Author: TheStateLine

Chennai, Nov 5 (IANS) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss on Wednesday urged the Union government to grant voting rights and complete citizenship privileges to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who have been living in Tamil Nadu for decades, many of them born and raised in India. In a statement, Ramadoss said that following the civil war in Sri Lanka in 1983, over one lakh Sri Lankan Tamils migrated to Tamil Nadu after losing their homes and livelihoods."Even after the end of the war in 2009, thousands continued to seek refuge here. Today, nearly one lakh Eelam Tamils are residing in India, spread across 116 refugee camps in Tamil Nadu," he said.He pointed out that despite having lived in India for several decades, these refugees are still not allowed to live as free citizens."The youn...

Kolkata, Nov 5 (IANS) The family of a gold trader, who was allegedly kidnapped and murdered in the Newtown area near Kolkata, has filed a police complaint against the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Rajganj in Jalpaiguri, the police said on Wednesday.The family of the deceased businessman, Swapan Kamilya, has filed a complaint against Rajganj BDO Prashant Barman.On October 28, Kamilya's body was recovered from a ditch in Jatragachi.Kamilya, a resident of Dilmatia village in West Midnapore district, had a gold shop in Duttabad in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata."During the investigation, it was found that gold jewellery was stolen from the house of Rajganj BDO Prashant Barman in August. Later, the caretaker of the house said that he had sold the stolen gold to Swapan Kamilya," the police s...

Hyderabad, Nov 5 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has slammed the Congress government in Telangana for constituting a committee for the mobilisation of finances for the fee-reimbursement scheme, saying it will destroy what is left of Telangana’s education system.The BJP leader on Wednesday reacted strongly to the formation of the committee even as the private professional colleges in the state continue their strike, demanding the release of dues under the fee reimbursement scheme.“For the first time in Telangana’s history, over 2,500 educational institutions have shut down, and Congress government doesn’t even feel the pinch. Education has become the biggest casualty under the Congress government,” the MoS said in a social media post.“Forget proportionate ...

New Delhi, Nov 5 (IANS) The weather across Delhi-NCR has undergone a notable change this week, with both day and night temperatures falling sharply. Residents are beginning to notice a nip in the air, signalling the gradual arrival of winter.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum night temperature could fall to around 14 degrees Celsius in the coming days, while the maximum temperature is expected to hover near 27 degrees. The forecast for November 5 to 10 indicates a steady decline in both maximum and minimum temperatures.The week began with a minimum temperature of 16 degrees and a maximum of 29 degrees. However, by November 9 and 10, the minimum temperature is likely to touch 14 degrees Celsius. Mild sunshine is expected during the daytime, but mornings an...

Chennai, Nov 5 (IANS) In the aftermath of the brutal gang-rape of a college student near the Coimbatore airport in Tamil Nadu, the city police have identified 59 deserted and isolated areas within their limits for enhanced night patrolling and visible policing. The move follows widespread outrage over what many citizens see as a systemic failure in ensuring women’s safety in vulnerable localities.The horrific crime occurred in a secluded stretch behind the airport -- a place residents say has long been a haven for miscreants. Locals recall that groups of men frequently gathered there to drink, and incidents of snatching and robbery were not uncommon. Despite previous complaints, police presence in such isolated pockets was minimal, with patrol vehicles rarely venturing beyond nearby reside...