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Pics of underwater protests from a small Indian island, which is fighting its local administration

Chennai, May 1 () The stringent Goondas Act has beeninvoked against 14 people, including a woman, arrested hererecently for allegedly attacking health workers whileprotesting the burial of a doctor who died of COVID-19, thecity police said on Friday.They were detained under the act as part of crimeprevention activities, police said in a release."The 14 people have repeatedly involved in crimeactivities," and therefore detained under the Goondas Actfollowing Commissioner of Police A K Viswanathan's order, itadded.They were earlier booked for assaulting the ambulancedriver and damaging the vehicle when the neurosurgeon's bodywas taken for burial in a city area last month.Police had arrested nearly 20 people in connection withthe incident, that drew widespread condemnation and promptedthe government to promulgate an ordinance makingsuch acts a punishable offence. The mob, protesting the interment in their locality,attacked the undertakers using bricks, stones, bottles andsticks and chased them away. An orthopaedic surgeon had to bury the body in the middleof the night using his bare hands and a shovel at anothercrematorium with the help of just two hospital ward boysfollowing the violent protest. Police have earlier warned of stringent action againstthose blocking the burial or cremation of victims of COVID-19. The Tamil Nadu government promulgated the ordinance,making it a punishable offence, preventing or attempting toblock the burial or cremation of those who died of the deadlycontagion. Such an offence would carry a jail term ranging fromone to three years, besides a fine, it had said. In an earlier instance, the remains of a doctor whosuccumbed to coronavirus had to be buried elsewhere followingprotests by locals. In both cases, the locals feared the spread of thepandemic in the locality if the bodies were buried in therespective areas. SAVS VS

Goondas Act slapped against 14 arrested for violent protest against burial of COVID-19 doctor victim

Welcome to another action-crime thriller with big dollops of <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> masala that has earned a decent response at the <keyword id="25892" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="box-office">box office</keyword>. But if you are expecting a movie featuring <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> in the troubled 70s or a big-time gangster flick that reveals a human core, it will be better to skip <keyword id="6427325" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gunday">Gunday</keyword>. Directed by <keyword id="6368814" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ali-Abbas-Zafar">Ali Abbas Zafar</keyword>, this gun-goon-and-gal flick has loads of twists and turns, follows a long-winded <keyword id="1097560" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="storyline">storyline</keyword> and stars big names including <keyword id="106133" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ranveer-Singh">Ranveer Singh</keyword>, <keyword id="114453" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arjun-Kapoor">Arjun Kapoor</keyword>, <keyword id="1655" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Priyanka-Chopra">Priyanka Chopra</keyword> and <keyword id="16207" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Irrfan-Khan">Irrfan Khan</keyword>. But that’s where its claim to fame should end unless you are ready to ogle some brawn and oomph, a pseudo-historical account of the times and a glimpse of the City of Joy as the background. 
 
Gunday was released on the Valentine’s Day (February 14) and tries hard to explore the <keyword id="1541122" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="bromance">bromance</keyword> between the male leads – the <keyword id="1739443" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="outlaw">outlaw</keyword> duo of <keyword id="19013" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="bikram">Bikram</keyword> (Ranveer) and <keyword id="17684" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bala">Bala</keyword> (Arjun). While that is commendable to some extent, the contrived love triangle involving Priyanka (<keyword id="70837" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nandita">Nandita</keyword>) looks scarcely convincing and her main utility seems to be getting the eyeballs. 
 
Yet, the movie has done fairly well at the box office, netting around Rs 43.93 crore at home after the first weekend. Gunday has, however, failed to race past another action thriller, Salman-starrer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Jai-Ho-Salman-FightsThrough-Clichs-Fails-To-Create-A-Dhoom/articleshow/29505187.cms">Jai Ho</a>, which earned around Rs 60 crore in the debut weekend. Overseas collections of Gunday stood at $2.16 million gross. But there was a drop in collection on the crucial Day 4 (February 17) and the movie netted around Rs 6.5 crore as per industry estimates. Still, we are seeing some steady traction and Gunday may soon enter the coveted Rs <keyword id="6567206" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="100-crore-club">100 crore club</keyword>. The flick, made on an approximate budget of Rs 50 crore including promotions, has reportedly hit over 2,000 screens across India. 
 
