The country was jolted by a startling revelation of drug smuggling through railways, as officials uncovered 30 kg of methamphetamine in Madurai. Acting on intelligence information, authorities targeted Pilliman Prakash, a passenger on the Pothigai Express train traveling from Chennai to Sengottai, suspecting him of carrying illicit substances. A raid conducted at the Madurai railway station successfully seized 30 kg of methamphetamine from Pilliman Prakash.

#BreakingNews‌ | 30 கிலோ மெத்தபெட்டமைன் பறிமுதல்#madurai | #Chennai | #train | #Methamphetamine | #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/TwZiwbDZhy

— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) March 1, 2024

Concerning the methamphetamine drug seizure in Madurai, the operation was conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). While the mastermind behind the operation is still at large, the courier, Pilliman Prakash, has been apprehended.  Sources indicates that central agency will assume control of the investigation. The DRI, based in Chennai, carried out the operation on the Chennai-Madurai-Ramanathapuram route, specifically on the Pothigai Express with the help of RPF. Pilliman Prakash from Chennai, was caught in possession of 30 kg of methamphetamine valued at ₹50 crores.

The incident, where a significant quantity of drugs was found on a single individual in Madurai, has garnered widespread attention. Authorities are currently conducting an investigation into Pilliman Prakash’s background and the source of the drugs. The ongoing inquiry aims to determine his identity and trace the origin of the illicit substances.

Important : From sources :
Regarding the drug bust (methamphitamine) at Madurai .The operation is done by DRI. Main accused (mastermind) yet to be apprehended . But pilliman Prakash (courier/carrier/middleman)was apprehended. Looks like central agency will take over .

DRI -… pic.twitter.com/ofI8g8yoHY

— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) March 1, 2024

Methamphetamine, a potent and high-grade drug, was the substance seized in this operation. Known for stimulating cranial nerves and inducing a euphoric mood, a powerful drug that affects the central nervous system. This white, odorless drug is reportedly circulating among college students and is known to induce appetite. Due to its solubility in water and alcohol, methamphetamine has been classified as a controlled substance in many countries.

This development comes on the heels of the recent apprehension of a drug smuggling ring in Madurai. Tamim Ansari (59) was found in possession of over 10 kg of methamphetamine and related raw materials during a police raid at his residence. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Anbu from Chennai and Arun from Trichy had been using Ansari’s house as a storage facility for drugs. The preliminary findings suggest that the trio has been involved in smuggling drugs valued at several crores into Tamil Nadu over the past three years, with a single gram of the substance fetching up to ₹ 5,000. The current significant seizure of drugs from a lone individual in Madurai adds a concerning dimension to the persisting issues associated with drug trafficking in the region.

Lately, there has been widespread coverage of news regarding the rampant circulation and seizures of drugs in Tamil Nadu. This has raised significant concerns within society, particularly regarding the heightened vulnerability of the youth to addiction, especially in a community already grappling with alcohol dependency. Having affiliations with political parties in power has attracted increased scrutiny and criticism from opposing political factions such as the BJP and AIADMK.

Against this backdrop, K Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP President, expressed his reaction on the incident through his official microblogging site X. In his statement, he accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of turning Tamil Nadu into a haven for drug traffickers.

Annamalai stated, “TN has truly become the drug capital of India, and Thiru @mkstalin should hang his head in shame for transforming this State into a haven for drug traffickers. International Druglord & a DMK functionary Jaffar Sadiq is on the run; NCB is raiding DMK functionaries’ establishments, ₹1200 Crore worth on route to TN caught off the coast of Gujarat, and today 30 Kgs of methamphetamine was caught in transit in Madurai by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. While the widespread network of Jaffar Sadiq’s is being exposed, Thiru @mkstalin remains tight-lipped, leaving one to wonder if he would wake up & act or employ his cronies to divert people’s attention to insignificant issues.”

TN has truly become the drug capital of India, and Thiru @mkstalin should hang his head in shame for transforming this State into a haven for drug traffickers.

International Druglord & a DMK functionary Jaffar Sadiq is on the run; NCB is raiding DMK functionaries’…

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 1, 2024

On 29 February 2024, BJP chief Annamalai urged the citizens of Tamil Nadu to unite with him in a collective effort. He made a plea to the people, emphasizing the importance of working together to create a drug-free society. Annamalai expressed frustration, noting that the repeated appeals to the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu have been ignored, suggesting that their loyalty lies with drug peddlers rather than the welfare of the common people.

