Relatives of deceased weaver stage dharna in Salem
Relatives of P. Ayyandurai (30), a weaver of Kanakkupatti near Tharamangalam who ended his life on Thursday, staged a protest on Friday demanding action against workers of a private finance company where Ayyandurai had borrowed ₹4 lakh.
According to the police, since there were delays in repayment of the loan, workers of the finance company reportedly visited Ayyandurai regularly and pressured him to pay the instalments. The Tharamangalam police sent the body to Salem Government Hospital for post-mortem. On Friday, the relatives of the deceased staged a dharna before Salem Collectorate demanding action against the private finance company workers and solatium for the deceased family. The town police assured to look into their demands.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)
Two held for attacking police head constable in Salem
Kitchipalayam police arrested a history-sheeter Saravanan (48) and his brother Senthil (40) for reportedly attacking head constable Kumar (40) on Thursday.
Mr. Kumar, who was tipped off about a group clash at Kurinji Nagar Housing Board in Kitchipalayam, rushed to the area to pacify the gang, when he was reportedly attacked by the two, who were residents of the same locality, police said.
Lorry driver gets life imprisonment under POCSO in Salem
A 28-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment under the POCSO Act on Thursday. M. Aravindakumar (28), lorry driver residing in Attur, was arrested for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in January 2021. The trial was held at the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of Cases under the POCSO Act in Salem, where the accused was found guilty and awarded life imprisonment on Thursday, besides being imposed a ₹1,000 fine. Following the verdict, he was lodged at Salem Central Prison.
AIADMK functionary attacks finance workers; video goes viral in Salem
A dispute between a farmer and finance company staff lead to violent clashes, the video of which went viral on social media. P. Shanmugamoorthy (47), a farmer from Kalipatti near Mecheri in Salem, had pledged 3.38 acres to a private finance company in Coimbatore for a loan of ₹85 lakh in May 2023. After paying the interest only for three months, the company took possession of the land.
A few days ago, the finance company received reports that Shanmugamoorthy’s family had broken the lock of a house on the land and stayed there. Saravana Sujai, one of the company’s owners, arrived in Mecheri and lodged a complaint with the police. Later that evening, finance company workers attempted to secure the house by locking it again. At this point, Shanmugamoorthy, his father Periasamy, and AIADMK functionary Raja (38) arrived at the spot with their supporters and allegedly attacked the finance company staff. They also threatened Mr. Saravana Sujai, who was in the car, and damaged the car’s windshield. Mecheri police arrived at the spot and arrested three finance company workers as well as Shanmugamoorthy and his father on Friday and remanded them in prison. Cases have been filed on both sides, and police are on the lookout for AIADMK functionary Kumar and others. Meanwhile, the attack video went viral on social media.
Kerala student fall from running train dies in Salem
N. Naimu Rashid (16), a Class XI student residing at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district in Kerala, was travelling to Hyderabad on Thursday for an education tour. When the train reached Thinnapatti in Salem district, Rashid, who was standing near the door, fell from the running train and died. The Salem Railway Police sent the body to Salem Government Hospital for postmortem. The police registered a case and are investigating.
Published – January 31, 2025 07:55 pm IST