Coming back to the story, let’s have a close look at what makes Gunday kind of unpalatable. Interestingly, <keyword id="2217" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="80" keywordseo="Big-B">Big B</keyword>, who had watched the film at its Mumbai premiere, told the media that it’s “an adrenaline-packed movie.” That’s true and Gunday tries to capture the saga of angry young men who get on the wrong side of the law on their way to a glamorised life of crime. Does it remind you of Deewaar? The broad <keyword id="50138" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Theme">theme</keyword> of Gunday is not unlike that old classic but then, everything else has gone awry – be it storyline, acting, periodicity or dialogues. 
 For one, the entire journey of Bikram and Bala looks patchy. The movie fails to give us a realistic version of the metamorphosis they have undergone – from orphan kids (migrants from <keyword id="6354759" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword>) to big-time coal mafias who are always on the run from the law. But in doing so, Ranveer-Arjun display loads of bromance; get involved in <keyword id="2065117" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shirtless-fights">shirtless fights</keyword> à la <keyword id="6354583" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Salman-Khan">Salman Khan</keyword>, and show off their biceps &amp; waxed 6-packs (imagine that in the 70s) quite unabashed. Are they the new <keyword id="2065120" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Male-eye-candy">male eye candy</keyword>, we wonder? But more than that, they are the brainless brawn type who can be easily trapped by the cops. 
 The duo duly falls in love with the <keyword id="2065114" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="gorgeous-cabaret-dancer">gorgeous cabaret dancer</keyword> Nandita (Priyanka Chopra) who obviously can’t be what she seems. So she turns out to be an <keyword id="2065123" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Undercover-police">undercover police</keyword> officer, in league with <keyword id="2065121" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ACP-Satyajeet-Sarkar">ACP Satyajeet Sarkar</keyword> (Irrfan Khan). A look at Nandita’s get-up makes us wonder whether Kolkata had ever seen such flamboyant fashion trends during that period. Still, Priyanka is playing the role of a seductress and <keyword id="77110" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Undercover-agent">undercover agent</keyword>. So she must look lethal, even when she is clad in the traditional saree. In contrast, Irrfan does a commendable job and does the voiceover, too. 
 What you may love about this movie is the easy-flowing chemistry between Ranveer and Arjun, some good punch lines and Irrfan’s great acting. But the flick falls flat by the end as clichés abound and not even the suspense ending can save it. Protagonists/anti-heroes of this sort can attain a different height if the storyline and the characters are handled with subtlety and sensitiveness. But <keyword id="303" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Director">director</keyword> Ali Abbas Zafar gives as something as crass and over-the-top as his earlier movie, <keyword id="440305" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mere-brother-ki-Dulhan">Mere Brother Ki Dulhan</keyword>. And the outcome? As Mohar Basu of Koimoi says, it’s a “sexy show gone dull.” All because talented actors are made to struggle to find their rhythm in a cliché-laden <keyword id="6371619" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="plot">plot</keyword>. 
 
Image: Indiatimes

Box Office: Gunday Leaves
You Clueless But Cash Register is Ringing

Twenty nine people have died after consuming illicit 'packet arrack' in <keyword id="20233532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kallakurichi" source="keywords">Kallakurichi</keyword>, district collector M S Prasanth said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters here, the top district official said that 109 people are being treated in a number of hospitals and the status of those in a critical stage 'keeps changing' and it would be updated later. State Minister (Highways) EV Velu said two women and one transgender were among the victims. Prasanth further said sufficient medical professionals, including specialists from nearby government medical colleges have been deployed in the district to handle the situation, even as more number of ambulances with life-support have been stationed. Briefing reporters here, senior Minister EV Velu said it should not be assumed as if 'illicit arrack sale' has happened only under the DMK rule and such incidents have been occuring during all the regimes. "Every government (be it DMK or AIADMK governments) has taken tough action, this government has been taking stern action continuously." Furthermore, he told reporters: "As far as the government is concerned there is no necessity for it to encourage <keyword id="20359588" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="illicit-liquor" source="keywords">illicit liquor</keyword> peddlers and we are taking tough action." "The government will not spare anyone," he said, adding two women and one transgender were among the victims. "I don't like to justify the mistake, this incident must not have happened and since this has happened the chief minister has directed tough action." Be it brewers of illicit arrack or those who sell it, the government has been taking stern action including under Goondas Act. Velu and Health Minister Ma Subramanian are camping in Kallakurichi to render help to the affected people. Actor-politician Vijay, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief blamed the negligence of the government for the incident and demanded that the state take 'tough' precautionary measures to prevent recurrence. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/webstories/nvidia-dethrones-microsoft-to-become-the-worlds-most-valuable-company/slidelist/111102218.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/webstories/nvidia-dethrones-microsoft-to-become-the-worlds-most-valuable-company/slidelist/111102218.cms" target="_blank">As Nvidia dethrones Microsoft, check out the world's top 10 most valuable companies</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hyundai-motor-india-files-draft-papers-with-sebi-for-indias-biggest-ipo/articleshow/111014559.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hyundai-motor-india-files-draft-papers-with-sebi-for-indias-biggest-ipo/articleshow/111014559.cms" target="_blank">Hyundai Motor India files draft papers with SEBI for India’s biggest IPO</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/tata-group-reportedly-looking-to-acquire-a-majority-stake-in-vivo-india/articleshow/110987274.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/tata-group-reportedly-looking-to-acquire-a-majority-stake-in-vivo-india/articleshow/110987274.cms" target="_blank">Tata Group reportedly looking to acquire a majority stake in Vivo India</a>

