TN teacher fatally stabbed in school, assailant detained
Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu), Nov 20: In a shocking incident, a woman teacher was fatally stabbed on government school premises in Mallipattinam in the district by a youth, leading to some tense moments in the educational institution, police said on Wednesday.
The youth, who was later detained, repeatedly stabbed the teacher in full view of her colleagues at the school’s staff room, they said.
The incident evoked the spontaneous ire of the locals and Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi strongly condemned the attack on the teacher Ramani, of Mallipattanam Government Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur district.
"Violence against teachers cannot be tolerated. Strict legal action will be taken against the attacker. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, students and fellow teachers of teacher Ramani," the minister said on the social media platform 'X', shortly after the incident occurred.
The police claimed personal reason to be the motive behind the murderous attack.
The teacher was rushed to the government hospital here, but was declared brought dead by the doctors.
Describing her death as a "huge loss" for the teaching community, Poyyamozhi told reporters in Chennai that the man responsible for her murder has been arrested.
Chief Minister M K Stalin has asked him to visit Thanjavur and console the bereaved family, the minister said.
"I have asked the district collector to declare a holiday for the school today and take steps to provide counselling to the students," Poyyamozhi said.
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami condemned the murder and said the incident had exposed that government teachers and doctors lacked safety and security at their workplaces.
"The DMK government has failed to maintain law and order. Murders and other crimes have become very common in Tamil Nadu. At least now the Chief Minister should devote his attention to maintaining law and order in the state," Palaniswami said in a post on social media platform 'X'.
Assuring stringent action as per law on the assailant, Chief Minister M K Stalin said the death of M Ramani, 26, who devoted herself to education in rural areas, was "an irreparable loss to the school education department, her colleagues and students."
Expressing his deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family, the chief minister said in a release that he had directed the officials to provide a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the affected family from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund.
தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டம் மல்லிப்பட்டினம் அரசுப் பள்ளியில் பணிபுரிந்த ஆசிரியர் ரமணி அவர்களின் மீதான தாக்குதலை வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கின்றோம்.
— Anbil Mahesh (@Anbil_Mahesh) November 20, 2024
ஆசிரியர்கள் மீதான வன்முறையை துளியும் சகித்துக் கொள்ள முடியாது. தாக்குதலை நடத்தியவர் மீது கடுமையான சட்ட நடவடிக்கை மேற்கொள்ளப்படும்.
ஆசிரியர் ரமணி…
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
