http://m.timesofindia.com/city/chennai/Tamil-Nadu-schoolboy-steals-valuables-from-teachers-house-to-buy-cellphone-clothes/articleshow/53904863.cms

GPS helps men in khaki to nab carjacker

GPS helps Tamil Nadu, Karnataka police nab car thief http://toi.in/IaYfSZ/a19li

Youths lured with cash turn to red sanders smuggling

Shanmughasundaram J| TNN | Aug 9, 2016, 07.07 AM IST

VELLORE: The tentacles of the international red sander smuggling are spreading from Jawadhu Hills, a prime source of woodcutters, to the plain areas to rope in fresh legs. In the recent past, the agents of the organised crime have been luring several men from the plain areas to accompany the tribes of Jawadhu Hills into red sander rich reserve forest of Seshachalam to plunder the precious wood.

Falling prey to the assured wage of 15,000 to 30,000 within 10 to 15 days, the youth without any hesitation turning into a workforce of the multi-crore red sander mafias. It is a golden opportunity for the men to make quick money. Youngsters aged about 18 years turning into woodcutters. "For every one kg of red sander that they cut and trim into a transportable size of 5 to six feet, the woodcutters will be paid between 500 and 700. They will be handed over to them once they reach their native village," said a police recollecting a red sander's confession statement.

Of the 32 men arrested a couple of days ago in Renigunda in Andhra Pradesh for allegedly trying to sneak into the forest smuggle red sander logs, 30 were natives of Polur Taluk in Tiruvannamalai district and two were from Vellore district.

One of them was identified as C Appaswamy, 24, of Vettagiripalayam in Tiruvannamalai. He was a neighbour of M Murugan, A Sasi Kumar and K Perumal, who were gunned down with 17 others in April last year inside Seshachalam RF by the Red Sander Anti-Smuggling Task Force.

"The men are ignoring the risk involved in it even after the brutal killing of 20 men. They look only the money part," said a villager.

A relative of R Alagesan of Perungatur village in Koilur panchayat, Jawadhu Hills said that his uncle left the house on Thursday last. "He is not involved in red sander smuggling. We don't know how he landed in the police net in Renigunta," he said.

Sources in Jawadhu Hills said that nexus between the law enforcing agencies in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (forest and police departments) and smugglers have been growing strong. Hence, getting men from the hills or the plain areas in large number has never been a problem for the smugglers.

In fact, Andhra Pradesh minister Gopala Krishna Reddy, during his recent visit to Vellore, admitted that the forest personnel is hand in glove with the smugglers. He said that "there was nexus between forest department personnel and smugglers".

Though the police personnel in Tiruvannamalai and Vellore district in TN well aware about the network of the multi-crore illegal business, they preferred to remain silent as their needs were taken care. "Though the police know each and every activity of the smugglers, they failed to act against them. The police are not showing interest in arresting the smugglers and agents exploiting the youngsters in the hills," claimed a man in Nammiyampattu village in Jawadhu Hills. He was once a police informer.

These Vellore villages have given birth to more soldiers than farmers
Shanmughasundaram J| TNN | Jul 27, 2016, 07.17 AM IST
VELLORE: For more than 70 years now, men from Kammavanpettai and neighbouring villages in Vellore district have been defending the country's far-flung borders. From World War II to Kargil, they have fought pitched battles to defend the country, many dying in the line of duty.

"There are more ex-servicemen in these villages than farmers," says deputy director of Ex-servicemen Welfare Board, Vellore, major (retd) D Prakasam who has fought the Kargil War. Vellore has 39,173 ex-servicemen and majority of them are from Kammavanpettai panchayat and neighbouring Penathur and Kattupudur panchayats, he says.

Kammavanpettai, which was nicknamed Ranuvapettai (Army village), has more than 1,500 war widows, war veterans and ex-servicemen and an equal number of men in the Army.

Soldiers like Narayanan, martyred during the Kargil War, and Vijay Kumar, who died in 2007 fighting insurgents in Assam, are today an inspiration for young school-goers. "Joining the forces is a tradition here. More than 90% of the families have their men folk in the Army, Air Force and Navy. A few have also joined CRPF and BSF," says Elumalai, an ex-serviceman and a resident of Kammavanpettai. As an example he cites one Vala Goundar. "Vala Goundar served in the British Army and fought the second World War. After Independence, he served the Indian Army. He died a few years ago. His son and grandson followed his footsteps and joined the Army to serve the country," he adds.

To ensure that they are eligible to join the defence forces, youngsters in the village train hard and keep themselves physically fit. "We seldom think about any other job. We train for two to three hours a day. We also run for 6km to 7km in the morning hours to improve our stamina. The soldiers are our source of inspiration," said 26-year-old Kumaresan, who made it to the CRPF at a recruitment drive in Avadi.

Kumaresan's elder brother is in the Army, while his two other brothers are in police and the CRPF.

Farm labourer held for taking bribe for vote

In a first, farm labourer held for taking money for vote in TN

Shanmughasundaram J | TNN | May 13, 2016, 12.15 AM IST

Vellore: In the first-ever action taken against a voter for receiving money from candidates or their representatives in the state, a farm labourer was arrested in Katpadi on Thursday for receiving Rs 1,000 allegedly from some DMK functionaries.
 

By the time a flying squad swung into action, the party functionaries managed to escape, but the beneficiary, I Munusamy of Melkattur village in Katpadi, was arrested. He was later released on bail. 

On Wednesday, Vellore collector Rajendra Ratnoo had warned that not only those who distribute money, but even those who receive money for casting votes would be arrested and remanded.
 