In a concise 11-minute video, he addressed the alarming reports circulating in Tamil Nadu over the past 10 days. The video highlighted the increasing availability of drugs, specifically ganja and synthetic substances, in the state since the DMK assumed power. Concerns raised during the “En Mann En Makkal” yatra indicated widespread apprehension among women and parents, expressing a desire for a stringent crackdown on the drug issue, even in remote areas of Tamil Nadu.

The historical increase in drug usage over the past 33 months was underscored by recent news, affirming the assertion that the drug network extends beyond the realms of politics and cinema, reaching an international scale. The video implicated Jaffer Saaddiq, a DMK NRI wing functionary, as the head of a significant drug cartel, establishing connections with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Accusations were leveled against the DMK family, particularly their involvement in the release function of the accused, who also happens to own JSM Productions. In response to the unfolding news, the DMK reportedly panicked and swiftly removed a tweet with an associated image from their social media platform. Exploiting their party positions, Sadiq and his team purportedly orchestrated the dispatch of 45 consignments, amounting to 3500 kg valued at 2000 crores, of drugs to foreign countries.

In the video, Annamalai detailed the significant drug seizure off the Gujarat coast. Investigations disclosed that the traffickers were anticipating a boat from Tamil Nadu to receive the consignment. However, the arrest occurred before this transaction could take place. Annamalai raised concerns about the government’s perceived association with drug cartels, citing Jaffer Sadiq, who had reportedly received an award from the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP), questioning the efficacy of police actions in such circumstances.

Annamalai also highlighted the brutal actions of a DMK functionary, who viciously assaulted a private news reporter who had gone to cover the raids on the Nungambakkam courier company, Sahara Express, alleged to be linked with the drug supply cartel and owned by Chitrarasu of the DMK. Therefore, he deduced that the DMK government lacks the capability to regulate the drug situation in Tamil Nadu.

The film industry has evolved into a channel for transforming illicit funds into legal assets. Money sourced from the drug trade is funneled into the film sector, effectively converting it into legitimate income. Establishing close ties with the DMK’s primary family ensures the smooth release of movies without encountering obstacles. Additionally, maintaining friendships with prominent movie directors allows for press conferences to be conducted effortlessly. Building strong connections with the police results in receiving awards from the Director General of Police (DGP), and subsequently, taking photographs with the Chief Minister. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to address and resolve this issue.

Here’s an appeal from @BJP4TamilNadu to the people of TN to join hands to make our society Drug-free as our repeated requests to the DMK Government in TN have been neglected as their allegiance is with the drug peddlers & not the common people. pic.twitter.com/wAOETBG6xd

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 29, 2024

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The provisional rank list for MBBS/BDS 2021-2022 session (government quota) was released by the Tamil Nadu government recently.

Four students studying in Avvai Corporation Girls Higher Secondary School in Madurai have cracked the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and have medical seat. One of them have secured to study dental.

The four students have benefited from the 7.5 internal quota for government school students that was brought during the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led AIADMK government.

Priyanka who had scored 414 marks in NEET has emerged as the topper in Madurai district ranking 25th in the statewide rankings. Deepasree who had got 301 marks ranked 179. Vinodini got 231st place with 283 marks and Sangeetha got 318th place with 258 marks. Kausalya got 461st place with 226 marks.

It is important to note that all of them have cracked NEET in their first attempt.

They attended the medical counselling that happened in Chennai yesterday. Priyanka has got admission in Madurai Government Medical College. Deepasree has also got a place to study at Pudukottai Government Medical College. Vinodini has got Virudhunagar Medical College and Sangeetha has gotMadurai Velammal Medical College. Student Kavusalya had got a place in Madurai CSI Dental College.

Atleast 20 students from Madurai alone are expected to land a medical seat.

(With inputs from The Hindu Tamil)

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A recent report has stated that 490 acres of land, belonging to the Vennaimalai Murugan temple is Karur has been encroached. The Vennaimalai temple is situated on the way from Karur to Salem at a distance of 5 Kms.

The temple has shrines of Idumban, Vinayagar and Malaikaavalar. Avvaiyaar  has sung the literary history and greatness of this temple in Moovaramaanai. The property of this famous temple has been in the hands of encroachers for quite a few years now.

Social activists have revealed that 490 acres of land belonging to the temple have been encroached. Quite a few complaints have been issued with the HR&CE department with regard to this issue. The HR&CE have issued notices to 37 people related to the encroachment of the temple land.

1n 2018, Radhakrishnan, the founder of the Board of Trustees, filed a case in the Madurai High Court alleging that 497 acres of land owned by the Vennaimalai Murugan temple had been occupied for a number of agricultural practices and by buildings. The court subsequently ordered the district administration to survey the occupied lands and file a report.

