Pudukottai: Black magic woman held for child sacrifice

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

PublishedNov 6, 2018, 2:13 am IST

Remanded under section 302 (murder) of the IPC, Chinnapillai has been lodged in the Trichy central women's prison.

Chinnapillai, the accused

Pudukottai: A black magic practitioner was arrested for allegedly killing a four-year-old girl by slitting her throat with a blade as sacrifice to her deity at Kurumpatti village near Iluppur in Pudukottai district. 47-year-old Chinnapillai confessed to the crime and has been remanded to custody on Monday, Inspector P. Mangayarkarasi told Deccan Chronicle.

She said the alleged killer lived close to the house of the victim, Shalini, and on October 25, she had lured her to a deserted place about half km from their place of residence promising something to eat. It was a spooky spot that the villagers would usually keep away from out of for fear that a local deity, Chemmuni, lurked there looking for human blood.

The black magic practitioner had decided to offer the girl in sacrifice to Chemmuni hoping that would propitiate her deity and her failing black magic business would pick up, Inspector Mangayarkarasi said, adding that the woman told the police after arrest that her clientele had shrunk and a recent disaster had literally led to the villagers banishing her.

"It appeared that this woman had an assistant and together they would go into the burial ground to conduct their ritualistic worship of the spirits. On one such occasion some three months ago, the assistant witnessed something weird and suffered shock. He became bed-ridden and died. After that, the villagers told the woman she should not practice her black magic there anymore and Chinnapillai was forced to look for clients outside. She decided a human sacrifice to Chemmuni would set things right for her", Inspector Mangayarkarasi said, expressing anguish that even in this modern age, such gruesome voodoo practices exist.

Chinnapillai's two sons are married and live elsewhere. Her husband Singaram works in a tasmac liquor shop at Coimbatore. He rushed back on hearing about his wife's crime. Remanded under section 302 (murder) of the IPC, Chinnapillai has been lodged in the Trichy central women's prison.

GATE might be compulsory for engineering students as exit exam

Interestingly, for candidates who have completed their engineering course, the degree certificate will be awarded only after they clear GATE, said AICTE officials.

Published: 04th November 2018 03:12 AM 

Image used for representational purpose only.

By Rashmi Belur

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Students pursuing technical courses across the country for the academic year 2019-2020 might soon have to write a mandatory ‘Exit Exam’ and pass it to get their degree certificate. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) passed a resolution making Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for engineering graduates mandatory in all institutions of technical education in the country.

This decision was taken at a recent AICTE meeting in New Delhi. Considering the increase in the number of unemployed graduates even after graduation, the AICTE has taken this decision. Interestingly, for candidates who have completed their engineering course, the degree certificate will be awarded only after they clear GATE, said AICTE officials. The rest have to re-appear for GATE.

“The degree certificate will be awarded to students only after they clear the exit examination,” said an official source at AICTE. There are over seven lakh students who graduate from around 3,000 engineering institutions across the country every year.


Prof Jagannath Reddy, Registrar of Visvesvaraya Technological University, said, “We have yet to receive a communication about it. Once we are notified, an official circular at the university level will be issued.”

However, the AICTE move has received mixed reactions. Some faculty members welcomed it while some say it will be of no use. The student community is not happy with the decision.

“This is really a good move and I hope this will increase the chances of engineering graduates getting employment,” said a principal of a private engineering college in the city. Dr Manjunatha B, Principal of New Horizon College of Engineering, said, “It depends on individual skill and instead of conducting an exit exam, it is better for colleges to conduct an aptitude test, a technology test or communication skills test at least once each semester.”

Another principal felt that this may affect the students who have already got placed. “What if a student who gets placed fails to clear the exit exam? The company will not take him in without a degree certificate and now the AICTE is saying that there won’t be any degree certificate unless they clear GATE,” said the principal.

Students find this step unnecessary. “If someone does not get employed even after completing the course then it an individual problem and not a general one. I don’t understand why the AICTE is generalising this,” questions a student.

Meanwhile, there is no clarity if the exit exam will be conducted on a national level by AICTE or by the technical universities of the states or by the colleges themselves. Colleges and universities are yet to be officially notified about it.

New rules put Biochemistry graduates across Tamil Nadu in a fix

Hundreds of students, who joined two-year BEd Chemistry programme in private colleges, are in a fix, as the TNTEU issued directions saying Biochemistry could not be treated equivalent to Chemistry.

Published: 03rd November 2018 07:06 AM


Image used for representational purpose only.

By S Mannar Mannan

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Hundreds of BSc Biochemistry students across the State who have joined the two-year BEd Physical Science course in private colleges are in a fix, two months after classes began, as the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University (TNTEU) has issued a clear direction that Biochemistry cannot be treated as equivalent to Chemistry.