Surprisingly, there aren't many reports of arrests from other districts in the state.

Chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni said his office had sought reports from all district election officers on the measures taken so far to curb money distribution. 

Chief Election Commissioner Nazim Zaidi told TOI, "Hundreds of additional flying squads with central police force personnel are being pressed into service for the next four nights. The relentless efforts of the ECI will continue".

Meanwhile, the EC officials seized some campaign material of AIADMK candidate 'Mafoi' Pandiarajan with currencies stuffed inside it in Avadi constituency on Thursday.

Four AIADMK functionaries were arrested from K V Kuppam area in Vellore while they were bribing voters. EC officials seized 7,500 from them.

Based on a tip-off, authorities raided the house of Vaniyambadi AIADMK candidate Nilofer Kafeel and seized Rs 14.08 lakh, which was hidden under a sofa. Income Tax officials have started an inquiry against Kafeel. 

In a similar raid conducted at a DMK functionary's house in Anaicut, Rs 7.59 lakh was seized. "It was the third major seizure of money from political party leaders in the district," said Ratnoo, adding that cases would be filed against Kafeel and the DMK functionary. Disciplinary action would be initiated against government employees who receive cash for votes, he said.

Murugesan, an AIADMK municipal councillor in Ranipet constituency was arrested with Rs 1 lakh while trying to bribe voters. In Cheyyar constituency in Tiruvannamalai district, eight people - five AIADMK cadres, two DMK cadres and a Congress man - were arrested for distributing money. The officials seized Rs 1.83 lakh from them.

Meanwhile, the PMK candidate contesting from Cuddalore constituency, Pazha Thamaraikannan, and his supporters staged a protest at Cuddalore collectorate demanding stringent action to prevent money distribution. They spotted a gang distributing money and seized the cash from them, but the gang managed to escape. 

The candidate and his supporters took the money to the collectorate and staged a protest there displaying the seized money. Police detained them when they refused to give up the stir.

Vijay's admirers asked to back DMK by fan club chief

May 06 2016 : The Times of India (Chennai) Vijay's admirers asked to  back DMK by fan club  chief Shanmugasundaram J   Supported AIADMK in '11, But His Films Ran Into Trouble Later When elections are here, die hard fans of actors Rajinikanth and Vijay anxiously  wait to see if their icons come out with their stand.This time, `Illayathalapathy' Vijay  might not have declared his stand openly , but his fan clubs across the state have  received oral instructions from the state president to extend their support to the DMK.  In the 2014 election, his fans are said to have beefed up BJP's numbers following the  actor's diktat.Vijay and his father S A Chandrasekar supported the AIADMK in 2011 election at  a time when the film fraternity was alleging that Karunanidhi's family was trying to dominate the industry . But, in the last five years, many of his movies like `Puli', `Thalaiva' and `Thuppakki' ran into rough weather. Income tax officials conducted  a surprise check at Vijay's residence before the release of `Puli', in which the actor  takes on a queen possessed by an evil spirit to free the people of the kingdom. Vijay fans say the actor and his father felt slighted by the AIADMK. Given the multi-cornered fight in the upcoming elections, the support of the fans clubs that often stretch across the state can influence the outcome. “We have been  asked to vote for the DMK in the assembly election. We received communication from  state president Anand. Similar messages have been communicated to the registered  fan clubs across the state,“ said a district-level functionary of Vijay fans clubs in Vellore. Vellore District Vijay Fans Clubs president Velmurugan met DMK Vellore central district secretary and Anaicut candidate A P Nandhakumar on Wednesday. They  extended their  support to the party in the assembly election. “We along  with our family will vote for the DMK, but we will abstain  from campaigning,“ said one of Vijay's fans. Of the young voters in the age group of 18 to 35, 3% can be considered hardcore fans  of Vijay, said Sairam, a social media expert.“If Vijay gives an open statement, the fans  will vote for the party that he announces,“ he continued.By making his decision  informally , the `Theri' hero may have wanted to play it safe, just in case the poll  outcome went against his wishes, he said.

AIADMK say 'No' people over 50 yrs

May 03 2016 : The Times of India (Chennai)

Over 50? AIADMK won't let you attend meetings

Shanmughasundaram J





Attacked by opposition parties for the deaths of five people at Jayalalithaa's rallies, AIADMK has said people over 50 should not attend their public meetings. On Monday, the National Human Rights Commission sought a report on the deaths, reportedly due to exposure to the sun, from the police and chief secretary within two weeks.The party has sent instructions to all district-level organisers to stop bringing elderly people for election campaign meetings. For the upcoming meeting on May 10 at Vedal village near Arakkonam, for instance, party leaders expressly told organisers not to bus senior citizens in to swell the audience.

“We have also been instructed to provide food and water to people coming to the campaign meeting. We have been strictly told not to assemble the cadres at the venue before 3 pm. Amma (as party chief Jayalalithaa is known) is scheduled to arrive at the venue between 5pm and 5.30pm,“ said an AIADMK member in-charge of organising the programme. The AIADMK has issued these instructions after five people died while waiting for Jayalalithaa in the sun at public meetings in Cuddalore, Virudhunagar and Salem districts. Several others suffered heat-related illnesses.
The DMK and the PMK took immediately took up the issue and sought the intervention of NHRC. They alleged that the AIAMDK transported thousands of people to the meeting venue and forced them to wait in the scorching heat for several hours. They were neither provided with drinking water nor allowed to move out of the venue to use toilets, they said. “The opposition is trying to take advantage of these incidents. We believe our leader took the decision to negate the opponent's charges,“ said another party member in Vellore.