Amid protests by anti-liquor activists demanding prohibition in Tamil Nadu, an employee of a state-run TASMAC liquor outlet at Pudupalayam in Tiruvanamalai district died of burn injuries after some persons torched the shop.
Selvam (43) had stayed in the shop on Tuesday night to check the accounts when some persons set pulled the shutters down and set the place on fire.
The miscreants failed to notice his presence.
However, he managed to contact his assistant over mobile phone and asked for help.
Police were informed and they rushed to the shop, forced open the shutters and brought him out.
The man was declared brought dead at the Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital.
A bandh called by MDMK, VCK, MMK over prohibition and backed by Left parties and a traders federation on Tuesday, evoked a lukewarm response across the state.
DMK has also announced a state-wide stir on August 10, demanding imposition of total prohibition in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, anti-liquor protests continued across the state with students in Salem city and in Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai staging protests over the issue.
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