Asked about the matter, Vice Chancellor S Thangasamy said the TNTEU had instructed BEd colleges not to admit Biochemistry graduates to the course. The mistake is with the self-financing colleges, he said, as they did not guide the students correctly.

In a recent circular, TNTEU Registrar (in charge) N Ravindranath Tagore had informed principals and secretaries of education colleges that they should not consider those who have joined the BEd Physical Science course after doing BSc Biochemistry as equal to those with BSc Chemistry.


He cited GO No 24 (P&AR) dated February 4, 2011, according to which the BSc Biochemistry degree, even if awarded by universities recognised by the UGC, is not equivalent to the BSc Chemistry degree.

“We are taking precautionary measures,” Thangasamy told Express. However, private colleges have admitted hundreds of BSc Biochemistry graduates to BEd Chemistry programmes.

“The college admitted us saying that Biochemistry graduates are eligible. But now, the university says we are not eligible,” said an affected student from a city college.

Tamil Nadu health department to promote over 2,000 medical college assistant professors

The move is aimed at meeting the Medical Council of India norms for continuing medical courses in 23 medical colleges in the State.

Published: 05th November 2018 07:52 AM 

Medical Council of India. (Photo | mciindia.org/)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Soon, over 2,000 Associate Professors in Government Medical Colleges are to be promoted as Professors, a long-pending demand of doctors, by the State Health Department.This is planned to meet the Medical Council of India norms for continuing medical courses in 23 medical colleges in the State. According to an official source, over 7,300 doctors’ posts have been re-designated in the exercise. The State did not conduct promotion counselling to fill up professors’ posts in medical colleges for the last three years due to lack of clarity on professor vacancies and also how many were really eligible for elevation.

The Directorate of Medical Education began the work of re-designating posts three months ago and completed the process this week. “We totally streamlined the posts and completed the work. It has to go to the finance department for approval. Then a government order will be issued,” said A Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Education.

“We have re-designated 7,300 doctor posts, including Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, Professors, Senior Residents and others in 23 medical colleges. Among them, over 2,000 Associate Professors are eligible for Professors’ posts and they will be given promotion,” he said.According to a senior health department official, this also means that doctors have to move to their post whereever it is available. But 85 per cent of the now Associate Professors who are eligible for Professor’s posts, are identified in the same colleges where they are currently working.

“This means, all the Professors posts in 23 government medical colleges will be filled. Before this demarcation, professors were less than the requirement of MCI, Now, we will meet the MCI norms for renewal or approval for medical courses,” the official said.


Recently, government doctors boycotted MCI inspection as Associate Professors were asked to pose as Professors during the head count and demanded the government to fill up Professors vacancies. But after re-designating the posts, officials found that over 2,000 Associate Professors were eligible for Professors posts so there was no need for new recruitment, Joe said.

“A doctor who completes post graduation will work as Senior Resident or Tutor for one year, then will be promoted as Assistant Professor. After four years, they will be promoted as Associate Professors and after four years they will be promoted as Professors. But, these promotions were affected earlier, leaving professors’ posts vacant in many colleges,” a senior official said.

Trisha calls for a ban on TV premiere of 96 this Diwali

The Viay Sethupathi-Trisha-starrer is still running in theaters

Published: 04th November 2018 01:17 PM 

Trisha in '96' (Photo | Instagram)

By Mani Prabhu

Express News Service

Diwali is a big time for festive releases not just for the silver screen but also for TV as historically the best films of the year gone by get a small screen debut. It is in this vein that Sun TV, which has bagged the rights of 96, has announced that they will be premiering the film this Diwali. The film, which is in its 5th week, is still running in theaters and the channel has caught many by surprise with the decision.


Trisha, the film's leading lady, took to twitter to voice out her disappointment. She said, "Its our 5th week and we still have an 80% occupancy in all theatres.We as a team feel its unfair to be premiering 96 this early. Its our request to push it to a Pongal viewing please Sun TV. Will be grateful."


Trish Krish
✔@trishtrashers

Its our 5th week and we still have an 80% occupancy in all theatres.We as a team feel its unfair to be premiering 96 this early. Its our request to push it to a Pongal viewing pls @SunTV Will be grateful #96thefilm #Ban96MoviePremierOnSunTv
10:31 AM - Nov 3, 2018
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Commenting about this issue, the director of the film, Prem Kumar, says, "A good run for a film is beneficial to a lot of people in the industry in these times. So, considering that 96 is doing well in almost all centres with more than 75 percent occupancy, it's tough to understand why Sun TV would rush to premiere it on television. Even in the neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka, the film is continuing to do very good business. A TV premiere will hence be a blow not only to the film, but also to the whole industry in many ways. Though Sun TV reserves the Satellite rights for the film, and the decision to telecast it on TV rests with the organisition, we request them to postpone the premiere to the next festival session, probably for Pongal 2019, considering the above reasons. As a first time director who has fought his way to this success, I will be very grateful to them."

