CHENNAI: Justice S A Khader, retired judge of the Madras High Court, has been appointed as the one-man commission to probe the clashes between the police and the transport workers in Tirunelveli on June 19, resulting in a wild cat strike throughout the State on Friday. The State government made this announcement in a Press release here on Saturday.

Karnataka's bid against `land sharks'

BANGALORE: Karnataka Revenue Minister Ramesh Jigajinagi, on Friday said the government would frame charges against wives of two IAS officials for allegedly acquiring land in violation of Land Reform Act and the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) was processing the concerned file. He told reporters here that the coming Cabinet meeting was expected to take a final view on the action to be initiated against those involved.

DMK leaders attacked by mob

COIMBATORE: Raju, ruling Dravid Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) party member in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, and Shanmugham, the chairman of Pollachi Municipality, sustained severe injuries when an irate mob attacked them at Pollachi on Saturday morning. Police sources said the mob, mostly lorry workers, started attacking the party leaders even as the funeral procession of a lorry driver, who died at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, allegedly after police harassment, was taking place.

Reports on rise in AIDS cases denied

CALCUTTA: The All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH) here has denied Press reports that there has been an alarming rise in AIDS cases in West Bengal. AIIHPH director Prof K J Nath, claimed that the AIDS, sexually transmitted disease (STD) intervention programme in Sonagachi, the largest red light area in the city, has emerged as an effective model strategy to curb the spread of the dreaded disease.

Underground dam inaugurated

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first underground dam built by the Central Groundwater Board at Mampazhakkara in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala was inaugurated by Irrigation Minister Baby John on Friday. Speaking after its inauguration, John said the Centre has identified Palakkad and Kollam for constructing underground dams with new technology in order to improve irrigation and water supply facilities. He said the project was eco-friendly and could withstand climatic changes. A check dam was under the ground for storing water which would be lifted through a tubewell like mechanism.

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