OUTSTATION Thursday, April 1, 2021

RNI No. 30540/77CB/005/2021-23 Regd No.TN/WR/CB/005/WPP/2018-20 Founder Editor : A.E. Solomon Appadurai . Editor: M.N.Sudhan Appadurai . Vol.43 - No. 273. Pages 6 . Rs. 5.00

TIGHT SECURITY IN COIMBATOREEPS and Stalin campaigning Tomorrow

COIMBATORE Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Additi onal police security has been put in place in Coimbatore as Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy and DMK president MK Stalin are

scheduled to campaign on the same day tomorrow.

40.

23.

Partly sunny and hot; caution advised if outside for extended periods of

time

Mainly clear and humid

2 Page 3 5

National Tater Day-March 31

Improved free NEET coaching session to start after polls

MP Police arrests man in Delhi for cyberfraudPage Page

Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me...? - Ruth 2.10

DCGI extends shelf life of Covishield from 6 to 9 monthsNEW DELHI MARCH 31

India's drug regulator DCGI has extended the shelf life of Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, from six to nine months from its manufacturing date.

In a letter to the Serum Institute of India, Drugs Controller General of India V G Somani said the SII is permitted to apply the shelf life of nine months to

unlabelled vials available on hand.

Shelf life is the length of time for which an item remains fi t for use.The DCGI said it has no objection in

respect of ''Extension of Shelf Life of Covishield Vaccine'' in multi-dose glass vial (10 dose-5ml) from six months to nine months.

"You are permitted to apply the shelf life of nine months to unlabelled vials available on hand, subject to the condition that the details of such stock, batch-wise, shall be submitted to this offi ce and Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli," Somani said in the letter.

At Delhi airport, random Covid testing of arriving passengers, mandatory quarantineNEW DELHI MARCH 31

Passengers at Delhi Airport arriving from the states may be tested randomly and "those found positive shall be mandatorily quarantined," offi cials have said.

A notice shared on Twitter by the Delhi International Airport Limited or DIAL read: "As per the latest govt mandate, District Disaster Management Authorities shall conduct random COVID-19 testing of passengers coming from the states where the cases

are increasing. ." After collection of samples, the travellers would be allowed to exit, it added. However, "those passengers who are found positive shall be mandatorily quarantined as per the protocol of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," it stressed.

Actor Ajaz Khan arrested in drugs case, says only "4 sleeping pills found"MUMBAI MARCH 31

Actor and former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today, a day after he was detained for questioning over restricted drugs found at his Mumbai home.

He was taken into custody yesterday from the Mumbai airport upon his arrival from Rajasthan.

The agency said it had found alprazolam tablets from his residence during searches in the city's Andheri and Lokhandwala areas.

Aijaz Khan is part of narcotics peddler Shadab Farooque Shaikh alias Shadab Batata's syndicate, the NCB has said.

Shaikh was arrested

last Thursday and over 2 kilograms of the banned mephedrone drug were recovered from him.

Revelations made by Mr Batata led the agency to Mr Khan who was questioned in the NCB's Mumbai offi ce. Speaking to reporters outside the offi ce, Mr Khan had claimed he was not detained but had gone to meet the offi cers voluntarily.

This morning, he insisted on his innocence. “Neither was anything found from my home nor from the airport,” Mr Khan said today while talking to reporters while being taken away by offi cials. When asked repeatedly about the drugs found at his residence, he said, “Nothing.

Ask them where they got it…what they got was four sleeping pills. My wife had miscarried and was in depression. She was taking those pills.”

The NCB has in recent months tightened the screws on the alleged Bollywood-narcotics syndicate with searches, interrogations, and arrests being made in this connection.

The investigations are linked to actor Sushant Singh

Rajput's death last year.A number of industry

A-listers, including Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Shraddha Kapoor, and Sara Ali Khan have been questioned by the NCB during this phase.

The agency has also arrested a number of foreign nationals in recent days for possession of illegal drugs.

For instance, on Monday it intercepted a Nigerian national and recovered 200 grams of Mephedrone from the Navi Mumbai area, ANI reported.

On the same day, in Chennai, it took custody of six Sri Lankan nationals intercepted on a boat in Indian waters with 300 kilograms of heroin and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition.

India takes part in second Sherpas meeting of G7, guest countries

NEW DELHI MARCH 31

Suresh Prabhu, who is India's Sherpa to G-20 and G7, attended the second virtual meeting of Sherpas of Group of Seven (G7) and guest countries on Tuesday. Group of Seven is an intergovernmental organisation consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. During the meeting, the key priority issues under UK's G7 Presidency agenda were discussed, including preparations for the COP26 Summit and global health cooperation. "Second meeting of the Sherpas of #G7 & Guest countries held today. Shri Suresh Prabhu, India's #G7 Sherpa, attended the meeting. Key priority issues under UK's #G7 Presidency agenda discussed, including preparations for the COP26 Summit and global health cooperation," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. "India has been invited as a guest country of the #G7 by the UK this year, along with Australia, South Korea and South Africa," he added. In January, the United Kingdom (UK) announced that it has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 summit as a guest. The meet is scheduled to be held in Cornwall from June 11 to 14, 2021. Taking to Twitter, Prabhu said that the roadmap of the upcoming COP26 under the presidency of the United Kingdom was discussed. "We also discussed the roadmap of the upcoming COP26 under the presidency of United Kingdom and focussed on the important challenge of climate change that is being faced by the world today," he said in a statement.

Bangladesh's finest short stories now in new bookNEW DELHI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

A new book has brought together some of the fi nest fi ction stories from Bangladeshi authors as the country celebrates 50 years of its independence.

"The Demoness - The Best Bangladeshi Stories, 1971-2021" has 27 such stories in English including Kazi Nazrul Islam's masterpiece "The Demoness", Akhtaruzzaman Elias's "The Raincoat" and Shawkat Ali's "The Final Resting Place".

Niaz Zaman has selected and edited the stories in the book, published by Aleph Book Company.

Zaman, who retired as Professor of English at the University of Dhaka, and currently serves as the advisor, Department of English at the Independent University, Bangladesh, said the book is a mix of stories from young and seasoned writers.

"It was diffi cult to limit my choice to the twenty-seven stories included in this selection...

Among these writers are both senior writers, some of whom have passed away, as well as younger writers who are making their mark on the Bangladesh literary scene," Zaman said.

COIMBATORE MARCH 31

Additional police security has been put in place in Coimbatore as Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy and DMK president MK Stalin are scheduled to campaign on the same day tomorrow. With just a few days to go before the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the campaign of political leaders has reached a climax. In Coimbatore, Chief Minister Palanisamy

and DMK supremo M K Stalin are set to campaign on the

same day on Thursday. Chief Minister Palanisamy will

campaign in the Nilgiris on Thursday morning, at 10.15 am in Gudalur and 11.40 am in Coonoor in support of AIADMK and BJP candidates. Later, the Chief Minister who will be coming to Coimbatore

from there, will speak in support of the AIADMK and BJP candidates contesting in 10 constituencies in Coimbatore district at the CODISSIA ground on Avinashi Road at 3 pm.

Following this he will go to Erode and Namakkal districts. DMK leader MK Stalin will speak in support of the candidates of Mettupalayam, Ooty, Coonoor and Gudalur constituencies at a campaign meeting to be held at Mettupalayam tomorrow at 8 am.

Following that he will campaign in support of the DMK and coalition candidates of Coimbatore South, North, Singanallur,

K o u n d a m p a l a y a m constituencies at Koundampalayam at 10 am.

In the evening he will speak in Kolathur constituency and at night in Mylapore, Thiyagaraya Nagar and Thousand Lights constituency. Additional police security has been put in place as Chief Minister Palanisamy and MK Stalin are scheduled to campaign in Coimbatore on the same day tomorrow.

Dr Simon’s body to be exhumed and buried in the cemetery: Madras HCCHENNAI MARCH 31

The Madras High Court has ordered that the body of Dr Simon who died of the corona, be exhumed and buried in the cemetery.

At the request of his wife, Dr Simon's body is ordered to be buried in the Kilpauk Cemetery. The High Court has also directed that the body should be dug up safely from the Avadi Velankadu cemetery.Simon, a doctor from Nungambakkam, Chennai, worked as a neurosurgeon at a private hospital. He died

on April 19 last year due to the corona infection from the people he treated. Following protests at two locations to bury Dr Simon's body in the cemetery, his body was buried in the Velankadu cemetery under police protection.His wife requested that his corpse be buried in a private

cemetery called the Kilpauk Cemeteries Board. However, the High Court has ordered that the body of Simon be exhumed and buried in the tomb, as the management of the private cemetery has refused to bury the doctor's body.

COVID surge in Coimbatore, Chennai and Chengalpattu CHENNAI MARCH 31

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Dr Radhakrishnan has said that the spread of the coronavirus is increasing in Tamil Nadu, especially in the districts of Chennai, Chengalpattu and Coimbatore.

He spoke to the press in Chennai: “Wearing masks and following social distancing is the only

possible prevention from the spread of coronavirus. The frontline workers and doctors are fi ghting against the pandemic like that of

warriors. The necessary medical facilities for the treatment of COVID-19 are in place. Additional measures are being taken to control the spread in Chennai”. He requested the public to wear masks compulsorily. He also said that if people with symptoms such as cold and fever refrain from going to hospitals, the spread is likely to increase.

Tamil Nadu Govt extends lockdown till April 30CHENNAI MARCH 31

Following the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, the state government, on Wednesday, issued a Government Order (GO) to extend the lockdown till April 30. However, no new restrictions were added except for the restriction on international fl ight travel as directed by the central government.

Tamil Nadu has been witnessing more than 2,000 COVID-19 positive cases in the last couple of days and to cull down the cases, Chief Secretary Rajiv Ranjan, in the GO, has given instructions to district administrations to increase RT-PCR testing up

to 70 percentage or more. When new COVID-19 cases are detected out of testing, they should be immediately isolated and their contacts should be traced. If cases are high in a particular area containment zones need to be

demarcated and door-to-door testing should be undertaken in the containment zones. District administrations are also directed to identify priority groups for immediate vaccination to break the chain of the spread of COVID-19.

Supreme Court appointed committee submits report on farm laws NEW DELHI MARCH 31

The three-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court on the three new farm laws has submitted its report to the apex court in a sealed cover. The committee said that around

85 farmer organisation have been consulted in the case. It added that after meeting with them it has tried to fi nd a solution in the issue. The content of the report has not been revealed so far. The hearing in the Supreme Court in the matter is scheduled for

April 5. On January 12, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three contentious farm laws for two months and asked the three-member committee to submit a report within two months after consulting the stakeholders.

BALLIA (UP), MAR 31 (PTI) A 19-year-old man was killed for allegedly

smearing colour on a distant female relative on Holi here, police said on Wednesday.

