Tamil Nadu man arrested for cow dung contamination plot at school

Police in Erode, Tamil Nadu, have arrested a man on charges of attempting to contaminate food served under the state's midday meal scheme at a government school. Investigators said the accused convinced a school staff member to mix cow dung powder into sambar, the traditional lentil-based vegetable stew served as part of the nutrition programme. According to officials, the contaminated portion was prepared separately and was meant to be presented to a teacher for quality testing before the meal reached students. The plot was discovered before the adulterated food could be served to the student population. Preliminary investigations indicate the cow dung powder had been deliberately added to only a small quantity of sambar kept aside for inspection purposes, suggesting the broader batch intended for students remained uncontaminated. The incident has raised concerns about food safety protocols at educational institutions in the state. Authorities are continuing their inquiry to determine the motive behind the attempted contamination and whether any other individuals were involved in the scheme.