QChennai: Hunger Strike Called Off at IIT-Madras & More

1. Justice for Fathima Latheef: Hunger Strike Called Off at IIT-M 19-year-old Fathima, a first-year student of MA in Development Studies at IIT-M, was found having hanged herself from the ceiling fan in her hostel room on 9 November.

IIT-Madras’ students, who were protesting in want of justice for Fathima Latheef, called off the hunger strike on its second day after the administration accepted two out of three demands proposed by the Student Legislative Council and General Student Body.

The protest began on Monday, 18 November, morning when two students – Azhar Moideen and Justin Joseph – affiliated to ChintaBAR, an independent student body at the institute, sat on hunger strike at the main gate, holding placards. More students joined in and began raising slogans, demanding the management take measures to curb suicides in campus.

Read the full story here.

Also Read: Amid Protests, Central Crime Branch Takes Over IIT-M Suicide Case

2. Chennai to Get Moderate Rains Till Friday

Generally, November is the wettest month for Chennai, but this year, the monsoon has been subdued so far. After a good start, the rains have dried up, increasing the deficit to 42 percent. However, the meteorological department said the city would receive its daily quota of light to moderate rainfall till Friday thanks to easterlies.

Chennai on Tuesday received a few spells of moderate rainfall. Weather blogger Pradeep John said the city would get on and off rainfall till Friday. The outlook for Chennai is cloudy conditions. Light rain is to occur in some areas. Overall, there’s 9 per cent rainfall deficit in TN, between 1 October and 19 November.

(Source: The New Indian Express)

Also Read: Rains Expected to Improve ‘Very Unhealthy’ Air Quality in Delhi

3. ‘If a Situation Arises…’:Rajinikanth on Joining Hands with Kamal Haasan

Actor Rajinikanth Tuesday said he was open to a tie up with fellow actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan.

Actor Rajinikanth Tuesday said he was open to a tie up with fellow actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s party for the welfare of Tamil Nadu if the situation demands.

Rajnikanth was responding to Haasan, who had also said he was not averse to joining hands with Rajini Makkal Mandram. “If a situation arises wherein me and Kamal have to join hands for the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu, we will surely come together,” he said. Haasan also made a similar statement earlier saying the two would come together if the need arises.

(Source: The Indian Express)

Also Read: Kamal Haasan’s MNM Cuts into Vote Share of Dravidian Parties

4. TN Woman Who Abused Dalits in Viral TikTok Video Arrested Two Months Later

A 31-year-old woman from Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu was arrested two months after a TikTok in which she abused Dalits went viral on social media. Sudha, who works as a beautician, was taken into custody on Saturday based on a complaint by Manikandan, a lawyer from the same district.

The TikTok video went viral following the vandalisation of an Ambedkar statue in Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam. It was reportedly Sudha’s response to a video of a VCK meeting held in Coimbatore. Using casteist slurs, Sudha abuses Dalits, especially for availing reservation.

(Source: The News Minute)

5. Mannargudi Woman with H1N1 Dies at Tiruchy Government Hospital She was brought unconscious to the Tiruchy hospital on 16 November and treated at the intensive care unit. However, she died in the early hours of Tuesday. Representative image.

A 47-year-old woman of Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district died of H1N1 at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchy on Tuesday. This is the first case of H1N1 reported in the district this year. Fearing the spread of infection, the city corporation cremated the body without handing it over to her relatives.

According to sources, M Kalavathi, the deceased, was a farm worker. On 12 November, she was admitted to a private hospital with high fever. As there was no improvement in her condition, blood samples were taken for diagnosis. Later, it was found that she had symptoms of viral pneumonia (H1N1 Positive).

(Source: The New Indian Express)

Also Read: 5 Kids From a Kerala School Test Positive for H1N1, 67 Quarantined