The body of Durgesh Paswan with stab wounds on his back and chest was recovered on Tuesday from Chhotaki Seria village, the police said, adding that two men who belong to the same village have been arrested.

Durgesh had smeared colour on the sister-in-law of the accused, Karan, during Holi celebrations on Monday after which they had

a quarrel, Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada said.On Tuesday night, Karan called Durgesh for a meeting and then killed him with the help of his friend, Sanjeev. They then dumped his body near a tubewell, he added. On a complaint fi led by the victim's father, a case was registered against Karan and Sanjeev. The accused were taken into custody for interrogation during which they confessed to the crime, the SP said. Durgesh's mobile phone and the knife used in the crime have been recovered, he said, adding that the body has been sent for post-mortem.

UP youth killed for smearing colour on woman on Holi

2

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WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 COIMBATORE

NATIONAL TATER DAY – March 31If you like your spuds,

National Tater Day on March 31st is for you!

The day recognizes all kinds of potatoes which provide us with essential vitamins, minerals, and fi ber.

Potatoes are quite versatile, which might explain why so many people like them. They are the number one consumed vegetable in the United States.

And when you consider how many ways we can eat the over 200 different kinds of potatoes in the United States, you shouldn’t be surprised.

First off, we can bake them. Who doesn’t like a baked potato? Yeah, we see you in back. Put your hand down. The rest of us absolutely love the baked spud. Plus those baked potatoes? You can bake them twice with all sorts of delicious toppings. Twice!

Secondly, we can boil them. And from the boiled potatoes we can make soups, salads, or make one of the world’s all-time favorite potato dishes – mashed potatoes. And did you know, mashed potatoes have numerous different recipes, too? You can’t have

shepherd’s pie without mashed potatoes. Dice them and slice them and we can make scalloped, fried, or even hashbrowns. And then, there’s potato dumplings and pancakes.

Beyond all the ways we use potatoes, this day may have originally had a different meaning.

At the beginning of April, parts of Kentucky celebrated the sweet potato (Tater Day). Sweet potatoes are one of the main cash crops in that area. Tater Day started way back in the early 1840s with the trading and selling of sweet potatoes. It is the oldest continuous trade day in the United States.

Worldwide, there are more than four thousand potato varieties.

Since the time potatoes were shipped from Europe to the colonies in the early 17th century, their consumption has been a major part of the North American diet.

The History Of National Tater Day

This holiday was fi rst celebrated as simple Tater Day in Benton, Kentucky in 1843. It was originally

a celebration of the spring season, and participants would come together to trade sweet potato “slips.”

Potato slips at the time are what farmers called the slips that were used to grow potatoes.

Eventually, this holiday morphed into one of the oldest continuous trade days in the entire U.S. On this day, participants would buy and sell livestock, tobacco, livestock, and yes, even potato slips.

Over the years, this holiday also featured parades, fl oats, clowns, marching

bands, and even vintage cars. It’s unclear when this

holiday left Kentucky and became the National Tater Day that was celebrated annually on the 31st of March, but it was before 2010 that the day became a holiday.

Regardless of when it was started, it’s still a great day for tater lovers to get together and try out new potato dishes that they might not have tried previously or simply get together and enjoy classic potato preparations such as French fries, mashed potatoes, or baked potatoes.

Facts About Potatoes

Now that we understand where National Tater Day comes from a little bit better, it’s time to turn our attention to some potato related facts that peaked our interests. Below are some facts that we think tater fans all over the world are going to appreciate.

Potatoes make up much of the world’s diet.

Potato blight is one of the causes of the Great Famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1852.

The Great Famine in Ireland resulted in the death of over a million people.

Potatoes contain

approximately 80% water.In the U.S., Idaho is

usually considered to be the Potato State.

China produces more potatoes than any other country in the world.

Green potatoes are poisonous.

Celebrating National Tater Day

Figuring out how to celebrate National Tater Day is as easy as fi guring out which types of potato products you enjoy.

Do you like fried potatoes, are potatoes that have been baked or mashed?

Perhaps you love potato chips or tater tots. No matter how you like them, just be sure to serve them up on this day and enjoy them. And while you’re celebrating this holiday, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalTaterDay on all of your social media accounts to let everyone know you’re enjoying this day in style.

National tater tot day activities

Have a tater tot eating contest

Don't forget — have your

favorite condiments (and antacid) on hand.

Head to your favorite fast food restaurant

There are a plenty in the U.S. that serve them.

Make your ownThough sometimes

restaurants do it better, today is a great day to test your baking skills and make some. You can fi nd great recipes online, or come up with something on your own.

5 Tot tidbitsThey weren't always in

voguePeople though of them

as the "unwanted" parts of potatoes.

However, clever marketing — and actually making them more expensive — eventually changed all that.

They aren't called tater tots everywhere

In Australia, you'll discover that tater tots are not tater tots. They're potato gems.

Americans eat tots — a lot

Every year, Americans consume a whopping 70

million pounds of tater tots.The name "tater tot" comes from the slang word for potatoes

You've likely called a potato a "tater" before. Throw in "tot" — for obvious reasons. Other names for tater tots Potato rounds, potato puffs, tater puffs, potato cylinders, potato nuggets, potato croquettes, baby taters.

That's right — potato cylinders.

Why we love national tarter tot day

Potatoes are an American staple Baked. Scalloped. Au gratin. No arguments here. However, when that potato is a tiny little tot you can just pop in your mouth, well, we seem to love them even more.

Tater tots reduce potato waste

Did you know that they're made from the leftover parts of french fries? By eating them, you're keeping potato waste to a minimum.Tater tots are great for "on the go"As much as we love a good baked potato, they're not very portable. Ever try to eat one while driving? Tots, on the other hand, can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere!

Innocent Divya, District Collector cum District Election Offi cer, Nilgiris inspects polling offi cials placing candidates’ names, photographs and symbols on EVMs at

Providence College, Coonoor.

Restaurants, shops to mention meat is halal or jhatka: North Delhi civic bodyNEW DELHI, MAR 31 (PTI)

Restaurants and shops in north Delhi will now have to "mandatorily" display whether the meat being sold or served is halal or jhatka as the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation on Tuesday cleared a proposal in this regard, its mayor said.

The proposal was recently moved by the Standing Committee of the NDMC. North Delhi Mayor

Jai Prakash said the House "cleared the proposal in its meeting today".

"So, restaurants and shops in north Delhi will now have to mandatorily display whether the meat being sold

or served is halal or jhatka," he said. 'Jhatka' method is one in which an animal is slaughtered in one go, while in the 'halal' method, an animal is allowed to die after cutting a vein.

North Delhi has a number of eateries, restaurants and streetside shops selling or serving non-vegetarian food items, prominent places being Chandni Chowk, Daryaganj and Kashmere Gate.

A similar proposal was

cleared by the House of the BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation late January.

Restaurants and shops in markets in areas like Defence Colony, Amar Colony, Sarojini Nagar, South Extension, and INA sell non-vegetarian items.

Offi cials had earlier said restaurants and meat shops will have to "display clearly and visibly" whether they are serving halal or jhatka.

Candidates urged to protect children's rights ERODE MARCH 31:

Campaign Against Child Labour - Tamilnadu and Puducherry (NGOs federation) appealed to all candidates in the present poll to make ''right to free, quality, equitable and compulsory education'' for all children upto 18 years as a fundamental right and thus create a child labour free and child sensitive society,

In this regard, the federation convenor R Karuppasamy submitted petitions to Gobi DMK candidate Manimaran, Bhavani Sagar candidates CPI Sundaram, AIADMK Pannari, DMDK Ramesh, Naam Tamilar Party Sangeetha and MNM Karthik

Kumar. They also said they would enforce children's rights if they came to power. Karuppasamy said ''It has been 28 years since our Government of India adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Yet there is still a need to pay adequate attention to create a child-friendly environment.

The welfare of children, good education, protection, child participation, and hearing of their views in decision making is still not fully ensured. That is to say, the federation prepared charter of demands and submitted it to political parties to protect the rights of children as enshrined

in the UN Convention. So, political parties and candidates in the constituency must make separate promises for children, in line with the principle that children's rights are paramount and that the welfare of children comes fi rst. Only if such promises are made can they be legislated. They will be included in the plans only if they become laws. The needs of the children will be met only when the plans are laid out and implemented and it would alone benefi t

40% of the population i.e. about 3 crore in Tamil Nadu. The victorious candidates should take action on the subject after coming to power, he pleaded.

Aid assured to fire victims ERODE MARCH 31:

AIADMK Perundurai candidate Jayakumar's wife Shanmugapriya, who is a Perundurai panchayat union member, assured to extend all assistance after the poll to 2 families whose houses were damaged in fi re mishap that suddenly occurred on Tuesday. The victims, casual labours, were Raman and Lakshmanan, brothers of SC colony Kottaimedu, Perundurai. In the mishap many valuables including Rs 5000 worth gold jewels

perished, though the fi re service men rushed to the

spot and extinguished fi re on getting information.

AIADMK cadres led by Erode Periyar Nagar zonal secretary R Manoharan staging a demonstration against DMK MP A Raja for his indecent remarks against CM, at

Erode on Sunday.

AIADMK flag removed from Thoppu's carERODE MARCH 31 :

Following a complaint from Perundurai AIADMK Union Secretary Vijayan (A) Ramasamy at the Perundurai police station yesterday that independent candidate and sitting MLA Thoppu Venkatachalam, who is contesting from the Perundurai assembly constituency, was campaigning with the AIADMK fl ag in his car, Thoppu removed the fl ag in his car following advice from police. As Thoppu was not given ticket by AIADMK

and fi eled Jayakumar as candidate, Thoppu was contesting as independent. So, the party removed him from all responsibilities, including basic membership. In this situation, he has been collecting votes independently for the last 4 days under the coconut grove symbol. But, his car has the

AIADMK fl ag and he was collecting votes wearing the AIADMK border dhoti. Following this Vijayan lodged a complaint at the Perundurai police station seeking action on him. So, Perundurai DSP Selvaraj

and Inspector Thangam went to confi scate the vehicle in which he was campaigning in the Chinnaveerasangili and informed about this.

Immediately Thoppu himself removed the fl ag and announced in the mike that this was the punishment for his service in AIADMK.

Two primary health centres found locked during surprise inspection in JK's PoonchJAMMU, MAR 31 (PTI)

The Poonch deputy commissioner has ordered action against errant offi cials after a surprise inspection found two primary health centres locked and low attendance at other facilities.

On the direction of Deputy Commissioner Inder Jeet, the late-night inspection at the district hospital, sub-district hospitals (SDHs), primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) was conducted to take stock of patient care, presence of staff

and cleanliness, a spokesman said.Inspection teams found the primary health centres in Harni and Chattral locked and low attendance at Mendhar SDH and Mankote PHC.

