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Tamil Nadu: Over 50 arrested in the Rs 16,000-crore granite scam

[email protected] (IBN Live)
September 17, 2012
granite_scam16crore

Madurai, September 17: The Rs 16,000 crore granite mining scam in Tamil Nadu is creating ripples among the high profile. Over 50 people have been arrested and the search is on for union minister MK Alagiri's son Durai Dayanidhi.

Durai Dayanidhi is on the wanted list of the Tamil Nadu police for his alleged role in the illegal granite mining scam. A leaked report by the former Madurai collector blew the lid off the Rs 16000 crore scam. A month later more than 50 people have been arrested and look out notices have been issued against many including Durai Dayanidhi. He was a former director in one of the companies accused of illegal mining.

At Olympus granites, the possible collusion between the government officials and the private operators seems too evident to be ignored. More than half of the entire land belonging to Tamin has been illegally mined by Olympus for years together.

Madurai district SP V Balakrishnan said, "We have taken action against seven companies and against all of them we have conducted an investigation and found illegalities committed in the mines."

On the ground in Madurai, it's clear how the granite mafia could have operated, thanks to the nexus between the government officials and the mining operators.

Private operators would set up quarries very near the government mines. They would then illegally quarry in government land and bring the granite blocks to their own stockyard. The government officials were paid their share every month to not report the theft.

Each granite block of 10 cubic metre is worth Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000. Initial investigations reveal granite worth more than Rs 30,000 crore could have been illegally mined over the past few years.

Madurai Collector Anshul Mishra said, "I have no reason to believe it can happen on its own. Definitely some involvement of government officials was there and as you see that government officials have been arrested because there are incriminating evidences against them"

Sources say politicians from all major parties receive a large share of the loot and that's perhaps why the illegalities have been allowed to continue.


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Agencies
August 5,2020

Ayodhya, Aug 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday recalled the significance of the path of 'maryada' associated with Lord Ram in the backdrop of the situation created by COVID-19 and emphasised the importance of social distancing and wearing face masks.

He said that the current situation demands 'maryada' should be 'do gaz ki doori, mask hai zaroori' and exhorted everyone to follow it.

In his speech after laying the foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Prime Minister said the temple of Lord Ram will inspire and guide humans for ages to come.

He said that the path of `maryada' followed by Lord Ram is all the more necessary today in the situation created by COVID-19.

"The `maryada' (need) today is do gaj ki doori, mask hai jaroori (keep distance of two yards, wear mask). The Almighty may keep all the citizens healthy and happy, this is my prayer. The blessings of Mother Sita and Shri Ram be always there on the citizens," he said.

The Prime Minister termed the occasion as historic and said that India is starting a glorious chapter when people across the country are excited and emotional to have finally achieved what they had been waiting for centuries.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

Ghaziabad, Jul 28: Days ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, Nand Kishore Gurjar, a BJP MLA from Loni assembly constituency in Ghaziabad, has stoked controversy as he asked people celebrating the festival to "sacrifice their children instead of animals" on the occasion. He also claimed that "meat spreads coronavirus" so people should not be allowed to sacrifice innocent animals.

"People who want to sacrifice on Eid should sacrifice their children. I will not let people consume meat and alcohol in Loni. We will not let people sacrifice innocent animals because meat spreads coronavirus," the BJP legislator said while speaking to reporters.

"The way people have followed the guidelines of the government by not offering prayers and namaz at temples and mosques to contain COVID-19, in the same way, they must not give the sacrifice of animals on this Eid," he added.

"Earlier, sacrifices of animals used to be done in Sanatan Dharam as well. However, now coconut is offered instead. I request the Muslim brothers not to give 'qurbani' of animals. We will stop those who will perform the ritual animal sacrifice. We will not let this happen in Loni," he said.

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News Network
March 26,2020

Srinagar, Mar 25: A 65-year-old man hailing from Hyderpora area of the city died on Thursday, becoming the first fatality in Jammu and Kashmir due to coronavirus.
"As we share the sad news of our first #Covid19 fatality, my heart goes out to the family of the deceased. We stand with you and share your grief," Mayor of Srinagar Junaid Azim Mattu tweeted.
Government spokesperson Rohit Kansal also confirmed the death via Twitter.
"First death due to Coronavirus- 65 years old Male from Hyderpora Srinagar. Four of his contacts also tested positive yesterday," Kansal said.
Four people had tested positive for coronavirus in J-K on Wednesday, taking the total number of cases to 11.
Authorities in Kashmir have expressed apprehensions that the cases could be more than reported in the Valley as a significant number of people appeared to have concealed their travel history.
As per a government bulletin on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir, as many as 5,124 travellers and people who came in contact with suspected and positive cases have been put under surveillance.

Among them 3,061 are in home quarantine (including facilities operated by the government), 80 in hospital quarantine and 1,477 in home surveillance.
Restrictions on movement imposed in Kashmir to prevent the spread of coronavirus were tightened on Wednesday.

 

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