Teenager fatally knocked down by government bus

CHENNAI: Aditya (13) of Pillaiyar Koil Thottam in Mylapore, was mowed down by a government bus on Wednesday. Police said the Class 7 student was walking along Ramakrishna Mutt Road in Mylapore when he was hit by the bus. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared that he was brought dead. A case had been registered.Private Plus Two Candidates Block RoadPrivate candidates who appeared for the recent Plus Two examinations blocked the road on Wednesday as they could not get their mark statements. Sources said that the private candidates had been told that their statements would be issued at the Presidency Girls’ HSS. However, as they were not issued the statements, the students blocked traffic on Gangu Reddy road for about half an hour. They dispersed after assurances that the mark statements will be issued later.Nine Huts Gutted in TeynampetNine huts were gutted in a fire that broke out in a slum on Thomas Road in Teynampet on Wednesday. Police said that the fire broke out at a hut and quickly spread to the tenement. The residents informed the fire services department, which pressed a unit into service. Commotion prevailed in the area for some time.23 Bonded Labourers Rescued from KilnsTiruvallur district administration conducted raids at two brick kilns in Tiruvallur and Uthukottai taluks on Wednesday and rescued 23 bonded labourers, who were forced to work under harsh conditions.According to a press release from International Justice Mission (IJM), a global human rights organisation that facilitated the rescue operations, Ratna Swamy, the Sub-Collector-in-charge of Tiruvallur Revenue Division, along with IJM activists, entered RNN Bricks in Tiruvallur and Venkateswara Brick Kiln in Uthukkottai and found that the labourers were paid less than the minimum wage of Rs136.02 a day. They were also forced to work for more than 16 hours a day and denied freedom to move about.An inquiry has been ordered into the labour practices of the two kilns by the administration, which also issued ‘release certificates’ to the freed workers, officially identifying them as victims of bonded labour and entitling them for government rehabilitation funds.