Latest news with #Malathi
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
When police turn killers, law and order dies first
Postmortem examination found 44 external injuries, besides cigarette burns, on his body. Every blow Ajith took from the policemen, now facing murder charges in a CBI inquiry, has left the Tamil Nadu police and the govt bruised. If they fester long enough to remain a discussion point during the assembly election early next year, DMK will have to pay a price (ask Edappadi Palaniswami how the custodial deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Bennix in 2020 hurt AIADMK's electoral prospects the following year). Malathi was trembling when she stepped into the Thiruppuvanam police station in Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu on the night of June 27. Her 27-year-old son Ajith Kumar, a guard at their village temple, was detained there on charges (not yet officially framed) of stealing some jewellery that a visitor had allegedly kept in her car, which she had asked him to park. Malathi saw her son shirtless and bruised, barely able to speak. She didn't believe that her son would steal, yet she told him to return the jewellery if he had taken it. 'I didn't steal anything, amma,' he told her. The next day, Ajith Kumar was dead. PMK leader K Anbumani says there were 28 custodial deaths – and zero convictions – in the past four years of DMK govt. I haven't fact-checked this statement, but I won't be surprised if he is right. Police atrocity is a global crime, and its socio-political impact is steeped in history. The US has a bloody history of police violence, often fed and fuelled by racism. Incidents such as the police torture of Rodney King in 1991 led to the Los Angeles riots the following year when the police officers who were caught on tape beating the black man for alleged drunk driving walked free. The 'Black Uprising' was so fresh in public memory that it likely influenced the jury that found OJ Simpson not guilty of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994. Later, the killings of Trayvon Martin, Rekia Boyd in 2012, and Michael Brown and Eric Garner in 2014 led to the Black Lives Matter movement. In India, police have found underprivileged people easier targets to train their lathis and, in some cases, guns. Despite repeated observations of the Supreme Court of India that the authorities should show zero tolerance towards police high-handedness, men – and some women – in khaki continue to torture suspects, sometimes with zero evidence. India is yet to ratify the UN Convention Against Torture, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1984. I shed no tears for rapists who take a bullet or two in their head – or hardened criminals who get away with broken limbs after those ubiquitous falls in the slippery bathrooms of our police stations. But when police unleash violence on someone for presumed guilt, those wielding the lathis deserve more than a rap on the knuckles. A common justification by these sadists is 'pressure from the top' to extract a confession. Such 'tough' men in khaki lack the guts to take on the erring mighty; they are also often the first ones to prostrate at the political masters' feet. If our police brass and policy makers are earnest in making policing less brutal and more efficient, a good place to start would be this 75-year-old paper in the American Journal of Police Science titled 'Police Discipline', written by G Douglas Gourley (An officer of LAPD that was later responsible for the Rodney King incident). The author says 'discipline' often carries a connotation of arbitrary and severe enforcement of rules, which is a narrow conception. His prescription for police forces: indoctrination of a generic discipline and ethics through rounded training, proper organizational structure and longer tenures of police administrators.
The Star
12-07-2025
- The Star
In-flight theft is soaring in Asia
Keep your wallet or purse with you at all times during a flight, especially if you have to store your carry-on bag away from your seat. — Pixabay Air passengers hoping to get a nap during a flight might be best adviced to keep one eye open and their wits about them. This is following a warning by Singapore's police that criminal gangs are behind a recent upsurge in reported theft on flights over Asia. "They will only take some cash and maybe one or two cards. They won't take your whole wallet, because if they do, it is easier to notice," Malathi Muthu Veran, Singapore's airport police commander, told local media in late June. Malaysia and Hong Kong logged hundreds of cases of in-flight theft in 2024, up around 70% on the previous year, while Vietnam and Japan have also seen increases. But catching an airplane thief is usually not so straightforward. Suspects typically work in pairs, booking short-haul flights in and out of a destination before victims notice they have been robbed. "A timely report is important for our officers to quickly track and trace the suspects and intercept them before they catch their next flight," Malathi said. According to Nick Careen, a senior vice president at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the rise in onboard theft appears to be "organised" and largely run out of China. Speaking at the IATA's recent annual meeting in Delhi, India, Careen said his organisation, which represents around 300 airlines that carry approximately 80% of the world's passengers, was planning to discuss the matter with governments and law enforcement officials. "How we deal with that, whether it's security on board or cooperation from local governments in terms of the appropriate penalties, those are the types of things that we will see come out of this," he said. Police in Singapore have advised passengers to keep valuables with them rather than putting them in the overhead compartments and to keep an eye out for passengers rummaging through luggage storage areas. In a June statement detailing the arrests of two Chinese suspects who flew in from Kuala Lumpur two days prior, the Singapore police explained how a vigilant passenger spotted one of the suspects "taking the bag and allegedly hiding the victim's belongings in his jacket before returning the bag to the compartment." – dpa