Death toll goes up to 29 in Tamil Nadu's hooch tragedy

The <keyword id="538688" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tamil-nadu-civil-supplies-corporation" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation</keyword> is in the process of increasing the staff strength of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in the corporation. The move follows widespread allegations of the involvement of staff in smuggling of <keyword id="13726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rice" source="Orion">rice</keyword> and other Public Distribution System (PDS) material into other states. The department has already suspended some staff who were involved in assisting rice smugglers. Interestingly, most of the CCTV cameras of the Civil supplies department have not been working for the past several months. The department is now calling a tender for the repair of 2869 CCTV cameras in the <keyword id="20154" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tamil-nadu" source="Orion">Tamil Nadu</keyword> <keyword id="187471" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="civil-supplies-corporation" source="Orion">Civil Supplies Corporation</keyword> godowns. The Tamil Nadu police have also decided to install CCTV cameras at border check posts to prevent <keyword id="642473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rice-smuggling" source="Orion">rice smuggling</keyword> which has become rampant in the state. Sources in the state police told IANS that CCTV cameras will be installed in Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Tenkasi and Pollachi in Tamil Nadu which have check posts sharing borders with other neighbouring states. According to a statement by the Civil Supplies Corporation of Tamil Nadu, between May 2021 and October 25, 2022, as many as 12,721 people were arrested for rice smuggling. A total of 2607 vehicles were seized and 128 people arrested under the Goonda Act for smuggling rice. Around 90,122 quintals of rice were seized at check posts while trying to smuggle to neigbhouring states. A senior officer with the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation told IANS said, "The corporation is keen that the smuggling of rice from the corporation is plugged and we are repairing all the CCTV cameras installed in godowns and we will be employing more people to increase the strength of the Crime branch within the department to prevent rice smuggling." SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sensex-opens-above-61000-while-nifty50-climbs-over-18100-mark/articleshow/95220907.cms">Sensex opens above 61,000 while Nifty50 climbs over 18,100 mark</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/as-elon-musk-finalized-his-twitter-deal-company-founder-jack-dorsey-launched-a-beta-for-his-new-social-media-company/articleshow/95188700.cms">As Elon Musk finalized his Twitter deal, Jack Dorsey launched a beta for his new social-media company</a>

