Chennai

March 20 2002

Two persons were buried alive and another sustained minor injuries when a portion of the earth caved in while they were engaged in digging a pit for laying drainage pipes for the underground drainage system at suburban Adambakkam on 19 march.

Police said the victims were digging the pit adjacent to the one already dug by the Metrowater in a narrow stretch when the mud gave way under their weight.

All the three were buried in the pit which was about 10 to 12 feet deep. While two of them died on the spot, the other escaped with minor injuries.

Police identified the deceased as Ramesh and Shyamsundar.

Fire service officials rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies.

'Rescue Karaikal fishermen'-Viduthalai venkaigal

Pondicherry

March 19 2002

The Meenavar Viduthalai Vengaigal organisation has called upon the Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, to initiate immediate steps to rescue fishermen of the Karaikal region, who had been `held by the Sri Lankan naval force' on March 2.

The organiser, R. Mangayarselvam, who distributed the copy of the petition given to the C. M. to newsmen on Monday, said Palaniandi of Kottuchery fisherman village in Karaikal, along with his colleagues.. Anandavelu and Sinnamani Murugan ..had gone in a mechanised boat for fishing. But they had been missing causing anxiety to their families.

He alleged that these fishermen had been assaulted and arrested by the Sri Lankan naval force and had since been lodged in the Sri Lankan prison.

Mr. Mangayarselvam sought a daily assistance of Rs. 200 to the families and the fishermen should also be rescued with the help of the Union Govt.

He also referred to an incident of the assault of another batch of fishermen of Karaikal region on March 6 when they were engaged in fishing.

Mangayarselvam, in another letter to Mr. Rangasamy, requested the Administration to extend financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 to each of the six fishermen who were now undergoing treatment at a Karaikal general hospital.

AIADMK, DMK members clash in LokShaba

New Delhi

March 19 2002

The members of the AIADMK and the DMK clashed in the Lok Sabha today with the former accusing the erstwhile Karunanidhi Govt of ``looting'' the State exchequer and alleging that four Ministers of the DMK Government had amassed over Rs.1,450 crores.

During zero hour C. Kuppuswamy of the DMK referred to a news report in a Tamil paper which had said that the telephone lines of the DMK leaders were being tapped. This triggered vociferous protests from the AIADMK members who said the remark was aimed at preventing police and other investigating agencies from probing corruption charges against the former DMK Ministers. The AIADMK leader, P. H. Pandian, said it was ``very easy to plant a news item" and ``I am warning you. You will have to face the music.''

Minister, T. R. Baalu, of the DMK sought to cool tempers, saying the State police had already clarified the position.

At one stage, the Minister of State for Health, A. Raja, was ticked off by the Deputy Speaker, P. M. Sayeed, who reminded him that he was a Minister.