ago. The village elders and their supporters ordered that we should not conduct our father’s funeral and said that my brother-in-law should do the final rites. Since we objected to this, the neighbours and the villagers did not attend my father’s funeral fearing the Kangaroo Court,” said E Dhandapani, a government teacher. Retired forest ranger Manickam and retired government school teacher P A Sampath have also been facing the wrath of village elders after they voiced against the “Kangaroo Court. “If anyone approaches the court or deny to follow their diktats, they will humiliate the family. Many left the village unable to withstand the humiliation,” said Manickam, who was outcasted after he refused to obey the “Nattamai” orders over a trivial issue in 2011.