Offi cials found lack of cleanliness in the district hospital and asked the Medical Superintendent to take concrete measures to improve it, the spokesman said. He said the inspection team reported absence of majority of the staff in Mandi SDH and Loran and Sawajian PHCs. Similarly, many staff members were

also found absent at many PHCs and CHCs. The spokesman said the Deputy Commissioner took serious view of the mass absenteeism and malfunctioning of health institutions which are otherwise supposed to function round the clock. He ordered action against the absentees and the controlling offi cers.

"A proper system of regular monitoring and supervision will be put in place to curb absenteeism in all government offi ces, Inder Jeet said.

A proper system of regular monitoring

and supervision will be put in place to curb

absenteeism in all government

offi ces, Inder Jeet said.

Dr.K.Senthilraj, District Collector cum District Election Offi cer, Tuticorin, addresses the 8 companies of Border Security Force (BSF) that have arrived for election security duty. S.Jayakumar, Superintendent of Police, BSF Commandant, Rajesh Megi and

Additional Commandant Chandrakumar are present.

UP: Schools for students up to Class 8 shut till April 4LUCKNOW, MAR 31 (PTI)

Amid a spike in coronavirus cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday extended to April 4 the closure of all schools for students up to Class 8, according to an offi cial.

Earlier, the state government had shut schools for students up to Class 8 till March 31.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued the fresh directions during a review meeting at his 5-Kalidas

Marg residence here. The CM has directed the closure of

schools for students up to Class 8 till April 4, an offi cial spokesperson said, adding that it has been ordered to ensure that the COVID-19 protocol is followed for other classes.The CM asked offi cials to step up testing with focus on old age homes, orphanages, residential schools and other such places. The CM said the dedicated COVID hospitals made earlier

should be reactivated.The state had reported 10 more

COVID-19 fatalities on Tuesday, pushing the death toll to 8,800, while 918 new cases took the infection tally to 6,15,996.

Four deaths were reported from Lucknow, two from Kanpur and one each from Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Unnao and Auraiya, a health bulletin issued here said.

Man kills wife, hangs himself in Delhi's AlipurNEW DELHI, MAR 31 (PTI)

A 25-year-old man allegedly hanged himself after killing his wife inside a farmhouse in north Delhi's Alipur area, police said on Tuesday.

Mithilesh, a security guard, and his wife Monika (22) were found dead around 6 pm on Monday, police said.

The couple originally hailed from Bihar's Samastipur district. Mithilesh suspected his wife of having an affair, they said.

According to police, Mithilesh used to live in the servant quarters. A quarrel broke out between Mithilesh and his wife after playing Holi, they said. The couple was later found dead inside their room, police said.

While they were fi ghting, two of their relatives intervened and told Mithilesh, who was drunk at that time, not to fi ght with Monika. Later, they left from there, a senior police offi cer said.

Around 6 pm, they found Mithilesh hanging from the fan and Monika lying dead on the ground, police said.

Police said they suspect that the woman was beaten to death with a lathi that was found in the room. The man then hanged himself with a rope, the offi cer said. Further investigation is under way, police added.

MGNREGA contract staff can seek transfers: Rajasthan govtJAIPUR, MAR 31 (PTI)

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the proposal for one-time relocation of 237 contract workers engaged in the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA scheme.

With this decision, relocation of these contractual staff working in remote districts for a long time will be possible in their home or in the desired district in view of family, health and other problems, according to an offi cial release.

The contractual workers including data entry operators, junior technical assistants and coordinators, working for the execution of the scheme, had been repeatedly demanding transfer to their home districts.

126 judges transferred in a major reshuffl e in J&K and LadakhJAMMU, MAR 31 (PTI)

In a major reshuffl e in subordinate judiciary, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday transferred 126 civil judges including special judges of anti-corruption courts in both Jammu and Srinagar.The court also appointed presiding offi cers of 27 vacant courts, Justice Juvenile Boards (JJBs) and District Legal Service Authorities in different districts of Jammu and

Kashmir and Ladakh. The order, issued by the high court's Registrar General Jawad Ahmad, said the transfers and posting of judicial offi cers were made in the interest of administration.

Those transferred included 60 district judges and 66 munsiffs' across Jammu and Kashmir besides a few in the Union Territory of Ladakh which also falls under the jurisdiction of the J&K High Court.

The order said the transferee judges would ensure that all matters pending for judgments or part heard, are completed and judgments and orders are pronounced in such matters before they move to new positions.

The offi cers sent on deputation shall report to the J&K High Court's registrar (judicial) till their deputation orders are received from the government, the order said.

3WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 COIMBATORE

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan releasing the document titled - “Chasing the Virus: A Public Health Response to the COVID 19 Pandemic”, in New Delhi on March 30, 2021. Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family

Welfare, Rajesh Bhushan and other dignitaries are also seen.

'Frivolous' petitioner debarred from fi ling PIL for a yearCHENNAI, MAR 31 (PTI)

The Madras High Court on Tuesday debarred a litigant from fi ling Public Interest Litigations (PILs) for one year for fi ling a frivolous one today.

What made the fi rst bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy pass the restraining order was the prayers of the petitioner.

The petitioner, advocate S P V Paul Raj of Tenkasi district, prayed for a direction from the court to the Election Commisison to subject the contesting candidates in the April6 elections to covid

tests, as they were widely roaming about in their constituencies.

The candidates kissed infants, hugged the elderly and moved about very closely with the general public as part of their campaign, he contended. He feared that the candidates and their campaign might end up in creating clusters of COVID-19 cases if they were allowed to move about freely without testing negative for the virus.

In support of his prayer, he pointed out at candidates of certain political parties having tested positive for the virus recently.

Woman found unconscious on roadside with still born babyHYDERABAD, MAR 31 (PTI)

A woman was found unconscious on a roadside here with a still born baby near her, police said on Tuesday. Police reached the spot after they were informed about it by emergency ambulance service personnel and she was immediately shifted to a premier government hospital.

The woman was not in a position to speak and further details would be known only when she was ready to give some information, they said.

The government's women welfare personnel were also attending to her, they said, adding efforts were on to ascertain her identity.

Meanwhile, media reports said the woman had gone to a health centre on Monday morning, where she was given some painkillers for her injury and that she later delivered the baby on the roadside near the health centre. A video of the woman lying on the roadside has since gone viral.

AIADMK poll manifesto gold, says GK Vasan ERODE MARCH 31:

TMC state president and former union minister GK Vasan dubbed AIADMK manifesto as gold and DMK's manifesto as brass.

Campaigning in favour of Electricity MInister P Thangamani at Pallipalayam, he said that the AIADMK manifesto aimed to uplift poor and downtrodden socially economically and educationally and entire state as no 1 in development aspects in the nation.

Apart from having many social security schemes for people it also has long term vision for the growth of the state including Cauvery-

Godaveri, Cauvery-Gundaru linking project, distribution of Rs 7500 per year as input subsidy to ryots, 3 phase 24 hour power supply to ryots etc. The AIADMK alone fulfi lled all promises made in its manifesto in yesteryear. But, DMK did not fulfi l many of its promises, he noted.

AIADMK women's wing taking out a massive rally at Perundurai in support of AIADMK candidate S

Jayakumar.

Core group of bloggers from around the country conclude travel across KeralaKOCHI, MAR 31 (PTI)

A core group of bloggers from around the country concluded their travel across Kerala to generate their experiential accounts over new media as part of'My First Trip 2021 campaign, organized by Kerala Tourism to bring back tourists in post-Covid times.

The video-centric campaign by young infl uencers drew to a close in this coastal city on Monday evening, turning a new leaf in the efforts to enable travelers re-focus their attention on the famed destinations in 'Gods Own Country', a Kerala Tourism release said here on Tuesday.

The My First Trip 2021 initiative under the Kerala Blog Express saw its ten participants on specially-branded cars undertake different itineraries for fi ve days before converging here to share their experience briefl y over dinner. More of their narratives will emerge in the coming days and weeks as images, videos

and literature shared on social- media platforms with #MyFirstTrip as the hashtag, it said.

"The bloggers who joined the trip will virtually announce to the world that tourism in Kerala has picked up a year after we were locked down owing to the pandemic," said Rani George, IAS, Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism.

"The state has, for the past six months, been showing signs of a major revival in tourism. My First Trip 2021 will reinforce this trend, she said.

"Kerala Tourism is certain to gain greater visibility in the coming days through the writings, images and videos generated by the

participants, who command a good following on social media,"said V R Krishna Teja, Director, Kerala Tourism.At a celebratory function in the state-owned Bolgatty Palace last evening, the bloggers gave a glimpse of their March 25-29 trip.

The travellers were from both metropolises and small cities: Mumbai (four), Delhi (three) and one each from Hyderabad (Telangana), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Ajmer (Rajasthan). Unlike its previous editions, Kerala Blog Express this time featured only domestic infl uencers, aiming to boost the domestic marketing initiatives of Kerala Tourism, the release said.

The bloggers who joined the trip will virtually announce to the world that tourism in Kerala has picked

up a year aft er we were locked down owing to the pandemic, said Rani George, IAS, Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism.

Advanced Glaucoma, Retinopathy detection machine installed at SiloamThomas Eye hospitalCOIMBATORE, MAR 31

Marking the completion of 43 years of eye care, Siloam Thomas Eye Hospital in Coimbatore has acquired the fi rst OptopolRevo FC Optical Coherence Tomography in India which can detect the earliest changes due to Glaucoma and Diabetic Retinopathy by performing cross-sectional retinal scanning and imaging.

The 43rd anniversary celebrations were organised at the IMA hall premises on recently when various eyecare projects were launched.Dr. S. Raja Sabapathy, Chairman, Plastic, Reconstructive, Hand Microsurgery and Burns, Ganga Hospital, inaugurated the OptopolRevo FC OCT Machine at the IMA hall. Dr N. Kumar Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural

University, Coimbatore launched the two community eye care projects of the hospital.

The advantage of a noninvasive angiogram (blood circulation study) without injecting contrast dye is also possible with the machine, which is very important in detecting vascular disorders in the eye. This non-invasive method is very safe for kidney function in advanced retinopathy patients as compared to the older generation of Conventional Fundus Fluorescein Angiogram (FFA). Early diagnosis and treatment are absolutely necessary to prevent irreversible blindness. Early diagnosis is made possible with OCT.

According to Dr Devdutt Thomas, Consultant

Ophthalmic Surgeon, “The current scenario in the fi eld of ophthalmology is focused on the prevention of irreversible Blindness.

The main causes of avoidable Blindness include Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-related Macular degeneration if not detected early will lead to permanent Blindness.

Siloam Thomas Eye Hospital has acquired State of the Art Modern Diagnostic and treatment facilities to offer the highest quality eye care at nominal costs".

