Chennai, June 26: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.Palaniswami on Tuesdary reiterated his government's intention to close down Vedanta Ltd's copper smelter unit - Sterlite Copper - in Thoothukudi.

He also said there is no need for calling a separate meeting of the cabinet and decide on closing down of the copper smelter.

Speaking in the assembly, Palaniswami noted that the government has been taking action one after another to shut down the smelter unit like the non-renewal of consent to operate sanction by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the disconnection of power supply.

He also wondered whether some leaders of political parties are creating trouble in Thoothukudi, fearing the goodwill the government would earn by shuting down the smelter unit.

Asking where was the need for a protest when the government is taking action, he said one could wonder whether the trouble was created to give a bad name to the government to gain political mileage.

Palaniswami said the government is doing what the opposition parties desire - the shutting down of the Sterlite Copper plant.

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Udaipur (Rajasthan), Sep 21: The search for a leopard that has allegedly killed three people in Gogunda in Rajasthan's Udaipur district recently has intensified with an Army team being roped in for the purpose.

However, the animal is yet to be traced.

A 16-year-old girl was killed by the leopard on Wednesday, a man aged 50 years was mauled to death by the big cat on Thursday and a 40-year-old woman was killed supposedly by the same animal on Friday.

The incidents occurred at different locations in Gogunda, prompting the forest authorities to place five cages in order to capture the leopard that is believed to have taken shelter in the hilly area nearby.

The presence of the leopard has caused fear among villagers.

A rescue team from the forest department, along with villagers, has reached the hills to trace the animal.

Station House Officer (SHO) of the Gogunda police station Shaitan Singh said a team from the Indian Army has also been called to assist in the search operation, using drone cameras to monitor the entire area.

Teams from Rajsamand, Udaipur and Jodhpur are actively engaged in the search operation.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ajay Chittora, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Naresh Soni and others were also present during the search operation.