Tamil Nadu intensifies vigil to stop rice smuggling to other states

Expressing solidarity with the people of Lakshadweep, the <keyword id="28504" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword> Legislative Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a <keyword id="6359987" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Resolution">resolution</keyword> demanding the recall of island administrator Praful Khoda Patel and requesting the immediate intervention of the Centre to protect the lives and livelihood of the islanders. With this, Kerala has become the first state in the country to come up with a resolution to support the people of the union territory over the recent developments. An archipelago located in the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep is witnessing protests by local people for some days over the recent actions and administrative reforms being implemented by Patel. Chief Minister Pinarayi <keyword id="6388414" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="vijayan">Vijayan</keyword> moved the government resolution, the first such motion in the 15th <keyword id="144407" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-Assembly">state Assembly</keyword>, reminiscing the historic and cultural bond between Kerala and Lakshadweep and criticising the Centre for allegedly trying to destroy the natural democracy there. Stating that the future of Lakshadweep is a matter of concern, he said any attempt to undermine its unique culture and indigenous lifestyle is unacceptable. Anyone who upholds Constitutional values should register a strong disagreement against the actions of the administrator of Lakshadweep, the Chief Minister urged. Setting aside their political differences, members of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front and the Congress- headed United Democratic Front unanimously backed the resolution, except some amendments suggested by the latter. The hard-hitting resolution allegedthat attempts were being made to impose "saffronagendas" and "corporate interests" by destroying the unique way of life of Lakshadweep people. The implementation of the agenda, rolled out in the name of reforms, began with the painting of coconut trees with saffron colour and it has now grown to the level of destroying the traditional habitat, life and natural relationships of the island dwellers, it alleged. Steps have been taken to bring in the Goonda Act in the island where the crime rate is exceptionally low, it said. Pointing out that the authorities also aimed at destroying their traditional livelihood of fishing, the resolution said tents, where the fishermen's boats and nets are kept, have been rampantly destroyed. Through the attempt to exclude beef, which is part of the natural diet of the people of the territory, the Sangh Parivar agenda of banning cow slaughter was being implemented through the backdoor, it alleged. Thus, the administrator has taken the lead in annihilating the indigenous life and culture of the people of a territory inch by inch, the brief resolution further charged. Criticising the Centre's act of giving the administrator special powers to intervene into the affairs of various government departments, Vijayan said it amounted to undermining the island's natural democracy by deploying officials of their choice. "The recent developments in Lakshadweep should be seen as a laboratory of the Sangh Parivar agenda. They are attempting to change the culture, language, lifestyle and food habits of people of the country in tune with their ideology," the Chief Minister alleged. Strong resistance should be raised against this bid to enslave people of a territory to "corporate interests and Hindutva politics", he said. Stating that the central government has the responsibility to ensure that the unique features of the union territory and the native people are well-preserved, the Left veteran said the administrator, who posed a challenge to this, should be stripped of his responsibilities. Opposition <keyword id="1575" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> leader V D Satheesan backed the resolution and said the agenda, being implemented by Patel under the garb of reforms, should be thrown in the Arabian Sea. The Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) urged the government to directly criticise the BJP-NDA government at the Centre in the resolution. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/good-nutrition-is-vital-if-you-are-recuperating-from-the-coronavirus-here-is-what-you-should-have/articleshow/83083748.cms">Good nutrition is vital if you are recuperating from the Coronavirus — here is what you should have</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/from-bhel-to-heg-and-cg-power-these-infrastructure-stocks-have-turned-10000-to-as-much-as-30600-in-just-six-months/slidelist/83104471.cms">From BHEL to HEG and CG Power ⁠— these infrastructure stocks have turned ₹10,000 to as much as ₹30,600 in just six months</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/apple-iphone-se-3-smartphone-launch-date-specifications-expected-price-in-india/articleshow/83107752.cms">iPhone SE 3 launch date, specifications, price in India and everything else we know so far</a>

Kerala Assembly passes resolution seeking recall of Lakshadweep administrator

Chennai, July 9 () The Madras High Court on Thursday came down on the Central and the Tamil Nadu governments for not considering or verifying claims of cure available for COVID-19 in Siddha medicines and said it seemed vested interests were acting against development of the indigenous drugs. The court directed the state government to file a report by July 23 as to the number of such cures forwarded to the government and action taken on them. The interim order was passed by a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice V M Velumani during the hearing of a plea challenging detention of Siddha doctor V Thanikasalam under Goondas Act for claiming he had found a cure for the pandemic. The apathetic attitude of the governments was not going to help anyone when the entire world is desperately looking for a solution to cure COVID-19, the bench said. "If the medicines developed by qualified Siddha doctors are not recognised and sent for analysis by the state government to the AYUSH department, the very purpose of having Siddha institutes and Siddha medical colleges would be lost," the judges said. It seemed vested interests are acting against development of Siddha, which is why the indigenous medicines are not properly promoted and published in the media, they said. Noting how a Siddha doctor was forced to approach the Madurai Bench of the court to get a medicine that he found to cure COVID-19 tested by the state government, the judges said he has come out with a drug about three months ago during the initial stages of the pandemic. If the state had been prompt enough to analyse the medicine properly and recommend the same to the AYUSH, by this time, the new Siddha medicine would have been recognised and the doctor, who developed it and its efficacy, would have been popular throughout the country. It is said that in all the hospitals, including private hospitals, 'kabasura kudineer' (a herbal dicoction) is given to COVID-19 patients apart from immunity-boosting medicines like vitamin C and zinc tablets and paracetamol and antibiotics, in case of fever. Therefore, the government has to come out with a statement as to what are the medicines given for patients in Tamil Nadu and as to whether Siddha medicines play a vital role in curing the infection, the court said. The Madurai Bench on July 7 had directed the Centre and the central councils of Ayurveda and Siddha to take immediate steps for verifying the efficacy of the drug "IMPRO", a mix of 66 herbs, developed by Siddha doctor S Subramanian. COR NVG VS VS