The founder of the hospital Dr Sarojini Thomas started her service of catering to the needs of the poor and the downtrodden in 1978 with the motto of providing affordable eye care to all irrespective of their caste, colour and creed.

Telangana: TRS, Cong, BJP candidates file nominations for Nagarjuna Sagar bypollHYDERABAD, MAR 31 (PTI)

The candidates of ruling TRS, opposition Congress, BJP and TDP on Tuesday fi led their nominations for the April 17 by-election for the Nagarjuna Sagar assembly constituency in Telangana.

Senior Congress leader K Jana Reddy, ruling TRS candidate Nomula Bhagat, BJP's P Ravi Kumar and TDP nominee Muvva Arun Kumar, among others, submitted their papers, party sources said. Tuesday was the last day to fi le nominations.The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting TRS MLA

Nomula Narasimhaiah due to ill-health in December last and the party has given ticket to his son Nomula Bhagat.

Jana Reddy, who was Leader of Opposition in the previous Telangana Legislative Assembly, lost to Narasimhaiah in the 2018 assembly elections.

Meanwhile, Kadari Anjaiah Yadav, a BJP leader from Nagarjuna Sagar, joined the ruling TRS on Tuesday.TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao welcomed him into the party fold, party sources said.While the TRS looks to retain the seat in the bypoll,

the election is crucial for the Congress to revive its fortunes in the wake of failures in the Dubbak assembly constituency by-election and Hyderabad civic polls late last year and the recent MLC election.

The Nagarjuna Sagar by-election is also crucial for the BJP as it aims to emerge as the alternative to TRS in the state.BJP had won Dubbak Assembly bypoll and made signifi cant gains in the Hyderabad civic elections.

Scrutiny of nominations would be taken up on Wednesday.Votes would be counted on May 2.

Improved free NEET coaching sessions to start after pollsCHENNAI, MAR 31:

For the fi rst time, more than 25,000 students from government schools had registered for the free coaching after 300 MBBS seats earmarked for pupils from government institutions under the 7.5 per cent reservation was implemented last October.

However, the number of active participants has now fallen below 3,000 due to various issues including lockdown.

A senior offi cial from the School Education Department the number also fell because of the Class 12 board exams.

“As the present online training sessions are not that active due to the decreasing number of students, it has been decided to give

innovative training after elections,” he said.

The list of students who are not actively taking part in the coaching session would be taken to fi nd the reason for not showing interest in continuing. Also, feedback from students would be taken into consideration while

charting the plan to enhance online coaching, he said.

“Other issues that they face, including not being able to access internet, communication gap between them and trainers, and language barrier, if any, will be taken into account to improve the quality of NEET online

classes,” added the offi cial. “In addition, more e-lectures with step by step answers and logical explanations will be uploaded in the upgraded training version, and question bank containing more than 2,000 solutions (presently 1,000) covering State board syllabus for Class 11 and 12 will be made available,” he said.

Physical NEET training sessions would be conducted if the pandemic situation returned to normalcy after elections, he said, adding that more 400 coaching centres have been identifi ed for this. Even if the new session commences from April second week, students would have about three months to prepare for NEET that would be held on August 1, he added.

Poor infra, major concern for Arakkonam electorsVELLORE, MAR 31:

Located 70 kilometres away from the city, most of the people work in Chennai. “Even as the town has a government hospital, it remains in the same condition as it was thirty years ago,” said Gunasekaran, a resident. “We can rely on the Arakkonam government hospital only for fi rst aid, as for serious cases, hospital staff themselves would go to Chennai as there are no specialists here,” he added.

Arakkonam has not witnessed any industrial development. “Though an international car company and a major tyre producer sought out lands for their

projects, they were suddenly shifted elsewhere,” said KM Janarthanan, a businessman.

“The traffi c police station was opened a few years

ago, but it lacks staff and traffi c signals do not work properly. Privately sponsored traffi c police booths have rusted due to lack of use and

companies were unwilling to sponsor them again,” sources revealed.

S Ravi said, “We feel that once the Chennai – Kanniyakumari road project, which passes through this area, becomes operational then we might attract industries.” Land acquisition for the project is currently underway, which is expected to become operational in about two years.

Residents said that Ravi winning was a foregone conclusion, mainly because the seat was allocated to DMK’s alliance partner the VCK, whose candidate J Gouthama Sanna is from Chennai.

Vellore District Collector cum District Election Offi cer Shanmuga Sundaram inspecting and offering suggestions to election offi cers for attaching candidates

names, symbols in all the 351 electronic voting machines to be used in the Anaikattu Assembly Segment, Vellore District. Other senior offi cials took part in the

exercise

Boy drowns in sea off Tiruvottiyur, friend remains missingCHENNAI, MAR 31:

K Naveen of Vimco Nagar, a Class 9 student, and J Mohammed Umar, Class 7 student, along with a few other friends visited the beach near KVK Kuppam in Tiruvottiyur on Monday. While swimming in the sea, the two suddenly went missing.

Fishermen, who heard their cries for help, tried to rescue the boys in the sea, but in vain.

On information, the Ennore police and fi re-rescue personnel joined the rescue operation, but the boys were not found.

While the search was abandoned vdue to poor light on Monday, Mohammed Umar’s body washed ashore on Tuesday. Naveen remained missing.

The Tiuvottiyur police have registered a case about the incident and further investigation is on.

Over 3,400 challans for traffic violations on Holi; 730 fined for not wearing face maskNEW DELHI, MAR 31 (PTI)

More than 3,400 challans were issued for various traffi c violations on Holi, including 100 against those engaged in drunken driving, while 730 people were fi ned for not wearing a face mask, police said on Tuesday.

Two accidents took place this year as compared to 23 last year and 28 in 2019, they said. "Several traffi c police teams were deployed to check violations across the city. Due to awareness campaigns and the strict presence of police on the ground, there was better compliance observed by the

general public this year," an offi cial said. Police said 3,446 challans were issued this year on Holi, which was celebrated on Monday, for various traffi c-related violations as compared to 4,918 challans last year and 16,556 challans in 2019, the police said.

According to police data, out of the 3,446 challans issued, 1,255 challans were against those found riding without a helmet, 170 for triple riding, 100 for drunken driving, 121 for dangerous driving and 1,800 for other traffi c violations.Out of the 4,918 challans issued last year, 964 were for riding

without a helmet, 180 for triple riding, 726 for drunken driving, 150 for dangerous driving and 2,898 for other traffi c violations.

The Delhi Police had made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the guidelines by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority regarding COVID-appropriate behaviour are strictly enforced on the ground without hampering the festive spirit of Holi, the police said. At the district level, a total of 72 cases were registered for violations of DDMA guidelines, while four incidents of gatherings were reported.

SGPC passes Rs 912 crore budgetAMRITSAR, MAR 31 (PTI)

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, an apex gurdwara body on Tuesday passed a Rs 912.59 crore budget for the fi nancial year 2021-22.

The approved budget projects a revenue earning of Rs 871.93 crore in 2021-22 with the expenditure expected to exceed the revenue by Rs 40.66 crore.SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur said just like last year, there was a sharp decline in income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rs 46 lakh SBI ATM theft: Cash delivery man, 3 others heldTHANE, MAR 31 (PTI)

The arrest of four persons has solved the theft of Rs 46 lakh from an SBI ATM in Murbad in Thane district, police said on Tuesday.

The theft took place on March 24 and a probe had revealed that the ATM machine had not been tampered with, said Thane Rural Superintendent of Police Vikram Deshmane.

"Working on this lead and technical inputs, we zeroed in on a person who was working with a cash management fi rm entrusted with refi lling the ATM.

With the help of CCTV footage, we arrested four people and recovered Rs 36.69 lakh from them," the SP said.

He identifi ed the arrested persons as Nitin Dhanji Choudhary, Naresh Bhau More, Ramesh Tukaram Choudhari and Suresh Tukaram Choudhari.

"Our probe found Ramesh had used some of the money to repay a Rs 2 lakh bank loan, Nitin had spent Rs 1,10 lakh on repairing his motorcycle and car. Efforts are on to recover the rest of the loot," Deshmane said.

Inquiry panel submits reports on 2 hospital fi res to Guj CMAHMEDABAD, MAR 31 (PTI)

The Justice (Retd) D A Mehta Commission appointed by the Gujarat government to probe fi re incidents in two hospitals last year which killed 13 coronavirus patients submitted its report to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday.The fi res took place in Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad's Navrangpura on August 5 last year, in which eight COVID-19 patients died, and Uday Shivanand Covid Hospital in Rajkot last November that saw deaths of fi ve coronavirus patients.

4 WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 COIMBATORE

Fragment of glass found inside Archer's right middle finger during surgery: GilesLONDON, MARCH 31 (PTI)

An accident while cleaning his fi sh tank was the cause of Jofra Archer's hand injury that troubled him during the series against India along with an elbow issue and a glass fragment was found lodged in the England pacer's right middle fi nger that had to be operated.

England's director of cricket Ashley Giles made this revelation while giving an update on Archer, who underwent the surgery on Monday. The elbow problem has ruled him out of this year's IPL."They (surgeons) have operated and I think they found a small fragment of glass still in attendance.

It obviously healed but there was part of the fi sh tank still in his fi nger," Giles said on BBC's Tuffers and Vaughan show, as reported by ESPNcricinfo."This is going to sound like an awful conspiracy ... but it's true.

But, yeah, he was cleaning

at home. He's got a fi sh tank. He dropped the fi sh tank, cut his hand, and he's been in surgery..."Archer suffered a cut on his right hand's middle fi nger in the accident that took place at his home at Hove in January prior to the tour of India. The fi nger healed suffi ciently for Archer to take part in both the Test and T20I legs of the tour but the England management decided it would be prudent to investigate the wound properly after he fl ew home ahead of the three-match ODI series to undergo treatment on a long-term elbow injury.

"He's come out of it well. It was managed through India,

he was treated when he arrived and it wasn't an open wound on that fi nger.

"It didn't stop him playing, but given he came home for an injection on his elbow, he went to a specialist because the fi nger was still a bit stiff." Archer took four wickets from the two Test matches and had seven scalps in the T20 Internationals contest against India before returning home after the completion of the shortest format. The 25-year-old Barbados-born pacer, who has played 42 international games across formats with 86 wickets to his name, is set to miss this year's IPL, which gets underway on April 9.

Sri Lanka plans to hold provincial council polls towards year endCOLOMBO, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Sri Lanka plans to hold the long-pending council elections in all of its nine provinces towards the year end and the government will soon discuss the issue with all political parties, a senior minister said.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting on Monday where the subject of holding the provincial council polls was discussed at length.

"The Cabinet last night discussed at length the issue of provincial councils and the government hoped to hold them the latest by the year end," said senior minister S M Chandrasena.