It remains to be seen if the decision stays or will it be overturned.

Deepavali: Chennai slows down as festival crowds leave city

Thousands of commuters who left for home towns on Friday and Saturday were forced to shell out an additional 800 to 1800 per ticket.

Published: 04th November 2018 01:35 AM 

Commuters seen rushing to get into a train at Chennai Central Station ahead of Deepavali on Saturday | Ashwin Prasath
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: As lakhs of Chennaiites sought to travel out of town for the Deepavali holidays, traffic on city’s roads has slowed to a crawl over the past three days. Koyambedu bus stand, Central, Egmore and Tambaram railway stations were flooded with commuters on Saturday.

All major roads, including EVR Periyar Salai (Poonamallee High Road), Inner Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, Chennai - Tiruchy NH and other arterial roads were choked with vehicles. This had a domino effect, slowing traffic at Poonamallee, Nungambakkam and Guindy due to congestion.

Meanwhile, the State government’s 11,000 special buses for Deepavali proved grossly inadequate as omni bus fares saw a 150 per cent increase over fares the rest of the year. Thousands of commuters who left for home towns on Friday and Saturday were forced to shell out an additional 800 to 1800 per ticket.

The fare for a non-AC bus from Chennai to Madurai is 1,100 to 1,500 per ticket person, against `600 which is the regular fare. Similarly, a sleeper berth in all non-AC omni buses on the same route costs 1,800 to 2,000. Fares on other routes, including Chennai - Bengaluru, Chennai - Coimbatore and Chennai - Tiruchy, are between 1,500 to 1,800. However, passengers travelling to south TN are the worst affected. Fares to Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Thiruchendur are 2,000 to 2,500 a ticket for buses which have only seats.


Though omnibuses have been fleecing the passengers taking advantages of festival rush, commuters say this is the highest fare ever charged in the last decade. “Until October 29, the ticket fares were between 900 and 1,100. But since November 1, the ticket fare has increased. I paid 2,200 for a semi-sleeper bus to Nagercoil on Saturday, as against the regular fare of 900,” said K Ramakrishnan of Eraniel.

Transport officials claim that the State government can book omni buses and buses operated by travel agencies for permit violation, but there was no provision to penalise them for overcharging commuters. “The Union government has to amend the Motor Vehicles Act authorising the State transport department to act against errant omni buses,” said a senior transport official.

Tamil Rockers threaten to upload HD Print of Vijay-starrer 'Sarkar' within hours of its theatrical release

In the statement released by TFPC, the council has mentioned that it's a collective responsibility to ensure that no one records the film at theatres.

Published: 05th November 2018 08:45 PM 

Vijay in 'Sarkar' (Photo | YouTube Screengrab)
By Online Desk

After many hurdles, Vijay-starrer 'Sarkar' is all set to release tomorrow on the occasion of Diwali. With the fans already lining outside the theatres across Tamil Nadu, one can expect a grand release for 'Sarkar'.


But the trouble for 'Sarkar' team is far from over as popular piracy website 'Tamil Rockers' has put out a tweet indicating the release of 'Sarkar' HD Print online.

This tweet has sent shockwaves across the Tamil film industry with the Tamil Film Producers Council issuing an immediate response to 'Tamil Rockers' tweet.


Tamil Rockers@TamilRockersMV



#Sarkar HD Print Coming #SarkarPromoOnSunTV #Vijay #Thalapathy #tamilrockers #TR
#Diwali
11:50 AM - Nov 5, 2018
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In the statement released by TFPC, the council has mentioned that it's a collective responsibility to ensure that no one records the film at theatres.

The Tamil Film Producers Council brought to the attention of film exhibitors that a portal that "hosts pirated versions" of films has challenged that it would upload the HD version of the movie as early as Tuesday evening within hours of its release.

TFPC said the portal must not succeed in its illegal attempt and urged movie halls to deploy personnel inside theatres to prevent recording of the movie by using mobile phones or cameras.

Directed by AR Murugadoss, 'Sarkar' stars Vijay, Keerthy Suresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Yogi Babu and Radha Ravi amongst others. AR Rahman songs have already turned out to be a huge chartbuster and have further increased the expectations of the film.

Going by the movie trailer, Vijay is an entrepreneur who sets in motion efforts to revolutionise the political scenario in the state following his return from abroad.

Besides Sarkar, comparatively small budget movies "Billa Pandi " and "Kalavani Mappillai," are being released for the festival of lights.

(With inputs from PTI)