Latest news with #Manikandan
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Madurai corpn floats proposal for private operation of new LPG crematoriums
1 2 3 Madurai: With three new LPG crematoriums in Narayanapuram, Annaiyur, and Melamadai nearing completion, the Madurai City Corporation has invited proposals from private operators to manage and maintain the facilities on a not-for-profit basis. Built at a cost of ₹2 crore each, the crematoriums are expected to be operational within two months. The selected agency, designated as the "Operator," will be responsible for running the facilities following safety norms, environmental regulations, and public expectations. A senior corporation official said the operator's duties include managing LPG cremation units, maintaining hygiene, and providing essential amenities such as toilets, bath areas, and prayer halls. The agency will also facilitate on-site death registration and ensure uninterrupted operations during emergencies by deploying additional staff if needed. Operators must install CCTV surveillance as directed by the corporation to enhance safety and accountability. "Cleanliness and dignity must not be compromised in such sensitive spaces," said civic activist VP Manikandan. The maximum service fee will be capped at ₹3,500 per cremation, subject to revision by the corporation. Staff are expected to wear uniforms and treat bereaved families with empathy and respect. Each crematorium is projected to handle about 50 cremations a month, with potential for increased usage as services improve. Officials believe the modern, LPG-based facilities will offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to traditional wood-fired pyres and help reduce pressure on existing cremation sites. MSID:: 121574491 413 |
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Driver in Erode arrested for sending morphed picture to minor girl
A driver from Sankarapuram in Kallakurichi district was arrested on Saturday for morphing a minor girl's photo onto an obscene image and sending it to her. During a visit to Erode, the driver, Manikandan, became acquainted with the girl's family, who are also from the same district and currently reside in Erode. According to the police, Manikandan edited a photo of the 15-year-old girl to create an obscene image and sent it to her via WhatsApp. The girl informed her parents, who then lodged a complaint with the Erode All Women Police Station. Based on the complaint, Manikandan was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and remanded to sub-jail in Erode.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Erode police arrest taxi driver for morphing and sharing girl's photo
ERODE: The Erode all women police have arrested a taxi driver on charges of circulating a morphed and inappropriate image of a 15-year-old girl through WhatsApp . The arrested man has been identified as S Manikandan of Sankarapuram area in Kallakurichi district. When he was in Erode for work, Manikandan befriended the family of a woman from Kallakurichi district. He morphed a photo of the woman's 15-year-old daughter. He then sent the morphed image to her WhatsApp number. "The girl, taken aback by this, informed her parents, who filed a complaint with the Erode all women's police on Friday," said a police officer. He was arrested on Friday night and remanded in judicial custody on Saturday morning.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Hans India
TN: Five arrested with 1.5 kg Methaqualone in drug bust in Chennai
Chennai: In a significant breakthrough in the fight against narcotics, Chennai's Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit (ANIU) on Thursday arrested five individuals and seized 1.5 kilograms of Methaqualone, a banned psychotropic substance, in the city's Periamedu area. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team comprising officers from the ANIU and the Periamedu Police Station launched a coordinated early-morning raid near the 'My Lady Park' locality. The operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on the distribution and sale of synthetic drugs within the city. The suspects - identified as Vijaykumar alias Manikandan (44), Kumar (36), Periyathurai (28), Rajesh (32), and Naresh (41) - were intercepted based on their suspicious movements. According to police sources, the group displayed nervous behaviour and gave conflicting responses during initial questioning, prompting officers to conduct a thorough search of their belongings. During the search, the team recovered 1.5 kilograms of Methaqualone, a powerful sedative-hypnotic substance that is classified as a controlled drug under both national and international narcotics laws. Commonly known by its street name 'Mandrax,' Methaqualone is known to induce drowsiness and has been banned due to its high potential for abuse and addiction. The seized contraband was promptly confiscated and sent for forensic analysis. A formal case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Periamedu Police Station. Senior police officials stated that all five accused are currently under detailed interrogation to determine the origin and intended distribution network of the seized drugs. Authorities are also probing the possibility of a larger drug trafficking syndicate operating in the region, using Chennai as a transit point. The accused are expected to be produced before a magistrate court following the completion of preliminary inquiries. Further arrests and seizures are likely as the investigation progresses. This latest operation highlights the Chennai Police Department's renewed focus on targeting urban drug rackets and its commitment to curbing the spread of narcotics in the city.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Police mistake crystal sugar for meth, 2 Kerala men jailed for five months
KOZHIKODE: It was last November that Biju Mathew and Manikandan were arrested by Kozhikode Nadakkavu police with what officers alleged was methamphetamine. The two were remand for five months. Last month, however, they were released after chemical tests revealed that the material seized from them was actually crystal sugar. Biju, a 49-year-old from Kolichal in Kasaragod, is a Gulf-returned driver who went on to drive a private bus on the Kanhangad-Panathur route for decades. He had known Manikandan, 46, of Varam in Kannur, from their earlier days working on container lorries. 'I had just lost my job. I contacted Manikandan seeking job opportunities and it was he who told me about an opening for a container lorry driver in Kozhikode. And on November 25, 2024, I travelled from Kanhangad to take up the work, while Manikandan arrived from Mangaluru. We both rented a room at a lodge in Nadakkavu. Manikandan had with him a 100g pack of crystal sugar that he had bought from Mangaluru. We had some of the contents at night. The Dansaf squad nabbed us while we were on our way for breakfast the next morning. The team surrounded us and handcuffed us. They took the remaining crystal sugar from Manikandan's pocket and accused us of possessing methamphetamine,' recounted Biju. He said that despite pleading innocence, the officers were adamant. Meanwhile, Manikandan fainted at the spot and was shifted to hospital while Biju was moved to Nadakkavu police station. 'We asked them to carry out a blood test to confirm whether we had used drugs or examine our phones for any sort of communication about drug sales. But the officers ignored us. They could have checked our bank accounts for suspicious transactions. I just had Rs 20 in my account at the time,' said Biju. Later, the duo were sent to Kozhikode district jail. Since they couldn't afford an advocate, the government arranged one. On April 24 this year, lab results confirmed their innocence. 'My family members, relatives, neighbours, and even my 75-year-old mother, who is sick, suspected me. Though my mother is now convinced of my innocence, I'm still regarded a drug addict in my parish and locality. I have not even seen methamphetamine. In the FIR, police added that we had confessed to the crime. We were not given the opportunity to make our case,' said Biju. According to police, there was no delay on their part. 'The holdup at the forensic department's end is normal. Moreover, as the crystal sugar in the packet was in the form of finer granules, it put us off,' an officer said. 'Hundreds of NDPS cases are reported in the district and sometimes officers are unable to confirm the substance. In such cases, we have to wait for forensic test results. We had sent the samples on time,' said Prajeesh N, SHO, Nadakkavu station.