He said the government will soon have a detailed cnsultation with all the political parties on the issue. The announcement assumes signifi cance as India has been advocating the early holding of the elections for all nine provinces, which

has been stalled since 2018. India at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva last week stressed that there is a need for Sri Lanka to hold provincial elections as soon as possible.

Last week, India abstained from voting in a resolution adopted by the UNHRC against Sri Lanka's rights record, which calls upon the Sri Lankan government to ensure prompt thorough and impartial investigation, if warranted, prosecution of all alleged crimes relating to human rights violations and serious violations of

international human rights law during the country's three decade-long civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

India has said its stand on the matter is governed by two considerations: support to the minority Tamils and stability and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.According to the Lankan government fi gures, over 20,000 people are missing due to various confl icts including the three-decade brutal war with Lankan Tamils in the north and east which claimed at least 100,000 lives.

Eight members of Indian boxing squad in Turkeytest positive for COVID, quarantined in IstanbulNEW DELHI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Eight members of an Indian boxing squad, including three pugilists, tested positive for COVID-19 during a competition trip to Turkey and have been quarantined in Istanbul.

Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Gaurav Solanki (57kg), Prayag Chouhan (75kg) and Brijesh Yadav (81kg) tested positive for the virus a week back, leading to them being quarantined following the event which ended on March 19.

Coaches Dharmendra Yadav and Santosh Birmole, physiotherapists Shikha Kedia and Dr Umesh along with video analyst Nitin Kumar are the others in isolation, a team source told

PTI. They were in Istanbul to compete in the Bosphorus Tournament. Solanki had claimed the lone medal -- a bronze -- among men.

Among women, Nikhat Zareen (51kg) had also fetched a bronze helping India fi nish with two medals overall. The others who travelled for the tournament were Lalith Prasad (52kg), Shiva Thapa (63kg), Duryodhan Singh Negi

(69kg), Naman Tanwar (91kg) and Krishnan Sharma (+91kg).The women's group featured Zareen, Sonia Lather (57kg), Parveen (60kg), Jyoti Grewal (69kg) and Pooja Saini (75kg).

The ones who have tested positive will have to wait for at least one more week before they undergo a fresh COVID-19 test to ascertain their recovery and clear the passage for a fl ight home.

In Archer's absence, Morris ready for added responsibility of leading RR pace attackMUMBAI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

IPL auction's most expensive buy Chris Morris said that leading the Rajasthan Royals' pace attack in the absence of injured Jofra Archer in the upcoming IPL will be an added responsibility but it doesn't change his role in the team.

In a major blow to the Royals' campaign, pace spearhead Archer was ruled out of the fi rst half of the tournament due to an elbow injury he suffered during the recently concluded England's tour of India. In his absence new-recruit Morris is set to lead the fast-bowling attack. "Every single team that I have played in the IPL, my role has been with the new ball and at the death. That doesn't really change. I have always had fast bowlers in

the team and I've been there supporting act, Morris said at a virtual press conference. It won't be a new role if I am leading an attack, won't be new if I am supporting. There is a little bit of responsibility when it comes to leading the attack. But like I said, since it wouldn't be able to be alien to me, he added.

Morris became the most expensive buy in the IPL auction history with the

Royals shelling out Rs 16.25 crore for the South African all-rounder last month.

Talking about the pressure that comes with such an expensive price tag, Morris said I think it's natural to have a little bit of a pressure when something like that has happened. I'd be lying to you if there wasn't any pressure but fortunately enough in the past, I have been coming in with quite a big price tag on

my head.At the end of the day, you need to perform, no matter what the price tag is." Morris feels his role in the team is different to that of fellow all-rounder Ben Stokes, who he feels possess the magic touch in cricket .

I think we have got different roles Stokes opens the batting. He is one of the best in the world if not the best. My role is to fi nish off games with the bat which I hope I can do more of this year.With the ball it's different I think he bowled a lot less in the IPL last year than he did in the previous years. But the guy has got the magic touch when it comes to cricket. So, you know, if we feeding off each other in our different roles on the team, you know, I think we could be a quite an interesting duo to come up against, Morris said.

Pant named Delhi Capitals captain for IPL 2021NEW DELHI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Star India batsman Rishabh Pant was on Tuesday named captain of Delhi Capitals in place of an injured Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming Indian Premier League season beginning on April 9.

Iyer has been ruled out of the IPL after injuring his left shoulder during the recently-concluded India-England ODI series.

"Under Shreyas' captaincy, our team reached newer heights, and he is going to be missed immensely. In his absence, the franchise has collectively picked Rishabh to lead the team this year," DC Chairman and co-owner Kiran Kumar Gandhi said in a release.

"While it has come under unfortunate circumstances, it is a tremendous opportunity for him to grow further. I wish him all the best in his new role."

This will be 23-year-old

Pant's debut as IPL captain. The wicketkeeper-batsman has captained Delhi's state team in the past.

"Delhi is where I grew up, and where my IPL journey began six years ago.

To lead this team one day is a dream I've always harboured.

And today, as that dream comes true, I feel humbled," Pant said.

"I am truly grateful, especially to our team owners, who considered me capable enough for this role. With an amazing coaching staff, and a plethora of accomplished seniors around me, I can't wait to give my absolute best for Delhi Capitals."

Pant was one of the architects of India's historic 2-1 Test series win in Australia in January. He then played a big role in India's 3-1 Test series win against England, scoring 270 runs from six innings with the help of a century.

IOB posts easy win over St Paul’s XI

CHENNAI MARCH 31 In another clash, SRM

Institute of Science and Technology (Chennai) defeated Chennai Hockey Association Under-21 5-1, thanks to a hat-trick from Ranjith. Indian Overseas Bank thrashed St Paul’s Combined XI 9-0 in the NPV Ramasamy Udayar Cup hockey tournament here

on Tuesday. Hariharan, SM Raffeq and V Vinod Rayer netted a brace for IOB, while Arul Stalin David, Bhima Ekka and Harmanpreet Singh scored a goal each.

In the day’s opening clash, GST & Central Excise (Chennai) got the better of Tamil Nadu Postal Hockey 4-1, with P Raja being the chief contributor for

the winning side with two goals. On Monday, Integral Coach Factory had posted a comfortable 8-2 victory over Tamil Nadu Postal Hockey. Southern Railway came up trumps 7-0 against St Paul’s Combined XI, while Indian Overseas Bank and Challenger Hockey (Chennai) played out a 2-2 draw.

Trendlines on human rights continue to move in the wrong direction: BlinkenWASHINGTON, MARCH 31 (PTI)

The trendlines on human rights continue to move in the wrong direction, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

Governments that respect human rights are more likely to support the rules-based international order that the US and its allies have built and invested in for decades and decades, Blinken said.

"The trendlines on human rights continue to move in the wrong direction.

We see evidence that in every region of the world, this is happening," Blinken said on Tuesday, releasing the annual report of the State Department on human rights assessment of countries.

"We see it on the genocide being committed against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang," he said, also citing attacks on and the imprisonment of opposition politicians, anti-corruption activists, independent journalists in places like Russia, Uganda and Venezuela.

"We see it in the arbitrary arrest, beatings and other violence against protesters in Belarus and in the violations and abuses infl icted on the people of Yemen by the parties in the country's confl ict," Blinken said.

"We also see it in the ways authoritarian governments are using and exporting new technologies to surveil and harass citizens

and spread disinformation at home and abroad. We see it in what is happening in Burma the events since the military coup occurred after this year's report was fi nished but we must highlight them," he added.

The US, Blinken said, is committed to working with its allies and partners to hold the perpetrators of these abhorrent acts accountable.

All of these alarming trendlines are being worsened by COVID-19, which autocratic governments have used as a pretext to target their critics and further repress human rights, according to Blinken. The coronavirus has disproportionately impacted the individuals and groups in societies who are already subject to abuse to discrimination and marginalisation before the pandemic, such as racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI persons. Women and girls have also endured greater gender-based violence

during lockdowns and face more obstacles to seeking help, Blinken said.

Some have argued that it is not worth it for the US to speak up forcefully for human rights or highlight abuse only in select countries and only in a way that "directly advances our national interests", he noted.

"I believe those people missed the point. Standing up for human rights everywhere is in America's interests and the Biden-Harris administration will stand against human rights abuses wherever they occur regardless of whether the perpetrators are adversaries or partners," he said.

"Countries where dissent is welcomed, where corrupt and abusive offi cials are punished, where labour laws are respected, where people of all backgrounds have equal access and opportunities.

Those countries are more likely to be peaceful, prosperous, stable," he said.

They are less likely to fall into confl ict. They are more likely to have growing economies and be markets for our own goods and services, he said.

"The trendlines on human rights conti nue to move in the wrong

directi on. We see evidence that in every

region of the world, this is happening,"

Blinken said on Tuesday, releasing the annual report of the State

Department on human rights assessment of

countries. Actions by Myanmar military on civilians reprehensible: BlinkenWASHINGTON, MARCH 31 (PTI)

The recent actions of the Myanmar military against its own civilians are reprehensible, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

Over 500 people have been reportedly killed in a violent crackdown on protesters by the security forces ever since the junta overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup last month.

"The actions that we've seen by the Burmese military in terms of its attacks on civilians are reprehensible," Blinken told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. "We witnessed just this past weekend an attack that killed about 100 civilians. Some people simply caught in the crossfi re, others just expressing peacefully their views." This follows a series of other attacks, and increasingly disturbing and even horrifying violence, he added.

"One thing is clear. It's that the people of Burma are speaking clearly. They don't want to live under military rule and that is evident from what we're seeing and hearing and witnessing every single day in Burma," Blinken said.

The secretary of state added that the US had taken a number of actions. "Of course, we and others have spoken out very forcefully against the violence being perpetrated by the military regime. Beyond that, we've taken specifi c action with regard to those responsible for the coup and enterprises that support them including designations under various sanctions laws. We've also worked closely with other countries to speak out in unison," he said.

Some countries and some companies in various parts of the world have signifi cant investments in enterprises that support the Burmese military, according to Blinken.

Ex-cricketer Dinda attacked during election campaignMOYNA (WB), MARCH 31 (PTI)

Former India speedster Ashok Dinda, the BJP's candidate from Moyna in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur, was allegedly attacked and his vehicle vandalised during the campaign on Tuesday, prompting the Election Commission to seek a report from the district authorities.Dinda was returning from a roadshow when his SUV was attacked around 4.30 pm by hundreds of goons, wielding lathi and rods, his manager said. They also hurled stones at the vehicle, injuring the former cricketer on his shoulder, he said. "The incident happened right in front of Moyna Bazar when we were returning from a roadshow.

School in Texas to be named after Indian-American trailblazer Sonal BhucharHOUSTON, MARCH 31 (PTI)

An elementary school in the US state of Texas will be named after an Indian-American trailblazer Sonal Bhucher so that her legacy in education and philanthropy continues for generations to come, according to a statement.

The Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved naming upcoming elementary school 53, after Sonal, who died of cancer complications at the age of 58 in 2019.

The school will open in January 2023 in the Riverstone community.

Originally from Mumbai in India, Sonal was a professional physiotherapist and had her bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Bombay University.

She immigrated to Houston in 1984 with her husband, Subodh Bhuchar.

Sonal, a popular community activist and a leader, who always cared about the community, was elected to the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees for six years and served as the Board President for two years. In 2015 Texas Governor Greg Abbot appointed Sonal to the One Star National Service

Commission Board, that promotes volunteerism and oversees administration of the AmeriCorps programmes in the US state of Texas.

While on the FBISD board, Sonal led several district initiatives, including the Student Leadership Programme, the Legislative Advocacy Programme, the Fort Bend Education Foundation's Annual International Festival,

WATCH a lifestyle education programme and scholarship opportunities.

Several current board members spoke highly about how Sonal encouraged them to serve the community.

Trustee Jim Rice sat on the school board alongside Bhuchar for two years.

The fi rst year she was my mentor, and I came to know her very well, Rice said. She was a lady who worked very hard in our community to help build bridges of understanding between our very diverse community. Trustee Grayle James ran for the Sonal's school board seat when she decided to not seek re-election in 2012.

While I did not sit on the school board with Sonal, I did try to sit in the seat and fi ll the shoes that she left here, James said. She supported me as I learned my role on

the school board. I'm so grateful and proud that we'll be able to name an elementary school for her. Thrilled about this recognition, Dr Subodh, Sonal's spouse; a reputed physician and a community leader told PTI that, "The current Fort Bend citizens and FBISD board of Trustees recognised Sonal's phenomenal service to the county by unanimously voting for an elementary school in her honour, so that her legacy in education and philanthropy continues for generations to come". "Sonal was a quiet but effective warrior, who weaved a path for generations of young women and men to follow. She led by example and showed them that their way to succeed in life is to give, without expecting anything in return. She ensured that her actions would lead to changes that would benefi t all".

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5WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 COIMBATORE

Fire breaks out at nationalised bank in KolkataKOLKATA, MARCH 31 (PTI)

A fi re broke out at a nationalised bank in Strand Road area here on Wednesday, an offi cial said.

Nobody was injured in the blaze that erupted at the banks branch located on the fourth fl oor of a multistoried building around 7.50 am, he said.

"The cause of the fi re is not known but it could be because of an electrical short circuit.

The blaze is under control now. We are conducting the cooling process at the moment," the offi cial said.

Earlier in the month, at least nine people were killed in a massive fi re in a building in Strand Road, housing several offi ces of the Railways.

Two girls gangraped in Tripura, 8 heldAGARTALA, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Two girls were allegedly gangraped in Tripura's Khowai district and eight people, including a boy, were arrested in this connection, police said on Tuesday.The two girls with their two friends went for a stroll on Monday night at the Khatiabari area where six others were waiting, an offi cer of the Champahawr police station said.The two girls reached their homes at midnight and informed their family members that they were raped.The police swung into action after the family members of the two lodged complaints, and arrested the accused, the offi cer said.

The girls were sent to Khowai District Hospital for medical examinations and an investigation in the case is underway, he added.

K.Meharaaj, District Collector cum District Election Offi cer, Namakkal presides over atraining programme for election micro observers on March, 29, 2021.

MP Police arrests man in Delhi for cyber fraudNEW DELHI, MARCH 31(PTI)

A Madhya Pradesh police team arrested a man from Central Delhi's Patel Nagar on Tuesday for allegedly hacking into the social media account of his cousin's fi ance and morphing her photos, offi cials said.

According to police, the girl had allegedly died by suicide in January this year over the morphed pictures. The parents of the minor had approached the Delhi Police in October last year with a complaint against her fi ance for allegedly morphing her pictures, they said. Based on the complaint, a case was registered under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and stalking, and the girl's fi ance, who is based in Madhya Pradesh,

was arrested in connection with the case but he got a bail from a Delhi court, police said. After returning to his hometown, her fi ance then fi led a case with the Madhya Pradesh police alleging that his social media account through which the pictures were sent to the girl was hacked, a senior Delhi police

offi cer said. Investigation by the MP police revealed that the girl's cousin had allegedly hacked into her fi ance's social media account and sent the morphed photos to her in order to take revenge, police said, without elaborating. "The Madhya Pradesh police team got the transit remand of the accused and he is being

taken to the state for further investigation," the offi cer said.

The police said the family members of the arrested man protested outside Patel Nagar police station but they were told that the case was with the crime branch of the Madhya Pradesh police.

A Madhya Pradesh police team arrested a man from Central Delhi's Patel

Nagar on Tuesday for allegedly hacking

into the social media account of his cousin's fi ance and

morphing her photos, offi cials said.

Maha CM's wife admitted in hospital for COVID-19 treatmentMUMBAI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's wife Rashmi Thackeray was on Tuesday admitted in a hospital here for COVID-19 treatment, sources close to the CM's family said.

Since her COVID-19 test came out positive on March 22 night, Rashmi Thackeray remained home quarantined, an offi cial had said.

Earlier, the CM's son and minister Aaditya Thackeray had also tested positive for coronavirus.

The CM and Rashmi Thackeray had taken the fi rst dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the government-run J J Hospital here on March 11.

Rashmi Thackeray is editor of 'Saamana', the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena.

Cop drinks weedicide in place of cough syrup by mistake, diesPUNE, MARCH 31 (PTI)

A 47-year-old constable attached to Pune rural police died on Tuesday after he consumed a weedicide mistaking it for cough syrup some days ago, an offi cial said.The incident happened on the night of March 28 after constable Popat Darade of Baramati police station reached home and was looking for a remedy for persistent cough, he said.

"He accidentally had a weedkiller thinking it is cough syrup. He immediately told his family and they rushed him to hospital.

He died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment," he added.

Prakash Javadekar flags off DEMU train between Satara and PunePUNE, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday fl agged off the DEMU train from Phaltan in Satara district of Maharashtra to Pune via a video link.

The regular service of this DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train will commence from March 31, an offi cial release said.

"I am very happy to see that Phaltan is directly connected to Pune now, said the Information and Broadcasting Minister while fl agging off the service.

He also appreciated various initiatives taken by the Ministry of Railways under Piyush Goyal in bringing landmark changes to the Indian Railways over the years.

A short video depicting the benefi ts of the new

service was played during the event. Phaltan, located 110 kms from Pune, is known for agriculture produce and agro-based industries.

General Manager, Central Railways, Sanjeev Mittal spoke about various benefi ts of the new DEMU services.

"Residents of Phaltan, who are working in various private and government sectors or pursuing education in Pune, will get a direct passenger train connectivity.

The service will greatly benefi t sugarcane farmers, traders and factories near Phaltan," he said.

New excise policy in Delhi aimed atincreasing AAP's political funding: BJP

NEW DELHI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta on Tuesday hit out at the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government over the new excise policy and alleged that it was only meant to increase political funding to the Aam Aadmi Party.In a statement, Gupta said the BJP will not allow Delhi to become "the capital of alcohol" and added the Kejriwal government is "hell bent upon drowning the youngsters of Delhi into alcoholism".

Rejecting the charge, the AAP alleged involvement of BJP leaders in the alcohol business and added "they know that the recently initiated excise policy will destroy their business, and hence they are fretting over it."

"They are millionaires because of nothing but their involvement in the alcohol business. The new policy will act as a deterrent for illicit liquor operations as, under the new policy, no new stores will be opened and existing shops will be improved. This is how the illicit liquor business will come to an end," the AAP said.

The Delhi government had approved on March 23 a new excise policy which had lowered the legal drinking age to 21 from 25 years.

It had also withdrawn the government from running liquor vends in Delhi. According to the government, the move is expected to lead to an annual revenue growth of 20 per cent.

Gupta said, "The BJP will oppose it tooth and nail and not allow any new shop to come up. The new policy is aimed more at pushing Delhiites into alcoholism rather than at increasing its revenue."

"The new excise policy is only meant to increase political funding to the AAP and revenue of the government. In one go, the state government has raised commission on liquor to 10 per cent and this way they have ensured the party gets Rs 1,000 crore fund in its coffers," he added.

Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Dr. Vinod K. Paul along with the Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Rajesh Bhushan addressing a press conference on the actions taken, preparedness and updates on COVID-19, in New Delhi on March 30, 2021. The DG, ICMR, Dr. Balram Bhargava and the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health

& Family Welfare, Dr. Manohar Agnani are also seen.

Nine children die in fire incidentsin two Bihar districtsBIHAR MARCH 31 (PTI)

Nine children have been charred to death in two separate incidents of fi re in Araria and Bhagalpur districts of Bihar, offi cials said on Tuesday.

Six children were burnt alive in Kavaiya village of Palasi police station area of Araria in the afternoon, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ejaz Hafi z said.

The deceased included two girls aged four and six years while the remaining were boys in the age group of four to fi ve years, he said.

The children belonged to families living in the same locality and they had got trapped inside a hut made of straw when it accidentally caught fi re, the Deputy SP

said. In Bhagalpur, three siblings were charred to death while their parents sustained serious burn injuries when their house caught fi re Monday night while dinner was being cooked. According to Sujay Kumar Singh, the Sub Divisional Offi cer concerned, the tragedy struck the family daily wage earner Lal Muni Mandal in Pirpainti police station area where his fi ve- year-old son and daughters aged three and one died in the fi re. Mandal and his wife were rushed to a hospital in Bhagalpur where they were said to be out of danger.

The fl ames were doused by neighbours which prevented the fi re from spreading to adjoining houses.

Politics of 'religion-based vote bank' has no relevance, BJP's only religion is development: Jitendra SinghGUWAHATI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said that "politics of religion-based vote bank" has no relevance in the country, and the only religion for the BJP is "development and development alone".

Accusing the Congress of spreading false propaganda among the minority communities, particularly Muslims, "to poison their minds" against the BJP, he said that the opposition party always exploited the minorities as a vulnerable vote bank and played with their sentiments, but was never sincere to them.

Singh, who is a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Offi ce, said that in this Assembly election, those from the minority communities who were misled by the Congress party and AIUDF last time in

Assam will vote for the BJP dispensation.A message is destined to go out loud and clear across the country that under Prime Minister Modi, the politics of religion-based vote bank has no relevance and the only religion for the BJP is development and development alone, he told PTI.A total of 39 and 40 constituencies will go to polls on April 1 and 6, respectively. Voting for the fi rst phase of polls in 47 of the 126 seats in Assam was held on March 27.The minister held a series of public rallies in minority c o m m u n i t y - d o m i n a t e d Assembly constituencies of Baghbor and Jania.