Centre, TN govt get HC rap over cure for COVID-19

<ul><li>Denying the 'dignified' burial or cremation of anyone who has died due to coronavirus in Tamil Nadu will be met with a jail term of one to three years.</li><li>The ordinance comes after the burial of two doctors, who passed away due to COID-19, was met with public protests.</li><li>Both bodies had to be buried in different locations rather than the original sites with anyone who was trying to help met with anger from the locals.</li></ul>Denying any patient who has died of Coronavirus is a criminal offence in Tamil Nadu. The government has issued an ordinance stating that anyone found denying a "dignified burial or cremation of those who had died of a notified disease" could face one to three years in jail. The offence also comes with a fine, but the amount has not been specified. The ordinance comes after the burial two doctors who passed away from COVID-19, in two separate incidents, was met with public protests. Locals were against them being buried in fear of the coronavirus being spread. In the aftermath of both protests, the bodies had to buried in different locations since the offices could not perform the requisite formalities at the original burial sites. One was a neurosurgeon — doctor Simon Hercules — who had to be buried by his associate, an orthopaedic surgeon. He used his bare hands and a shovel at one of the crematoriums — with the help of two hospital ward boys — after the undertakes fled due to mob violence. Even after the relocation of the burial, where a group of people attacked the ambulance driver and other civic workers trying to help. The medical fraternity and political leaders in the Tamil Nadu condemned the incident and demanded that such incidents should not be repeated. So far, around two dozen people have been arrested in connection with the latest incident under the Epidemic Diseases Act and Indian Penal Code sections 147 (rioting), 148 (armed with deadly weapons), 307 (attempt to murder) and 332 (obstructing a public servant). The local police have also issued a warning that the Goondas Act can also be invoked against those preventing burial or victims of COVID-19. In order to prevent to spread of Coronavirus, the state has issued an "intense lockdown" in five cities — Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tirupur. It’s one of the worst-hit states by the Coronavirus in India. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu has a total of 1,821 reported COVID-19 cases, with 960 cured and 23 deaths. Chennai, on its own, has reported 495 cases, which makes up for one-third of the cases in Tamil Nadu. (With PTI inputs) See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/dhfls-kapil-and-dheeraj-wadhawan-taken-into-custody-by-cbi-for-role-in-yes-bank-scam-case/articleshow/75388823.cms">DHFL's Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan taken into custody by CBI for role in Yes Bank scam case</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/pm-modi-says-indias-fight-against-coronavirus-is-people-driven/articleshow/75387305.cms">PM Modi says India's fight against Coronavirus is 'people-driven'</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/lockdown-may-be-extended-in-covid-19-hit-urban-areas-of-maha/articleshow/75386981.cms">Coronavirus lockdown may extend beyond May 3 in urban areas of Maharashtra</a>

