Chennai, April 10: Around 140 kilograms of ganja, valued at several lakhs of rupees, was seized from a secluded area in Tamil Nadu’s Anakaputhur on Thursday.

The seizure led to the arrest of a notorious drug smuggler from Andhra Pradesh. The accused was identified as Appala Naidu (20).

Naidu’s accomplice, Rahman (28) and several drug dealers are currently absconding.

According to police sources, the contraband was procured in bulk from Odisha.

Naidu and Rahman had travelled to the forested foothills of Odisha, where they purchased the ganja directly from local cultivators. The harvested ganja was then dried, processed, and packed into small five-gram sachets, totaling 140 kilograms.

To evade detection, the smugglers avoided transporting the ganja directly by vehicle. Instead, local women carried the packets on their heads through dense forest areas and cashew plantations. These packets were then hidden near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border along various national highways, police sources said.

Once the ganja reached these hideouts, it was transported to Tamil Nadu and Kerala in cars.

To ensure safe passage, the smugglers deployed two men on motorbikes to serve as escort pilots – one riding ahead and the other following behind the ganja-laden vehicle, maintaining a buffer zone of about one kilometer. Upon entering Tamil Nadu, the initial escorts returned, and Appala Naidu assumed escort duties on a motorbike, while Rahman followed in the car carrying the contraband, the police sources said.

The drop-off took place in a remote, bushy patch in Anakaputhur, where the ganja was unloaded and concealed.

While Rahman fled the scene in the vehicle, Naidu stayed behind to guard the stash and coordinate with local wholesale and retail dealers.

However, acting on a tip-off, the Shankar Nagar Special Task Force conducted a swift and well-coordinated operation. They surrounded the area, apprehended Naidu, and seized the entire consignment.

Authorities also confiscated Naidu’s mobile phone, which is now being examined to trace his network of contacts and potential clients across Chennai’s suburbs.

The police are continuing their efforts to track down Rahman and other members of the distribution network.

The operation has drawn significant attention for exposing an elaborate and well-organised smuggling route stretching from the forests of Odisha to the outskirts of Chennai, complete with security escorts and logistical coordination.

Bratislava, April 10: Asserting that India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday urged business leaders from Slovakia to seize the opportunities and convert them into concrete results

Slovakia, President Murmu said while addressing the Slovakia-India Business Forum in Bratislava, with its strong industrial base and strategic location in Europe, presents great opportunities for deeper trade and investment ties.

“Slovakia is looking for hard-working skilled workers and professionals from overseas to help meet its workforce requirements. I am convinced that Indian talent can be a valuable partner in the economic progress of Slovakia,” President Murmu said in her address at the event.

“India is committed to enhancing trade relations with Slovakia. The large business delegation, representing diverse fields, which has accompanied me, clearly shows the interest of Indian businesses to explore opportunities in Slovakia. We have seen a similar interest from Slovakia,” she added.

Addressing the forum, President Murmu thanked Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini for his commitment in strengthening economic ties between the two countries. She said that India is undergoing remarkable transformation and has emerged as a global leader in technology, innovation and sustainable development.

President Murmu added that the Slovakia-India Business Forum serves as an excellent platform to explore synergies and build mutually beneficial partnerships.

Earlier, President Murmu visited an exhibition of paintings by Slovak children. The Slovak-Indian Friendship Society, in collaboration with the Indian Embassy, has been organising the painting competition ‘Beauty Hidden in Fairy Tales – India through the Eyes of Slovak Children’ since 2015.

She also witnessed a puppet show on Ramayan conducted by Lenka Mukova. Lenka is part of the Babadlo Puppet Theatre in Presov, which has been educating children through puppetry for 30 years.

President Murmu also attended a banquet hosted in her honour by Slovakia President Pellegrini at the historic Bratislava Castle. The Slovak artists presented captivating musical performances including that of the National Anthem, signifying the strong cultural bond between the two countries.

Thanking the Slovak government and the people of Slovakia for the warm welcome and hospitality, she said that from yoga and ayurveda to Indian cuisine, the love for Indian culture in Slovakia is a testament to the strong people-to-people connections. She also reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries.

On Wednesday, President Murmu held productive talks with the Slovakia President in Bratislava as both leaders reviewed various facets of India-Slovakia relations and agreed to work towards strengthening the bilateral partnership across diverse sectors.