As a result of the step take, 73 acres of land worth ₹1000 crores, identified as encroached, were reclaimed. Now, the HR&CE has sent notices to the encroachers to reclaim the remaining 490 acres of encroached land. The encroachers have been asked to vacate the land by January 12th. Police action will be taken against those who violate this notice.

(With inputs from Kathir News)

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Popular Youtuber Maridhas was arrested on Wednesday from his residence in Madurai allegedly because of a tweet that he had published from his official Twitter account. BJP cadres were seen gathered in large outside his residence, while many even argued with the Police officials against his arrest.

The reason given for his arrest is that the Youtuber put out tweets and a Youtube video that are controversial in nature. According to speculations, the youtuber was arrested because of a tweet and a video he had put out in relation to the Manikandan police brutality case, yesterday.

Writing about the incident in Tamil, Maridhas had said, “The death of Manikandan from Mudukulathur tells us three things. Like some say, not just some communities, but all communities are affected by some police officials who are barbaric in nature and want to be authoritative. So, nobody stands for the one without money.” He also wrote about the media and their bias. Check the tweets here:

முதுகுளத்தூர் மணிகண்டன் இறந்த சம்பவம் நமக்குச் சொல்லும் செய்தி மூன்று

சிலர் சொல்வது போல் சில சமூகம் மட்டும் அல்ல அனைத்து சமூகத்தினரும் இந்த விதமான காட்டுமிராண்டித் தனமான சில காவலரின் அதிகார புத்தியால் பாதிக்கப்படுகிறோம். ஆக
காசு இல்லாதவன் இங்கே கேட்க நாதி இல்லாதவன்.

இரண்டாவது

— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) December 7, 2021

இங்கே மீடியா தலித், சிறுபான்மையினர் பாதிப்பு என்றால் விவாதம் செய்யும். அதுவும் குற்றம் செய்தவன் திமுக இல்லை என்றால் மட்டும். தற்போது திமுக ஆட்சி, இறந்த மணிகண்டன் மேல் உள்ள இரண்டு பிரிவுகளில் வர மாட்டார். எனவே அவர் உயிருக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் இல்லை விவாதமும் இல்லை இதுவே திமுக மீடியா.

— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) December 7, 2021

கவனிக்க வேண்டிய முக்கிய விசயம் பட்டியலின மக்கள் குரலாக மீடியா பேசுவதாக யாரும் எண்ணிவிடக் கூடாது மீடியா பேச ஒரே காரணம் இந்து மதம் ஜாதி வெறி கொண்டது என ஒரு பிம்பத்தை சில அமைப்புகளுக்காகக் கட்டமைத்து பட்டியலின மக்களைத் தூண்டி விடுவது, ஜாதி மோதலை அணையாமல் பார்த்துக் கொள்வது மட்டுமே.

— Maridhas (@MaridhasAnswers) December 7, 2021

Maridhas is known for boldly speaking against injustice and corruption by the ruling government in Tamil Nadu. #ISupportMaridhas has started trending on twitter already, even as many have shared about the Youtuber’s arrest. Many have also asked if people don’t have the right to freedom of expression. Further information regarding the arrest, is awaited. Check out the video of his arrest here:

யூடியூபர் மாரிதாஸ் கைது#Maridhas #Arrest pic.twitter.com/efnw087cFr

— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) December 9, 2021

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On April 12, the general public and devotees protested at the Madurai Tamukkam ground, demanding permission for the Chithirai festival. Protesters were detained by the police. A video of a woman involved in the protest has gone viral on social media.

The woman said in the video, “Why does the government always go after temples first, bypassing the mall and the cinema theatre? What will happen to the temple-dependent families if the temples are closed? Who is going to feed them? How will they survive with 2500 rupees a year given by the government? The once-in-a-year Chithirai festival should be held this time. The festival supports 400 families. Their livelihood will be affected if the festival is canceled.”

கோவிலில் கை வைக்காதே…. pic.twitter.com/L4EyDspvQz

— Srinivasa Iyer ஶ்ரீநிவாஸ ஐயர் (@srinivasan19041) April 12, 2021

Chithirai Festival is an annual celebration celebrated in the city of Madurai during the Tamil month of Chithirai. It lasts for one month of which the first 15 days mark the celebrations of the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and the Marriage of Lord Sundareswara and Goddess Meenakshi, and the next 15 days mark the celebrations of the Journey of Lord Alagar from Kallazhagar temple in Alagar Koyil to Madurai.