Denying last rites of people who have died from Coronavirus will attract a 3 year jail term in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Apr 20 () In a poignant incident, anorthopaedic surgeon had to bury his associate, a neurosurgeonwho died of COVID-19 here, in the middle of the night usinghis bare hands and a shovel at a crematorium with the help ofjust two hospital wardboys after the undertakers fled when amob, protesting the interment, attacked them.Their opposition was due to a misconception thatthe contagion may spread in their neighbourhood if the virusvictim's burial took place. The windscreens of the ambulance in which thebody of the 55-year-old neurosurgeon was brought to thecrematorium on Sunday night were smashed and even the casketwas not spared.They attacked the undertakers and coroporationsanitation officials, among others, using bricks, stones,bottles and sticks and chased them away. Seven people, including two ambulance driverswere assaulted resulting in severe injuries,police said.The sources said 20 men have been arrested andwere remanded to judicial custody. Recounting with grief the attack that unfolded,Dr K Pradeep Kumar, an orthopaedic and arthroscopysurgeon,told , "this must not happen to anyone be it adoctor or a layman. I have seen people dying but I have not buried anyoneand doing it was scary amid a fear for our lives." Though the private hospital authorities handed overthe body to the sanitation officials last night, theambulance carrying the remains did not start from there."When we enquired why, we were told that peoplewere opposing and holding a protest near Kilpauk," Pradeepsaid.He drove to that locality in his car to assess thesituation and found people had gathered in large numbers andwere agitated. Later, civic body officials made arrangementsfor burial at another crematorium at nearby Velangadu, and theambulance headed there."It may have been about 15 minutes since theexcavator started work to dig a pit, when about 60-70 peoplearmed with stones, bricks and sticks gathered inside thecreamatorium and began attacking us.The two ambulance drivers who were shifting thebody from the vehicle to the ground sustained severeinjuries," Pradeep said. Also, two sanitation officials who were incharge of the burial were injured severely and three otherswere also attacked, he said. To a question, the doctor said there were nopolice officials around and the wife of the deceased and histeenage son were also forced to leave the crematorium."Though injured, the ambulance drivers Dhamuand Anand were brave enough to place the casket again in thevehicle and I asked them to leave the place and I followedthem in my car," he said, adding he escaped from attack due toGod's grace. The ambulance drivers somehow managed to reachthe hospital of the deceased and left the vehicle there. Dr Pradeep said he picked up personalprotective equipment, took two wardboys with him for help anddrove the ambulance himself to the crematorium again afterseeking police help."Both the drivers suffered deep cuts on theirscalp, requiring multiple sutures and had contusion too and Igot them admitted to Kilpauk government hospital," he added. When he reached the crematorium again, theorthopaedic surgeon saw police deployment in the peripherythough there were still people out milling around."Only an eerie silence and there were noneinside the burial ground. The wardboys and I hurriedly loweredthe body into the pit as we were afraid that the violence maybe repeated." Though they placed the body on the ground, they hadno one to help them to fill the grave with sand."There was just one shovel which I gave to oneof the ward boys and two of us used our hands to fill theabout 8-10 feet pit. It took over an hour for us to complete the task andby then it was about 1.30 am (Monday)," he said, adding apoliceman lent a helping hand towards the end. "Even policemen were afraid of coming near us." Dr M Arunmozhirajan, a friend of the victim, who hadto beat a hasty retreat from the crematorium, said "this isdue to ignorance; people need to be educated that a body whenburied poses no threat." An assistant professor at a government hospital, hewanted authorities to ensure that such instances do not getrepeate.Local Administration Minister S P Velumani said itwas inhuman to obstruct the burial of a doctor who worked forthe people and assaulting people involved in the burial likecorporation workers caused grief. He asserted that tough action will be taken againstsuch elements and added that those involved in the attack havebeen arrested.Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association presidentDr K Senthil demanded slapping of the stringent Goondas Act onthose who unleashed violence.Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said: "Saluatations toDr..for his exemplary service in the fight against COVID-19.Let us stand by each and every healthcare worker, they are thereal heroes." Dr J Amalorpavanathan, formerly convener, CadaverTransplant Programme, Tamil Nadu government, said "A deadperson cannot sneeze or cough or breathe. So all ways of infection spread stops the moment aperson dies.Viral replication also stops.Skin may containviral particles.So long as there is no touch , there is zeropercent chance of infection spread." VGNBNWELCOME VGNBNWELCOME

You Searched For "Goonda Act" and got 9 results

Pics of underwater protests from a small Indian island, which is fighting its local administration

Vaamanaa Sethi

Goondas Act slapped against 14 arrested for violent protest against burial of COVID-19 doctor victim

PTI

Box Office: Gunday Leaves You Clueless But Cash Register is Ringing

Sanghamitra Mandal

Death toll goes up to 29 in Tamil Nadu's hooch tragedy

PTI

Tamil Nadu intensifies vigil to stop rice smuggling to other states

IANS

Kerala Assembly passes resolution seeking recall of Lakshadweep administrator

PTI

Centre, TN govt get HC rap over cure for COVID-19

PTI

Denying last rites of people who have died from Coronavirus will attract a 3 year jail term in Tamil Nadu

Prabhjote Gill

Violence mars COVID-19 doctor-victim's burial, surgeon, ward boys turn undertakers

PTI

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