During their one-to-one meeting and delegation-level talks, President Murmu and Pellegrini also discussed issues of shared global and regional interests. The participants in delegation-level talks from the Indian side included the accompanying Minister of State, Nimuben Bambhaniya, as well as Members of Parliament Dhaval Patel, Sandhya Ray and senior officials.

President Murmu also met the Speaker of National Council of the Slovak Republic, Richard Rasi in Bratislava, congratulating him on his recent election as Speaker while reaffirming the high priority attached by India to the historic friendship between the two countries.

“President Murmu said that Parliamentarians have an important role in enhancing goodwill and mutual understanding between India and Slovakia. She noted that there has been a tradition of a Slovak-India Friendship Group in the National Council of Slovakia, and said that it would help promote exchange of knowledge and experience among our Parliamentarians,” the President’s Secretariat stated.

This is the first visit by an Indian President to Slovakia in nearly three decades.

“The two-day visit to Slovakia spotlights the importance India places on its bilateral relations with the Slovak Republic. It is also expected to pave the way for deeper cooperation and new initiatives in various sectors, including defence, science and technology, and education,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Udupi (Karnataka), April 10: The Karnataka BJP’s ‘Janakrosh Yatra’, organised against the Congress-led government over price rises and reservations for Muslims in tenders for public work, entered its fourth day on Thursday. The BJP tore into the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government for “failing” the backward classes who comprise more than 50 per cent of the total population in the state.

Speaking at a public gathering here, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kota Srinivas Poojary said: “We have no objection if you give Rs 10,000 crore or even Rs 1 lakh crore to minorities. But what about the children from backward classes and Scheduled Castes who are now in a situation where they are crying out for hostel seats? What justice have you (addressing Siddaramaiah) done to these communities who constitute more than 50 per cent of the population?”

He also demanded an answer to whether the Congress was elected to power so that slogans like “Let Pakistan win” could be raised in the Vidhana Soudha. He said that the “nationalist” Congress members must respond to this.

Poojary further said: “The fall of CM Siddaramaiah’s government is certain, and there should be no doubt about it.”

“Just like blowing of wind and fluttering of curtains are inevitable, so is the fall of this government. He further emphasised that the people across Karnataka are expressing outrage against the current administration, and various public protests are taking place.

Karnataka unit BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, addressing the gathering, said: “The Congress-led government has been reduced to a government of advertisements. It is not the government of the poor. Instead, it is burdening the poor with price hikes.

CM Siddaramaiah came to power in the name of backwards and oppressed classes. But, after coming to power, he has conveniently forgotten those people and going behind a minority community and pursuing the anti-Hindu policy, Vijayendra said.

“There are no elections around the corner for the BJP to organise the Janakrosh Yatra to gain any political advantage. The main objective is to oppose the Congress led government and create awareness among people against its anti-people policies,” he underlined.

Former minister B. Sriramulu appealed to BJP leaders and workers to work hard to bring the party back to power in the future.

Speaking at a public meeting organised on Thursday in Udupi as part of the BJP’s Janakrosha Yatra, he said due to rising prices, common people in the state are now struggling to survive.

“On one hand, the government remains silent, deaf, and mute. It sits like the blind, refusing to see the reality. This protest is being carried out to awaken the government and because people are facing real problems in their daily lives,” he explained.

He strongly condemned the suspension of BJP MLAs who were forcefully removed from the Assembly by marshals during the Budget session.

He pointed out that Siddaramaiah’s close associate, MLA and CM’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy himself has stated that Karnataka has now reached the number one position in corruption in the entire country.

“Corruption is rising at an alarming level. There is a competition among Congress ministers over who can be more corrupt. This Congress government is looting all the wealth of the state. Ministers are busy collecting money and securing their positions,” he said.

The BJP leader further alleged that in the Valmiki Development Corporation and other similar institutions, funds are being emptied through corruption, and then government-appointed officers are used to give clean chits under the pretext of investigations.

Poojary praised Udupi district, calling it a place that has taught discipline and dedication to the entire state and to BJP workers.

Recalling the contributions of the late BJP leader V.S. Acharya, he said that whenever the topic of Udupi comes up, Acharya’s memory resurfaces.

He concluded by urging everyone to work towards bringing the BJP back to power in 2028 under the leadership of B.Y. Vijayendra.