Pilot did grass-landing in B’luru at 155m visibility

SwathyR.Iyer@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:1.12.2019

On November 11, when a GoAir flight veered off the runway and landed on grass at Bengaluru airport, the visibility was only 155 metres. However, as per norms, it should be at least 550 metres for the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to give a go-ahead for landing, airport sources said.

It was a scary experience for 180 passengers on board G8 811 from Nagpur to Bengaluru at 7.30am. Sources said “as the pilot was approaching the runway, visibility dropped to around 155 metres, which is not suitable for landing a plane”. After veering off the runway at Kempegowda International Airport, it took off and landed at Hyderabad, allegedly without keeping ATC in the loop immediately.

On November 11, operations of 56 other flights were disrupted due to dense fog and low visibility at the airport.

An inquiry ordered by aviation regulatory authority Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) into the incident is still under progress.

RISKY: The pilot took off soon after the flight veered off into the runway and went over the grass on November 11

2 Kerala techies found hanging after family says no to marriage over caste difference

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru1.12.2019

 Two techies from Kerala allegedly killed themselves near Electronics City in Hebbagodi police limits following alleged parental opposition to their marriage. Their bodies, found hanging from a tree on November 29, were in a highly decomposed state.

The deceased have been identified as Abhijit Mohan, 25, and Srilakshmi S, 21. Both worked as junior software engineers with an IT major in Electronics City Phase II.

Since October 9, the duo had stopped accepting calls from their family members. After complaints were filed, police launched a search operation, but could only trace the couple’s mobile tower locations in Bengaluru. On November 23, a distraught Srilakshmi called and “thanked” her family for “troubling” them. Six days later, a shepherd found their bodies hanging from a tree.

Hailing from Thrissur in Kerala, the two had joined the IT major over a year ago. They were staying in different paying guest (PG) accommodations in Parappana Agrahara area. According to police, Abhijit and Srilakshmi were in love and wanted to get married. However, their families were against the relationship allegedly due to the caste difference. “The duo tried their best to convince the family members, but in vain. Srilakshmi’s uncle had threatened them with dire consequences,” police said, quoting their friends and colleagues.

In the first week of October, the duo had communicated to their families that they were marrying each other. “It caused a stir. Srilakshmi’s uncle allegedly threatened her that anything could happen if they chose to marry. He even warned of breaking the relationship,” sources said.

Full report on www.toi.in

Abhijit Mohan and Srilakshmi

Hang them or set them on fire: Kin of accused

Mom: Can’t defend my son after this, I’ll be hated by all

Sushil.Rao@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:1.12.2019

Family members of the four men accused of raping and brutally murdering the 27-year-old veterinary doctor on the outskirts of Hyderabad have said that they would not challenge if the court gives capital punishment to their sons.

Shyamala, mother of one of the accused C Chennakeshavulu, said, “Let him be hanged or set on fire like what they have done to the doctor,” she said.

Chennakeshavulu hails from Gudigandla village in Makthal mandal of Telangana’s Narayanpet district. After police took her son away on Thursday morning for questioning, Shyamala said her husband left home in disgust.

Shyamala said she could feel the pain the family of the veterinarian was going through. “I have a daughter and I know what the woman’s family must be suffering. If I defend my son after knowing that he has committed a heinous crime, people will hate me for the rest of my life.”

“Five months ago, we got him married to a girl of his choice. We have never put any pressure on him at home as he has been suffering from a kidney ailment. We were taking him to NIMS hospital in Hyderabad every six months for treatment,” she recalled.

Jollu Shiva and Jollu Naveen, who are among the accused, also hail from Gudigandla. The main accused, Mohammed Areef, belongs to Jaklair, a neighbouring village.

Areef’s mother Moole Bi was distraught when reporters spoke to her. Areef, driver of the lorry which was used to dispose of the body, came home after committing the crime. “He told me that a girl had died in an accident in which his lorry was involved,” she said.

His father Hussain said they had no idea about the crime that Areef was involved in. “Let him be given any punishment he deserves,” he said. Moole Bi said the other three suspects used to often visit their home.

People were agitated in both Gudigandla and Jaklair and said the shocking crime had brought shame to their villages. Locals and students took out rallies in both villages. Girl students, who participated in a rally at Jaklair, shouted slogans demanding stringent action .

₹440 crore GST fraud racket busted in Chennai, 1 held

Search On For Two More Accused

Sivakumar.B@timesgroup.com

Chennai:1.12.2019

The Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence has busted a racket involving ₹440 crore GST fraud in Chennai. The racket involved issue of fake invoices, without the actual supply of goods. The fraudsters claimed input tax credit to the tune of ₹79 crore in the process.

The department has found the involvement of three people in the racket. While one of them has been arrested and remanded, others are absconding. “Preliminary investigation revealed existence of 54 bogus entities merely on papers. The modus operandi was to get PAN card and Aadhaar card from identity lenders and float several fictitious entities and register them under CGST Act using those documents,” said principal additional director general K Anpazhakan.

