Latest news with #Kamalakannan
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Man takes truck for a spin in Chennai, caught after 9 km chase
CHENNAI: The busy GST Road on Tuesday afternoon witnessed a high-speed chase by the police and motorists after a man sped away with a lorry that was parked on the roadside near Peanur toll plaza. Sources said the 37-year-old man, suspected to be suffering from mental illness, managed to drive the vehicle for around 9 km before he was caught after the vehicle crashed into a roadside barricade. The chase was on a par with the scene taken out of an action thriller, as at one point of time, Special Sub-Inspector (Traffic) Balamurugan, in a bid to persuade the man to stop the truck laden with M-Sand, climbed on to the vehicle's footboard where he clung on until it came to a halt. Sources said the man, hailing from Tirunelveli, took away the truck when its driver, Kamalakannan, stepped out to recharge the FASTag.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- The Hindu
Hijacked tipper lorry caught after dramatic chase for over 9 km
When a tipper lorry was hijacked from Paranur toll plaza, traffic police personnel and the public chased the vehicle for a distance of over 9 km before it came to a stop. A police personnel, who had climbed onto the footboard of the vehicle's cabin, had to travel in this manner for more than 5 km. In a dramtic action, Police personnel chased a tipper truck which was hijacked from Paranur toll plaza to Singaperumal koil- about 10 kilometers and caught it. A Traffic constable who climbed to the cabin of truck travelled all along. @THChennai@tnpoliceoffl@SP_chengalpattu — R SIVARAMAN (@SIVARAMAN74) May 20, 2025 The lorry, laden with M-sand, belonged to Kamalakannan from Melmaruvathur, who drove it to the city limits on Tuesday morning. After crossing the toll gate, he parked the vehicle on the roadside. He then went to the counter to recharge the FASTag, leaving the key inside the vehicle. While he was waiting at the counter at around 11 a.m., Subash, 37, of Tirunelveli district got into the vehicle and drove away, even as Kamalakannan raised an alarm. Traffic police personnel followed the vehicle on two-wheelers, and other bikers joined the chase on GST road. However, Subhash refused to stop despite repeated warnings. The police immediately alerted their counterparts in other areas and attempted to block the vehicle at Mahindra City limits by placing barricades. As the truck slowed down, Murugan, special sub-inspector of traffic police, climbed onto the footboard in an effort to persuade the driver to stop the vehicle. As the driver picked up speed, Murugan held onto an iron rod for support. Near Maraimalainagar – approximately 9 km from Paranur toll plaza – the driver drove the vehicle into a barricade. The vehicle came to a stop but he continued to create a ruckus, refusing to leave the vehicle. At last, the police overpowered him. Traffic Investigation Police Guduvanchery and Chengalpattu Taluk police registered a case for accident and theft respectively. Police personnel and Public surrounded the hijacked truck near Maraimalai Nagar and caught the suspect @THChennai@ — R SIVARAMAN (@SIVARAMAN74) May 20, 2025 Police said Subash was mentally unstable. He used to run a transport business and was familiar with driving heavy vehicles, they said. His family alleged that he had left home 10 years ago and they had no idea about his whereabouts. Police sources said he had been involved in a couple of incidents, including pouring hot milk on a woman in Chengalpattu. Further investigation is on.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Time of India
High-speed chase: Cop on bike pursues, boards, secures truck
Chennai: It was a scene straight out of the movies. A hijacked truck speeds down a crowded highway, police personnel on bikes give chase and one of them acrobatically clambers on to the truck and tries to pull out the driver. Finally, after a 10km run, the driver crashes the truck. This actually happened on Tuesday on Trichy-Chennai highway near the Paranur toll plaza. Police said Kamalakannan was driving a truck with M-sand from Chengalpet towards Vandalur when, at the Paranur toll plaza, he found there was insufficient balance in the FASTag account. So, he parked the truck by the roadside and called up its owner, Anbu, a resident of Kelambakkam in Chengalpet. Just then a man lurking near the toll plaza suddenly jumped into the lorry and drove away toward Chennai. Kamalakkannan informed patrolling police teams who via walkie-talkie alerted police stationed at Mahindra City and Singaperumal Koil. They set up barricades, but the truck crashed through and sped away. Policemen gave chase on two-wheelers. One of them climbed on to the speeding truck and tried to pull the suspect out. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Eventually, near Maraimalai Nagar railway station, the hijacker crashed the lorry into a roadside barrier in an attempt to escape. Police surrounded and captured him after a brief struggle. Witnesses said they were lucky, no one was hurt during the truck's reckless journey. Police identified the runaway driver as Subash, 35, from Palayamkottai. Police said Subash had been wandering around the Paranur toll plaza for the past two days, apparently mentally unwell. They suspect that the previous night he broke into a nearby temple and stole construction materials. He also reportedly attempted to rob women walking alone in the area. Subash has been sent him to the Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, for observation.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
ZSI study unravels hidden world of South Asian tree shrews, redefines conservation priorities
In a landmark study that redefines our understanding of a little-known group of mammals, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have revealed new insights into the taxonomy of South Asian tree shrews , challenging long-held assumptions and setting a new course for their conservation. Published today in the prestigious journal Ecology and Evolution , the study—led by Dr. Manokaran Kamalakannan of ZSI's Mammal and Osteology Section—delves into the evolutionary distinctions among South Asia's tree shrews, small, squirrel-like mammals that have long confounded researchers due to their superficial resemblance to other species. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata 'Tree shrews are not true shrews or squirrels, but members of a distinct order called Scandentia ,' said Dr. Kamalakannan, who conceptualised and steered the project from start to finish. 'They possess unique traits such as elongated snouts, moist nasal pads, and a diet of insects and fruits, setting them apart from other small mammals.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Drawing from a century's worth of museum specimens, the ZSI team applied advanced morphometric methods and statistical modelling to decode subtle differences in body shape, skull structure, and size—resolving long-standing taxonomic ambiguities that have hindered conservation efforts. Nicobar Tree Shrew: From Smallest to Largest One of the most surprising findings upends conventional wisdom about the Nicobar tree shrew, previously thought to be the smallest among its South Asian relatives. The study reveals it is, in fact, the largest tree shrew in South Asia, and ranks as the third largest globally among the 23 known species. 'This has major conservation implications,' noted Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director of ZSI. 'Insular endemics like the Nicobar tree shrew are particularly vulnerable to ecological stress, and accurate taxonomy is critical for crafting focused protection strategies.' A Call for Genetic Research While the morphological findings are ground-breaking, co-author Dr. Mukesh Thakur emphasized the need for genetic studies to complement this research. 'To build a complete phylogenetic tree of these species, integrating DNA data is now essential,' he said. Dr. Nithyanandam Marimuthu, who led the complex statistical analyses, added, 'Our multivariate analysis statistically supports the distinction among these species, even when physical similarities once led to misidentifications.' Conservation Through Clarity Tree shrews are often overlooked in conservation discourse, but their ecological role—as seed dispersers and insect predators—makes them crucial components of forest ecosystems. The new findings underscore how scientific clarity can drive better conservation outcomes. 'This study proves that even long-preserved museum specimens can yield new knowledge when paired with modern analytical tools,' Dr. Kamalakannan said. 'It's a testament to the enduring value of biological collections.' The full study, titled 'Museum Specimens Reveal the Taxonomic Distinctions among South Asian Tree shrews,' is available open-access at