He alleged that right from the time of independence, the Congress developed its strategy of exploiting the sentiments of minority communities in a bid to secure the maximum share of their vote.

However, with time, this strategy was meeting the fate of diminishing returns because now the people are much more awakened and the majority of the voters comprised the third generation of post-independence youths who reason out their preference before casting their votes, said Singh, the BJP's co-in-charge for Assam. He asked why the Congress party, in 65 years of rule both at the Centre and the state, did not think of bringing about reforms like the law against triple talaq "for the benefi t of Muslim sisters".

Had the gas cylinder sent by Prime Minister Narendra

Modi under Ujjawala scheme ever discriminated on the basis of religion or caste and was it ever enquired whether the household where the free gas cylinder was being delivered was a Muslim household or a Hindu household? Singh asked.

Some of the largest bridges of the country had been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state of Assam "but was there ever any condition laid down that the bridge can be used only by a particular community and not by other communities", he said.It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has sought to introduce a new political culture based on justice and requirements of the last man in the last queue, regardless of his religion or faith.

The BJP is following the mantra of 'justice for all, appeasement of none, Singh said.

No let up in heat wave condition in OdishaBHUBANESWAR, MARCH 31 (PTI)

There seems to be no respite from heat wave condition in Odisha as at least 17 stations recorded temperature above 40 degree celsius and Baripada town becoming the hottest place in the state with mercury touching 44.6 degree celsius Tuesday, according to Met offi ce. Baripada was followed by Talcher (42,7 deg cel), Boudh (42.5 deg cel), Bolangir and Jharsuguda (42.2 deg cel each), Titilagarh (42 deg cel), Sonepur (41.8 deg cel) and Balasore (41.4 deg cel). The twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 40.5 and 39.8 degree celsius, respectively. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) made forecast that the maximum temperature (day temperature) is likely to rise

by around 2 deg C during the next 48 hours and it will slide by 2-3 degree after three days in the districts of Odisha.

Similarly, the maximum temperature will be above normal by 4-6 deg cel at many places during the next three days. Under infl uence of mainly dry westerly winds prevailing in the lower levels, heat wave condition is likely to prevail at a few places over the districts of north interior and adjoining south interior and some districts of

coastal Odisha during next three days, the IMD said in a bulletin. The IMD issued yellow warning (be updated) for next three days in 20 of the states 30 districts.

Meanwhile, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) in advisory to districts authorities asked them to take measures to circulate warning message among the people and situation may be closely monitored and action as deemed necessary be taken.

Security forces engage in gun battle with Maoists in OdishaPHULBANI (ODISHA), MARCH 31 (PTI)

An exchange of fi re took place between security forces and Maoist ultras in a dense forest in Odisha's Kandhamal district, a police offi cer said here on Tuesday. No casualty was reported from either side due to the gunfi ght that broke out on Monday night

near Raighara village under Gochhada police station area.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force of Kandhamal launched an operation, Superintendent of Police Vinit Agarwal said. When the Maoists noticed the security personnel, they started fi ring at the security personnel

who asked them to surrender. As the ultras did not pay heed to the order, personnel of the joint team returned the fi re, the SP said. The rebels then fl ed the scene leaving behind their belongings, Agarwal said.

Articles such as a 12 volt battery, fl exible wire and some raw food materials were recovered from the spot.

BJP's Mithun, TMC MP Dev join hands for Bengali filmKOLKATA, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Leaving behind their political identities, Bollywood superstar Mithun Chakraborty, who has recently joined the BJP, and actor-turned-TMC MP Dipak Adhikari, better known by

his screen name Dev, have teamed up for a Bengali fi lm. The announcement came at a time when the two heroes are busy with campaigns for their respective parties in the West Bengal assembly elections and have been leading roadshows.

The Bengali fi lm, which will be directed by Avijit Sen, is a joint venture between Bengal Talkies and a movie production company of Tollywood heartthrob Dev.

The producer told PTI on Tuesday that the title of the fi lm is not yet fi nalised.

Two killed as truck rams into two-wheeler in DelhiNEW DELHI, MARCH 31 (PTI)

Two persons were killed and as many injured after a truck hit a two-wheeler and climbed a footpath in north Delhi's Kashmere Gate area in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.The driver of the two-wheeler has been identifi ed as Vehram Khan, a resident of the national capital's Matia Mahal area. The identity of the other deceased has not yet been ascertained, they said. The injured have been admitted to the hospital. Their identities are yet to ascertained, he said. He has been arrested and a case registered against him, they said.

EDITORIAL

6 WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 2021 COIMBATORE

I, GiaulRahman Kaja Hussin, S/o. Kaja Hussin, Born on : 05.06.1997, (Place of Birth : Coimbatore), residing at S.183 A, South Housing Unit, Kallamedu, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore-641026, shall hence forth be known as JIYAHUL RAHMAN KAJAHUSSIN

NAME CHANGE

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NAME CHANGE

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I, GiaulRahman Kaja Hussin, S/o. Kaja Hussin, Born on : 05.06.1997, (Place of Birth : Coimbatore), residing at S.183 A, South Housing Unit, Kallamedu, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore-641026, shall hence forth be known as JIYAHUL RAHMAN KAJAHUSSIN

NAME CHANGE

GiaulRahman Kaja Hussin

ÍahFšuàkh‹ fh#h cnr‹,

GiaulRahman Kaja Hussin, j/bg. fh#h cnr‹, ãwªj njâ:

05.06.1997, (ãw¥ãl«: nfhaK¤ö®),

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NAME CHANGE

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NEW DELHI,MAR.31 The Centre on Tuesday

warned that the Covid-19 situation in India is getting from bad to worse and asked districts with high caseloads to ensure 100% vaccination of all above 45 within the next two weeks. The warning came as the country recorded over 4 lakh new cases over the past one week, registering nearly 58,000 daily cases on an average and a growth rate of nearly 7% active cases.

On Sunday, over 68,000 new cases were reported — the most in a day since October and about half of them were from Maharashtra. “We are facing an increasingly severe and intensive situation in some districts but the whole country is potentially at risk. All efforts to contain the virus and save lives should be taken,” said V K Paul, member, health at Niti Aayog and chairman of the national Covid-19 task force.

“Trends show the virus is still very active and enter our defences, just when we think we can control it, it sparks back,” he added. With the Covid vaccination

window for all above 45 years of age opening from Thursday, the Union health ministry said those without pre-registrations (walk-ins or onsite registration) can get vaccines only after 3 pm and not in the forenoon session.

Centre asks states to formulate district-wise plans

Meanwhile, in a letter to the chief secretaries of all states, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said many districts in the country are seeing clusters of cases emerging because of specifi c events and places

where crowding happens or where large gatherings are not following Covid appropriate behaviour. “Some districts that saw a high number of cases in August- November are again seeing a high growth rate of cases,” said the letter.

The secretary has said where there are clusters of cases, simply quarantining individuals or families will not help and larger containment zones with clear boundaries and stringent controls must be implemented. Importantly, all districts with high case load and fast growth of cases have been asked to ensure

100% saturation of Covid- 19 vaccination of the priority group of age 45 and above, in the coming two weeks.

There are 47 districts which have been identifi ed in these two categories and the vaccination for all above 45 without any condition begins from April 1. The states have also been asked to focus on mortality reduction by examining indicators such as case fatality rate and its growth, identifying localities and hospitals where deaths are high and doing death analysis to understand the system related issues of why the deaths are happening. The government has also promoted states to enforce Covid appropriate behaviour using the Police Act or powers under the DM Act.

Situation is going from bad to worse, vaccinate 45+ in 2 weeks: Centre

There are 47 districts which have

been identifi ed in these two categories and the

vaccination for all above 45 without any condition

begins from April 1.

SALEM,MAR.31 DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday

accused the AIADMK government of reversing its stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Campaigning for T Sampathkumar in Edappadi, Udhayanidhi said that voting for the AIADMK was akin to voting for the BJP. “The AIADMK government earlier said minorities would not be affected because of the CAA. Now, the party, in its manifesto, has said that it will urge the Union to repeal the CAA.”He also raised issues including NEET, Pollachi sexual assault case, anti-Sterlite protests, and double custodial deaths.

Udhaya slams AIADMK’s stand on CAA

TENKASI,MARCH.31 Three persons including

a woman teacher, her husband and a Tenkasi resident were arrested for sharing a picture of her postal ballot on social media here on Tuesday.

“The suspected teacher from Vellakal cast her vote on the postal ballot which was delivered by polling staff. Her husband, a retired army man, took a photo of that ballot and posted it on social media. The third suspect, a resident of Tenkasi, forwarded the same to his friends. All three have been arrested.

A Surandai-based woman teacher was mistakenly suspended on Monday based

Teacher held for uploading picture of postal ballot

CHENNAI, MARCH. 31

Election Commission on Tuesday issued notice to DMK MP A Raja for his alleged derogatory remarks on CM Palaniswami. It said his speech was not only derogatory but also obsence and lowered the dignity of motherhood.

EC issues notice to A Raja for his remarks

COIMBATORE, MAR. 31

Podanur police on Tuesday registered a case against Shekar, an AIADMK youth wing secretary, for commenting on Kinathukadavu DMK candidate Kurichi N Prabhakaran's appearance on social media. Sources said that the candidate was suffering from facial paralysis.

AIADMK man booked for defamatory post

India could not bear

The extension of the second dose of the Covishield vaccine from 4 weeks to 6-8 weeks is a signifi cant move. The actual

reason for the extension whether there is a scarcity of vaccines or the medicine helps to develop immunity only after 8 weeks is not known yet. But the time period between the fi rst and second dose of the Covishield vaccine has been increased.

The spread of the virus across the country might be the reason for the extension. It is wrong to judge that the disease spreads because of the lack of vaccines. Even for those who are vaccinated, it is said that it might take at least 45 days to develop resistance against the virus. Around sixty thousand people were newly affected by COVID-19 last Friday marking the number to be the maximum in the last few months.

The decision of the government might balance the shortage of vaccines and at the same time, many people could be protected from COVID-19. Despite fi xing a target of 50 lakh vaccinations per day, it is not reached.

It must be kept in mind that India could not bear if the next wave of the virus-spread fl ares up because of gatherings like election rallies, meetings and Kumbh Mela.

DHARMAPURI, MAR. 31

A day after DMK leader A Raja apologised for his comments about the Chief Minister;s mother. PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss on Tuesday said women would teach the DMK a lession.

Addressing a campaign at four road junction un Dharmapuri, Ramdoss said, Dharmapuri held a special place in my heart since I was young. We have worked hard towards developing the district. One of the PMK's key successes is the Hogenakkal integrated drinking water

project for which Anbumani and I have staged several protests. Because of our sustained protests, the then DMK government implemented the project.

Lashing out at the DMK,

Ramdoss said, DMK leaders have been passing abusive remarks about the Chief Minister. We condemn Raja for his speech. That the DMK will go any length to garner votes is evident from his speech against women. Women are held in high esteem.

