M A I N   N E W S

Karunanidhi in cramped cell

Chennai, July 1
DMK President M. Karunanidhi has been lodged in a cramped cell with no facilities at all, NDA convener and former Defence Minister George Fernandes said today. Talking to newspersons outside Central Prison here, where Mr Karunanidhi is lodged, Mr Fernandes, who is heading a three-member NDA team, said being in jail is not fun. UNI

Shoot-at-sight orders in Chennai

Chennai, July 1
The city police has issued shoot-at-sight orders against those indulging in violence during the bandh called by the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu tomorrow in protest against the arrest of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, his son and Chennai Mayor M. K. Stalin and two Union Ministers.

Reports received at the police headquarters here said that about 25,000 persons, including 973 in the city, were taken into preventive custody all over the state during the past two days following the arrest of Mr Karunanidhi. This would hold good for the bandh also, officials added.

Meanwhile, city Police Commissioner K. Muthukaruppan told newspersons that 12,000 policemen would be deployed on bandobust duty and 100 vehicles would be patrolling in the city.

Essential services have been exempted from the bandh.

Mr Muthukaruppan said security would be tightened around all government offices and banks. Buses would ply as usual. They would be operated with police escort in sensitive areas, he added. UNI

Karunanidhi’s mother-in-law dies of shock

Chennai, July 1
Mrs Sivapakiyam, mother-in-law of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, died at the latter’s Oliver Road residence here this morning.

She was 80. She is survived by daughter, Rajathiammal.

According to family sources, Mrs Sivapakiyam was in a state of shock and was repeatedly asking when Mr Karunanidhi would return and why he was arrested. They said she had not eaten anything ever since Mr Karunanidhi was arrested in the wee hours of yesterday.

She was in good health and the end came suddenly. Mr Karunanidhi had sought permission to pay his last respects to his mother-in-law, but the authorities turned down his request.

Senior DMK leaders, including party General Secretary K. Anbazhagan, visited the Oliver Road residence of Mr Karunanidhi and paid their homage.

Mrs Sivapakiyam was cremated this afternoon. UNI