Due to the pressure from devotees and the general public, the government agreed to allow Meenakshi Sundaresar’s wedding to take place in the presence of devotees. The government, on the other hand, refused to give permission for Kallalagar to be immersed in the Vaigai river.

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Images of posters that reads ‘Chithirai festival will definitely happen this year’ by Hindu Munnani have been found pasted in many places across Madurai.

The district administration has banned conducting Chithirai festival including main events-Charriot ride and immersing Kallazhagar in Vaigai river, for the second year in a row.

Condemning this decision of District Administration and Tamil Nadu government, members of Hindu Munnani put up posters across Madurai. They also said they will conduct the festival this year defying all restrictions imposed.

Chithirai Festival is an annual celebration celebrated in the city of Madurai during the Tamil month of Chithirai. It lasts for one month of which the first 15 days mark the celebrations of the coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and the Marriage of Lord Sundareswara and Goddess Meenakshi, and the next 15 days mark the celebrations of the Journey of Lord Alagar from Kallazhagar temple in Alagar Koyil to Madurai.

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As the campaigning for the 2021 Tamil Nadu state assembly elections picks up pace, eateries selling biryani in the city of Madurai remain disappointed.

Typically, the city’s restaurants and roadside eateries see a spurt in orders for biryani during the election season. However, this time around, the orders are simply not there.

Raja Mohamad, a biryani shop owner in the city, said that during polls, they usually get orders for 200 to 300 plates for biryani. He is yet to receive any orders this year, he said.

“Political parties generally buy biryani as lunch for their workers who campaign for the elections in the area. They place orders for 200 to 300 plates of biryani daily from the opening days of the campaign to the counting day”, he said.

“But no biryani orders have been received for this election so far”, he added.

“We are disappointed as many local stores rely on the elections for a boost in business”, he said.

The elections for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly are scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting of the votes will be done on May 2.

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The first contingent of the Border Security Force (BSF), comprising 1130 personnel divided into nine companies, arrived in Madurai on Sunday.

The nine companies have been deployed in Madurai and adjacent areas, as the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in the coming weeks. They were sent to Tenkasi, Tuticorin and Nagercoil districts.

The BSF personnel were tested for COVID-19 after their arrival.

The elections for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly are scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting of the votes will be done on May 2.

The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is contesting the polls in a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They will face off against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by MK Stalin, who has allied with the Congress However, the Congress and the Dravidian party have recently been at hostilities with one another.

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan’s recently launched political party, the Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM), is also contesting the polls. The pro-Hindu Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK) is also in the fray.

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Rabid stray dogs have become a menace in the Muthupatti area of Madurai with many of them charging at those passing by.

People in the Pudukulam area near Muthupatti in Madurai are having a hard time with many rabid stray dogs roaming around.

These dogs charge at those passing by the area and bite them leading to serious injuries. Recently, a boy named Sanjeev Kumar was chased and bitten by one stray dog. He was later admitted to the Government Hospital in Madurai.

In just one day, these dogs have bitten close to 6 people in the same area.

Despite the people in the Pudukulam area petitioning the civic authorities to take action, the stray dog menace remains unresolved.

(With inputs from Dhinasari)

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An alms seeker from Madurai has won hearts by donating ₹90,000 towards the COVID-19 relief fund. Poolpandiyan, a 68-year-old alms seeker donated his life savings to the Chief Minister’s relief fund for the coronavirus pandemic. He contributed this in nine instalments and has been contributing since May. He is a native of Thoothukudi and had taken to seeking alms after his sons had ousted him out of their houses.

The District Collector wanted to honour him during the Independence Day, but he could not be traced. He was later identified and honoured with the title of a social worker by Collector T G Vijayan. “I am happy that the District Collector has given me the title of a social worker,” the alms seeker told the news agency ANI. “I would have given this money to the education fund but now donated it to relief fund as #COVID issue is big,” he added. As many as 5,890 fresh COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the state on August 17 with 120 deaths, pushing the tally to 3, 43, 945.

Similarly, in June, a 12-year-old girl from Noida’s Uttar Pradesh broke her piggy bank to pay ₹48,000 for the air tickets of three workers from Jharkhand. Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren appreciated the girl’s kindness and her sensitivity to the needs of others.

#TamilNadu: Mr Poolpandi, an alms-seeker in Madurai has donated Rs 90,000 to the government welfare fund in nine installments since the #lockdown began. The District Collector wanted to honour him during the Independence Day, but he could not be traced.#AIRVideo: Raghuraja pic.twitter.com/JVKQsEjZ7w

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 18, 2020

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