Latest news with #S.Regupathy
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Sand lorry federation urges TN government to open river sand quarries and regulate M-sand prices
Tamil Nadu Sand and M Sand Lorry Owners Coordinate Welfare Federation has demanded that the State government must open river sand quarries to resolve scarcity of sand in the State. Federation president said the government must also take measures against overloading of sand lorries beyond the permitted limit that led to frequent accidents and revenue loss to the government. The Federation also demanded that the State government must engage direct sales of M sand through online system. The price of M-sand and other construction materials has gone up owing to shortage of river sand and rising demand. Only 10-20% of the sand demand is being met. Though there are about 4,000 crusher units across the State, only 414 units have obtained quality certification. Some associations, including Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Association, have announced an indefinite strike from May 23 on similar demands. Noting that the prices of M-Sand and P-Sand have increased since January, he said one unit of M-Sand was sold for ₹6,500 per unit compared to ₹4,500 per unit sold in January. Similarly, P-sand is being sold for a price up to ₹7,500. Moreover, a minimum of 5,000 sand lorry loads were transported to Kerala and Karnataka without proper transit bills. Sand lorry operators also raised concerns over overloading at crusher units without proper transit pass or GST bills, leading to fines or vehicle seizures. The Federation members also recently met Minister for Natural Resources S. Regupathy who has assured them to take action for proper issuance of transit pass and GST bills and also regulate price of M-sand and P-sand.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
No dissatisfaction among public against DMK rule: Minister Regupathy
Minister for Natural Resources S. Regupathy on Sunday claimed there was no dissatisfaction among the general public against the DMK government's rule. The DMK government had not given any scope for dissatisfaction among women in the State which could be seen at the ground level, Mr. Regupathy said. About protection to IAS officer U. Sagayam, he said the State government would do the needful. The Special Court handling the cases of Offences under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation Act) in Madurai recently directed Mr. Sagayam to appear through video conference from the City Civil Court in Chennai for a hearing in the granite scam cases in Madurai district after he expressed his inability to appear before the court.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
When a mob of 300 caste Hindus attacked SC settlement, why only 12 were held, asks NGO
'When a mob of more than 300 Most Backward Community people rampaged through the Scheduled Caste people's settlement to destroy their properties, why only 12 of them were arrested?,' asked Kathir, founder of Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO. Condemning the attack on the SC community at Vadakadu in Pudukkottai district earlier this week, Mr. Kathir, at a press meet here on Wednesday, said the attack allegedly started over the ownership of Adaikkalam Katha Ayyanar Temple on a poramboke land. 'Though court has ruled in favour of the SC people, the other side claims ownership of the temple,' he said, adding the issue ended in denial of access to the SC people in the rituals of Muthumariamman Temple administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. When they were questioned about the injustice, the caste Hindu people from different villages joined hands to attack the SC people, Mr. Kathir alleged. During the fact-finding visit, Evidence team learned that SC community women were subjected to verbal abuse and casteist slurs by the perpetrators. 'The District Collector and Superintendent of Police should have inspected the location and spoken to the victims, but they refrained from doing so,' he said. Though Minister of Law S. Regupathy, accompanied by SP Abhishek Gupta, visited the affected houses, the SP should have restored the villagers' faith in the police, he stated. Condemning the police's hurried statement that it was alcohol-induced violence, Mr. Kathir wondered how they could divert people's attention with such a misleading statement. 'By denying the caste angle to the attack what are the police trying to prove?. When the repeated caste-motivated violence in the State has exposed how deep the practice remains in the people's mind, why do they want to hide it?,' he questioned. When women were harassed and a portrait of Ambedkar was defaced, the police in their FIR should also include sections 3(1)(wi) (intentionally touches a woman belonging to an SC or an ST, knowing that she belongs to an SC or an ST, when such act of touching is of a sexual nature and is without the recipient's consent); 3(1)(wii) (uses words, acts or gestures of a sexual nature towards a woman belonging to an SC or an ST, knowing that she belongs to an SC or an ST); 3(1)(t) (destroys, damages or defiles any object generally known to be held sacred or in high esteem by members of the ST or the ST); and 3(2)(va) (commits any offence specified in the Schedule, against a person or property, knowing that such person is a member of an SC or an ST or such property belongs to such member, shall be punishable with such punishment as specified under the IPC (45 of 1860) for such offences and shall also be liable to fine) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Also, as per the Act, the perpetrators should each be fined ₹5 lakh, he stressed.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- The Hindu
Dalit family's hut set ablaze during communal clash in Pudukottai village, 14 arrested
A clash broke out between youth belonging to the Most Backward Classes (MBC) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in Vadakadu village near Alangudi in Pudukottai district on Monday (May 5, 2025) night during the ongoing Muthumariamman temple festival. The confrontation reportedly began over a dispute at a petrol pump and escalated when members from both communities confronted each other again in a nearby residential area. The altercation resulted in multiple injuries on both sides. During the incident, a hut belonging to Dalit family and a two-wheeler were allegedly set on fire by miscreants. A video of the burning hut has since gone viral on social media. Alangudi police have arrested 14 individuals from both communities in connection with the violence. The injured have been admitted to Alangudi Government Hospital for treatment. Also read: Caste Hindus attack SC youth in Tamil Nadu for riding two-wheeler; three held Pudukkottai Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta, and Tamil Nadu Law Minister S. Regupathy visited the spot late on Monday (May 5) night, following which the situation was brought under control. Police personnel have since been deployed in Vadakadu to prevent further tensions. In a press release, the Pudukkottai police on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) said the clash began over a verbal dispute at a petrol station between intoxicated youth from both communities. A hut was set afire and a government bus window was damaged during the confrontation. An investigation is underway. The police alleged misinformation was being spread on social media about the incident and warned legal action will be taken against those involved in doing so.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Tension in Pudukkottai's Vadakadu following clash between two communities; Dalit family's hut set on fire
PUDUKKOTTAI: Tension prevailed in Vadakadu village near Alangudi after a violent clash broke out following the Muthumariamman temple festival on Monday night, according to sources. Members of the Muthuraja and SC/PR communities, who reportedly had prior enmity, got into a confrontation that escalated when a man from one group was attacked with a sickle by members of the other group. In the ensuing violence, a hut and two two-wheelers were set on fire. A government bus was also vandalized, with its windows smashed. More than 10 people from both sides sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at Alangudi Government Hospital and Pudukkottai Government Medical College Hospital. Following the incident, Tiruchy Range DIG Varunkumar and Law Minister S. Regupathy visited the affected areas around 1:30 am to assess the situation. Heavy police deployment has been made in Vadakadu, and transport services in the area have been suspended. Buses on the Pudukkottai-Pattukottai route are being diverted via alternate routes.