He further said that Raja's remarks had offended women across the State. The women are enraged and furious. We must not forget this rage, and it shoud refl ect in polls. Ramdoss later addressed meetings in Dharmapuri, Pennagaram and Palacode.

Women enraged by Raja's comment: Ramadoss

KRISHNAGIRI, MAR. 31

DMK general secretatry Durai Murugan on Tuesday heaped praise upon party president MK Stalin saying he would become the Prime Minister in a decade. Addressing a campaign at Krishnagiri, he said, Stalin will be the Chief Minister for the next 10 years, and after that, he will lead the country to prosperity. People of India are looking forward to Stalin's Governance.

Hitting out at the Centre Durai Murugan said Ours is a multi-lingual and multi-cultural country with many religions. The BJP is talking of One India, One nation, One People which was not the founding principle of our country. There are no leaders in the AIADMK. All MLAs and Ministers are controlled by the Union government. Stalin is the only leader capable of opposing the BJP's ideology.

He will restore and protect our culture Durai Murugan promised that new canals will be constructed in the constituency to divert water to Badethalav to benefi t farmers.

Stalin is PM material, says Durai Murugan

COIMBATORE, MAR. 31Railway Board has announced that fully

reserved special trains will run between Coimbatore and Rameswaram.

According to a press release, train number 06618 Coimbatore to Rameswaram weekly Special will leave Coimbatore on Tuesdays at 7.45 pm from April 27 and reach Rameswaram at 6.15 am the next day.

In the return direction, train number 06617 Rameswaram to coimbatore weekly Special will leave Rameswaram on 7.25 pm from April 28 and reach Coimbatore at 6.30 am.

Train no. 06617 Rameswaram to Coimbatore weekly special will have

additional stoppages at Sivaganga and Coimbatore North.

Train to Rajkot from April 23The Railways has announced

Coimbatore-Rajkot weekly special trains starting April 23. The train(no.06614)

will leave Coimbatore at 12.15 am on Fridays and reach Rajkot

at 5.50 pm on the next day. On the return journey, the

train(no.06613) will leave Rajkot at 5.30 am on Sundays, from April 25

onwards, and reach Coimbatore at 9.30 pm on the next day, according to a release. The train will halt at stations including Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Anantapur, Kalaburagi, Solapur, Pune, Kalyan, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.

Special trains to Rameswaram, Rajkot from April last week

between Coimbatore and

direction, train number

Train to Rajkot from April 23The Railways has announced

Coimbatore-Rajkot weekly special trains starting April 23. The train(no.06614)

will leave Coimbatore at 12.15 am on Fridays and reach Rajkot

at 5.50 pm on

train(no.06613) will leave Rajkot at 5.30 am on Sundays, from April 25

on the recommendation of the District Educational Offi cer, Kokila, for allegedly posting a picture of her postal ballot. However, the inquiry conducted by the police inspector Balamurugan revealed that the polling staff wrongly delivered the postal ballot of the Surandai-based teacher to the teacher whose postal ballot picture was shared on social media,” said police.Referring to the serial number of the postal ballot which was posted on social media, the School Education Department had suspended the Surandai-based teacher. Representatives of Tamil Nadu Primary School Teachers Federation and the teacher petitioned the District

Election Offi cer (DEO) against her suspension.

ERODE, MARCH 31: Erode East Congress

candidate Thirumagan Evara assured to reserve 75 percent of jobs for Tamils while canvassing votes at EVN Road, Poyerikkarai, Jeevanandam Veedi, NGO colony etc.

He said '' I will implement the plans for the Erode East constituency with the advice of the people. At the same time, he will try to bring old pension scheme for civil servants and teachers as assured in

the DMK manifesto and also ensure subsidy of Rs 100 per gas cylinder, reduction of Rs 5 per liter in petrol and diesel prices, increase the purchase price of Aavin milk by Rs 3 per liter and reduce selling price by Rs 3. Besides, 40 percent of government jobs will be reserved for women and 75 per cent of government jobs for Tamils. In this way, employment opportunities for educated and unemployed youth and women will be guaranteed, he said.

75% of jobs will be reserved for Tamils: Thirumagan

ERODE MARCH 31: Udayanithi Stalin,

Secretary of DMK Youth Wing, alleged that the AIADMK rule mortgaged state's interest fully to PM Modi and if it comes to power it would sell TN to Modi. Campaigning for DMK Anthiyur candidate AG Venkatachalam campaigned at Anthiyur, he said '' A few years back, Prime Minister Modi declared in midnight 500,1000 rupee notes were invalid. Following this lot of people went to bank ATMs to exchange their notes. It led to death of thousands of people across the country.

So, people should use the present poll as an opportunity to reject Modi and Edappadi Palaniswami like invalid currency notes. Rs 15,000 crore went as GST to the Central Government from Tamil Nadu every year. But, the Central Government refuses to give due fund to Tamil Nadu.

Modi says there is no fund, if asked. But at the

same time Modi has bought 2 luxury planes. Its price is Rs 8000 crore.

The Parliament building in Delhi is already in good condition. But, Modi is building a new parliament building at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore. He has not done any good thing to Tamil Nadu for the last 7 years. In the last parliamentary elections, the people defeated the Modi-Edappadi Palanisamy alliance. So Modi is very angry with the people of Tamil Nadu.

So, he did not help Tamil Nadu. If Edappadi wins this election, he will mortgage Tamil Nadu to Modi. That situation should not arise.

So you have to defeat Modi and Edappadi Palanichamy in the coming elections.

The DMK alliance candidate won the last parliamentary election by a margin of 20,000 votes'' he said and pleaded to voters to help Venkatachalam win the seat at a margin of 50,000 votes.

AIADMK sacrifices TN's rights: Udayanithi Stalin

PRATAPGARH (UP), MAR 31 (PTI)

The police here are probing three deaths possibly due to the consumption of spurious liquor, offi cials said on Wednesday.

All three deceased were residents of Katariya village under Udaypur police station area here, they said.

Four people Dilip Kori (48), his brother Pradeep Kori (35), maternal uncle Siddhanath (65) and one Dharmendra (45) -- possibly consumed liquor on Tuesday night, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dinesh Dwivedi said.

Later in the night, their condition deteriorated and they were rushed to a local hospital, where all except Dharmendra were declared dead by the doctors, he said.

Dharmendra is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Amethi, he added.

The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem examination. The exact cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem report comes, the ASP said.

3 die after consuming 'spurious liquor' in UP

PANAJI, MAR 31 (PTI)

The Goa government is yet to fi analise its agriculture policy, even nine years after a special committee was set up for the same. State Agriculture Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar told the Assembly during its recently concluded budget session that of late, the committee has not met after its chairman resigned from the post. As per a document attached with the written reply tabled by Kavlekar, the then Member of Parliament Narendra Sawaikar headed the committee which was formed in 2012. Kavlekar also said the state government will take all stakeholders into confi dence before fi nalising the policy, a draft of which has already been prepared and is in the public domain.

"The government has conducted a series of meetings involving all stakeholders for drafting the state agriculture policy," he added.

9 yrs after setting up panel, Goa yet to finalise agri policy

Nilgiris District Collector cum District election offi cer Innocent Divya fl agging off an awareness programme at Coonoor, Bedford, organised by the women self help groups regarding the C.VIGIL app introduced for the purpose of identifying those defy the election model code of

conduct. Other Senior govt offi cials also participated in that event.

TIRUPUR MARCH 31 Continuing to strengthen its footprint in the southern region

Tupperware launched its second exclusive brand store located in Tirupur. With this launch, the national count of Tupperware stores reaches a fi gure of 86.

According to press communication from the company, the state-of-the-art store opened in Tirupur is designed to offer an experiential tour of Tupperware’s world to consumer product solutions and enhance their daily food rituals with the brand. Alongside, Tupperware will also roll out exciting combo offers and exclusive discounts. to attract and engage consumers. The newly launched Tupperware store in Tirupur will showcase the modern range of kitchenware solutions across the utility cycle of prepping, cooking, serving, and storage. Tupperware plans to launch a variety of products including steel, glass, porcelain, and melamine. Not only will this range be perfect for one’s own kitchen, but also a great gifting option for their loved ones said, Mr. Deepak Chhabra, Managing Director, Tupperware India.

Tupperware’s exclusive store in Tirupur opened

I, Subramaniyan Ramasamy Goundar, S/o.Ramasamy Goundar, Born on : 31.05.1950, (Place of Birth : Erode), residing at No.15, Appachi Ayya Thottam, Suriyampalayam, Vasavi College Post, Erode - 638316, shall hence forth be known as SUBRAMANIAN V E E R A P PA N C H AT R A M RAMASAMY GOUNDER

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Subramaniyan Ramasamy Goundar

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I, Jayamani Ashokapuram Subramaniyan, W/o.Subramanian, Born on : 02.02.1960, (Place of Birth: Chennimalai), residing at No.15, Appachi Ayya Thottam, Suriyampalayam, Vasavi College Post, Erode - 638316, shall hence forth be known as JAYAMANI ASHOKAPURAM SUBRAMANIAN

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Jayamani Ashokapuram Subramaniyan

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I, Subramaniyan Ramasamy Goundar, S/o.Ramasamy Goundar, Born on : 31.05.1950, (Place of Birth : Erode), residing at No.15, Appachi Ayya Thottam, Suriyampalayam, Vasavi College Post, Erode - 638316, shall hence forth be known as SUBRAMANIAN V E E R A P PA N C H AT R A M RAMASAMY GOUNDER

NAME CHANGE

Subramaniyan Ramasamy Goundar

R¥ukÂa‹ uhkrhÄ fî©l®, Subramaniyan Ramasamy Goundar, j/bg. uhkrhÄ fî©l®, ãwªj njâ: 31.05.1950, (ãw¥ãl«: <nuhL), v©.15, m¥gh¢á mŒah njh£l«, NÇa«ghisa«, thrÉ fšÿÇ mŠrš, <nuhL - 638316, v‹w Éyhr¤âš tá¤J tU« eh‹ ïÅnk‰ bfh©L R¥ukÂa‹ åu¥g‹r¤âu« uhkrhÄ fî©l® (SUBRAMANIAN V E E R A P P A N C H A T R A M RAMASAMY GOUNDER) vd miH¡f¥gLntdhfî«.

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I, Jayamani Ashokapuram Subramaniyan, W/o.Subramanian, Born on : 02.02.1960, (Place of Birth: Chennimalai), residing at No.15, Appachi Ayya Thottam, Suriyampalayam, Vasavi College Post, Erode - 638316, shall hence forth be known as JAYAMANI ASHOKAPURAM SUBRAMANIAN

NAME CHANGE

Jayamani Ashokapuram Subramaniyan

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