LOKAYUKTA TO PROBE TP MISAPPROPRIATION;

The state Municipal commissioner has submitted a report to the Lokayukta to probe a large scale misappropriation reported at Town Panchayath, Virajpet.

According to sources, misappropriation was reported in the construction of market complex at a cost of rupees 1.05 lakhs. Though the money was spent the construction is yet to be over. Construction was taken up in the year 1997.

Based on the audit objection, a complaint was lodged to the Municipal commission and Lokayukta, earlier.

TUSKER ATTACKS PLANTER;

A tusker yesterday in South Kodagu causing serious concern attacked a planter.

Machimada Aiyanna alias Raju of California estate at Kutta was attacked by a tuskar dashing from the bushes in front of his house, yesterday morning.

While it threw two labourers to a distance, Aiyanna was attacked with its ivory. It fled as confusion rocked with shoutings from labourers and neighbours. Aiyanna was immediately shifted to a hospital with minor fractures.

The president of the Kutta Chamber of Commerce M.Subbaiah told this correspondent that a herd of elephants is camping in the estates adjacent to nagarahole and causing serious concern to people.

Subbaiah and others rushed to the police station after the incident and prepared for a dharna. Forest officials who arrived at the spot assured the protesting group to chase the herd away, install solar fence and dig trenches to block the arrival of elephants into estate and convinced then not to sit on dharna.

ILLEGAL TREE FELLING;

Air Marshal Carippa, Ravi Chengappa and Thammu Poovaiah yesterday took the journalists to Kalur village and showed that valuable trees are illegally cut in the pretext of making roads.

They alleged the support of the local MLA in the incident and told that trees worth lakhs was leveled in the name of road construction.

Forest department confirmed that case was registered against twenty persons in this connection. Three important persons would be arrested immediately in this connection, it said.

LEN AIYAPPA TIES KNOT;

National hockey player Len Aiyappa tied the nuptial knot at Bangalore last week.

Aiyappa married Shabari, daughter of Anjaparavanda Nanjappa in a simple ceremony held in a temple.

Len Aiyappa today took part in an exhibition hockey being played at Devanageri in the finals of Rink Hockey.