Searches conducted on several premises revealed that most of them were locked. There were no signs of any major business activity in those places. “In fact, one of the declared premises turned out to be a tea shop. The bogus entities were floated in several layers to create a complex network of transactions among themselves, including transfer of money into bank accounts to make them appear genuine so that the fake invoices reach the manufacturers,” said Anpazhakan.

The accused availed themselves of the fraudulent input tax credit without receipt of goods in question, which was metal scrap. “The contact details furnished for the purposes of registration with the GST department and opening of bank accounts were found to be relating to persons not connected with the above activities in any manner,” the ADG said.

The bank accounts were opened by the bogus entities using forged documents allegedly in connivance with the officials of private banks. “Investigation revealed that the conspiracy was hatched by three people, where one person had the role of creating fictitious entities which in turn issued fake invoices without actual supply of goods and another played the key role in identifying the recipients of fake invoices who actually availed the ineligible ITC,” said Anpazhakan.

Prabakar posted as home secretary

Chennai:1.12.2019

The state government on Saturday transferred principal secretary to highways and minor ports, S K Prabakar and posted him as secretary to the high-profile, home, prohibition and excise department. He replaced Niranjan Mardi, who retired on Saturday.

Prabakar, the 1989-batch officer hails from Tamil Nadu. He had a stint in public works department before moving to highways in September last year, the portfolios held by chief minister Edappadi K Palainswami. He also helmed commercial taxes and registration, information technology departments during Jayalalithaa’s regime. Prabakar was collector of Tiruvallur district during the DMK government and was secretary to former chief minister M Karunanidhi in his last tenure. TNN

New home secretary S K Prabakar with CM Edappadi K Palaniswami

TN ranked best in organ transplant for fifth time
Chennai:01.12.2019

The state health department has received the best performer award in organ donation for the fifth consecutive time. State health minister C Vijayabaskar received the award for the department at the 10th annual National Organ Day held in New Delhi.

One of the recipients of the double arm transplant, Narayanaswamy, lit the lamp during the inauguration of the award ceremony. Since 2008, the state has retrieved more than 1,000 organs from brain dead patients in various government and private hospitals. Though the number of donors had come down, the state has put most organs retrieved to judicial use. Besides topping the country’s list for maximum number of heart and lung transplants, the state has done pancreas, bowel and double hand transplants, health minister C Vijayabaskar said. TNN

Rain lashes Chennai, leaves several roads inundated

TNN | Dec 1, 2019, 04.39 AM IST

CHENNAI: If the intense spells of rain that lashed several places across the city over the last three days flooded streets, then according to the weatherman, more rain is in the offing. Meteorological department officials said the city could witness heavy spells till Monday.

IMD forecast for the city said, “Sky condition is likely to be cloudy. Moderate to heavy rain is likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 30 C and 24 C,” for the next 48 hours.

The Met department warned of, “Scattered heavy with isolated very heavy rain over coastal and adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.” “What we are getting now is an easterly ‘pulse’. It’s a circulation in the easterly. It’s moving from east to west. As it moves, the rainfall intensity will reduce,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre. “Rainfall would be mostly during the nights and early morning,” Puviarasan added.

Light to heavy spells lashed many city localities starting Friday night. After a break during the day, some places like Aminjikarai and Nungambakkam saw intermittent rain. Schools were closed in Chennai, Chengelpet, Pudukottai and Sivaganga on Saturday after rain on Friday night.

As of 8.30am on Saturday, Nungambakkam weather station recorded 20.2mm, while Meenambakkam registered 24.4mm. Between 8.30am and 8.30pm, the two stations recorded only 8.6mm and 11.7mm. After 9pm, heavy rain lashed certain areas, following which neighbourhoods, including Guindy, Vadapalani and T Nagar, witnessed inundation.

However, the Friday night rain left only some locations like Taramani waterlogged. Surprisingly, in flooding-prone areas such as Velachery, there was less inundation. While some residents attributed it to the storm water drain network built after the 2015 deluge, others said the intensity of rain this season has been less. R Ashok, a resident of VGP Selva Nagar Extension in Velachery, said, “We are surprised by the lack of flooding this monsoon in the area. But, we will have to see how the storm water drains hold up when the rain is heavy.”

Both rain and weekend crowd affected traffic movement in core locations like Anna Nagar, Nungambakkam and T Nagar. “It took 90minutes to reach T Nagar from Anna Nagar. Usually, it takes only half that time,” said Nirmala of Thirumangalam.

The rain brought down the deficit to 30% in the city and 2% in Tamil Nadu. After two days, rainfall is likely to start subside. “The decrease in rainfall would be due to the formation of a low pressure area over southeast Arabian Sea. Gradually it will move towards Lakshadweep and the moisture concentration and rain will be confined over this area,” said Skymet Weather.