The Star
28-06-2025
- The Star
Organised crime groups behind in-flight theft cases, says Singapore Police Force
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A spike in cabin theft cases in Asia has been blamed on members of organised crime groups, who catch short-transit flights – including trips to Singapore – to steal small items from passengers. Hong Kong has been one of the worst hit, with 169 cases of in-flight theft involving HK$4.32 million ($700,000) in valuables recorded in the first 10 months of 2024 – a 75 per cent increase from the same period the previous year. In an interview with The Straits Times, Assistant Commissioner M Malathi, who is commander of the Airport Police Division (APD), said that in-flight theft cases are difficult to detect and investigate. She said syndicate members, who work in pairs to steal from unsuspecting passengers, often catch a flight out of Singapore soon after landing at Changi Airport. 'They will only take some cash and maybe one or two cards. They won't take your whole wallet, because if they do, it is easier to notice,' said AC Malathi, who added that the authorities have a short lead time before the suspects leave on an outbound flight. 'A timely report is important for our officers to quickly track and trace the suspects and intercept them before they catch their next flight,' she said, adding that passengers should always keep their valuables on them and remain vigilant. The International Air Transport Association (Iata), which represents about 300 airlines, had flagged concerns on June 3 after members indicated a spike in in-flight theft cases over the last 12 to 18 months. Many of the routes were in Asia. According to reports, Malaysia saw a significant increase in onboard theft cases, with the authorities receiving 146 reports in the first 10 months of 2024, compared with 88 in the previous year and 33 in 2022. The authorities in Vietnam reported that criminals often purchase last-minute tickets, avoid checked baggage, and switch between domestic and international flights and different carriers to avoid detection. Singapore Airlines (SIA) declined to share statistics and information regarding theft cases on board, but said the cabin crew are trained to be vigilant and alert the authorities of any suspicious behaviour on flights. 'Should there be a suspected theft case, SIA and Scoot will assist the affected customer, and will cooperate fully with the authorities in their investigations,' a spokesman for the SIA Group told The Straits Times. At its general meeting in India, Iata said that many of the theft cases appear to be organised from China. The police in Singapore declined to reveal where the syndicates operate from, but checks by ST showed that four out of five people who were charged in 2025 over cabin theft were Chinese nationals. AC Malathi said in-flight theft picked up around the time air travel started to recover after the Covid-19 pandemic. 'We see more of these syndicates working as air travel picks up. Singapore is not the only location. This is happening worldwide,' she said. Between January and May, three people were charged in Singapore for theft on board an aircraft. Only one person was charged in the same period in 2024. More recently, two Chinese nationals were arrested and charged in court on June 4 after being accused of stealing from passengers while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. Liu Xitang, 35, and Wang Wei, 40, are accused of taking $169 in cash and two debit cards from another passenger. In May, Chinese national Zhang Kun, 51, pleaded guilty to stealing a credit card and more than $200 in cash from a passenger on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in March. The Airport Division said it tries to identify potential syndicate members by looking out for a common trend of behaviour, including frequent travel and transit flights, often with just a two- or three-hour transit period. 'We use data analytics in general to identify these people that could be of interest coming into Singapore, and to aid our investigation process,' said AC Malathi, who added that criminals operate across all classes of travel. Another area of concern she flagged during the interview is shop theft in transit areas in Changi Airport, which saw 37 cases between January and May. There were a total of 109 cases in 2024, and 129 cases the year before. 'These crimes are very opportunistic. Some travellers walk into the shops and take what they want and walk off. 'Some of them get emboldened if they get away the first time,' said AC Malathi. To help address it, the APD has used robots since 2023 to patrol the airport, as a way to beef up police presence. The robots are equipped with sensors and cameras that can capture footage and allow the public to communicate with officers. AC Malathi said a new patrol robot called Gibson, which will be equipped to transport an officer, will be launched later in 2025. More details on its latest fleet will be revealed at a later date. - The Straits Times/ANN
