Locked up in a room for a week before being forcibly married off in filmi-style to a cousin, a 15-year-old girl was rescued by the police in Ariyalur and promised help to return to school.

Not just big money bags, but even small aarti thattus have come under the Election Commission scanner as many politicians try to give money under the guise of the aarti thattu ritual.

Over 140 MLAs did not disclose their PAN (permanent account number) details during the 2006 Assembly elections. The list includes crorepati MLAs AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, IT minister Poongodhai Aladi Aruna and Mylapore MLA S.Ve. Shekher. The election commission has made it compulsory for all contestants to give PAN details this time.

A ‘spiritual’ family in Manapakkam in Chennai has hit the road in a mobile meditation van to tour the state for getting the people to pray for the victory of AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa.

The danger of lead poisoning in toys is not a risk limited to products made in China.

It may appear to be an anachronism in 21st century India, but around 48 tribal hamlets in Kumuli on the Kerala border near Theni are still governed by a king.

Chinnaovulapuram, Theni: It’s village of widows. Nestled among grape gardens near Theni down south, Chinnaovulapuram village wakes up every other day to the wailing of a young wife who has just become a widow.

Chennai: R. Visvanathan, design engineer in Ford India, Chennai, has a part-time job. This 29-year-old B.E.