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Private hospital in Coimbatore directed to pay 6.35 lakh to woman for medical negligence
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed a private hospital to pay ₹5 lakh as compensation and ₹1.35 lakh towards medical expenses to a woman who contracted Hepatitis B following a blood transfusion during her admission for delivery. According to official sources, Malathi of Coimbatore visited a hospital on Puliakulam Road for regular check-ups and treatment during her pregnancy to ensure the health of her baby. During a visit on October 3, 2022, she was advised to undergo a blood test. The test report showed the presence of HBsAg (Hepatitis B surface antigen) in her blood was non-reactive. She gave birth to her child on May 2, 2023. During the postnatal period, she experienced a blood loss of 1,000 ml. As a result, the attending doctor arranged for a transfusion of one unit of packed red cells from the hospital's own blood bank. She was discharged later that day. After discharge, Malathi began experiencing joint pain and subsequently consulted another hospital. As per the doctor's advice, she underwent a blood test on August 1, 2023. To her shock, the report showed that HBsAg was positive, confirming that she contracted Hepatitis B. Between April 30 and August 1, 2023, she was not admitted to, nor did she take any medication from, any other hospital apart from the one on Puliakulam Road. She also stated that she never suffered from jaundice or any liver-related disease prior to the current diagnosis. Malathi and her family were reportedly traumatised by her illness, which affected her liver. Following this, she filed a complaint with the Coimbatore District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. In its ruling, commission president R Thangavel and members P Marimuthu and G Suguna directed the private hospital to pay ₹1.35 lakh towards medical expenses and ₹5 lakh as compensation for the mental agony and emotional trauma caused by the hospital's negligence and deficiency in service. Additionally, the hospital was ordered to pay ₹5,000 towards the cost of the proceedings.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Heavy rain continues to pound Kerala; Red alert for 11 districts on May 26
The vigorous spell of rain lashing the State is likely to intensify further powered by strong westerlies. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed most parts of the State on Sunday (May 25, 2025) leaving a trail of destruction for the second consecutive day. Train service along the Shoranur-Ernakulam stretch was disrupted at Cheruthuruthy for a while after a tree branch fell on a train headed for Thiruvananthapuram from Jamnagar around 10:30 am. Three people were killed in rain-related incidents on Sunday (May 25, 2025). A Plus Two student, identified as Sreerag, was electrocuted at Vallikunnu in Malappuram after he accidentally stepped onto a snapped live electric wire, while another person reportedly drowned in Palakkad after he accidentally fell into a river. A woman died after a tree fell on her in Pampadumpara in Idukki. The deceased was identified as Malathi, a native of Madhya Pradesh. More than 225 houses suffered damages due to rain and gust until 4 p.m. on Sunday, while as many as 18 houses were fully destroyed in various districts. Sea levels also rose sharply in many places including Alappuzha and Thrikkunnapuzha, inundating low-lying areas. A whirlwind hit parts of Thrissur, blowing off the roof of a pump house in the kolefield of Arimbur. A car that lost control overturned in heavy rain, near Ramakkalmedu, in Idukki. However, the passengers of the car escaped unhurt. In Kozhikode, 36 people from nine families were shifted to relief camp following heavy rain. In Thiruvananthapuram, two camps had already been operational, accommodating 11 people. Rain to intensify Meanwhile, a fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over west-central and adjoining North Bay of Bengal around May 27. This, along with the prevailing strong westerlies at lower tropospheric levels over the Kerala and Lakshadweep region, is likely to intensify the rain further for the next seven days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert warning of extreme weather conditions for 11 districts on Monday (May 26, 2025) and an orange alert for the remaining three districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha, warning of very heavy rainfall. Strong surface winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph is likely to prevail over various parts of Kerala and Lakshadweep on Monday. Fishermen have been advised to refrain from venturing into the sea as squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is prevailing along and off Kerala coasts. High waves in the range of 3.3-4 m are forecasted along the coast of Kerala and fishermen are advised not to ply small vessels near shore. The authorities also advised suspending recreational activities along the beaches, as coastal erosion and wave surges are likely. Meanwhile, Nilambur in Malappuram recorded the highest rainfall of 16 cm during the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday followed by Vythiri in Wayanad with 15 cm, Karipur in Malappuram, Kannur, Mannarkkad in Palakkad, Urumi in Kozhikode and Chemberi with 13 cm each.
