Chennai: 500 retail liquor outlets will cease operations from June 22.  500 liquor retail outlets in Tamil Nadu are set to close.  Former Excise Minister Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the enforcement, had announced in the Assembly last April that liquor vends would be closed.

 138 liquor shops in Chennai alone, 78 in Coimbatore, 125 in Madurai, 100 in Salem and 100 in Tiruchirappalli.  Liquor shops located near places of worship and schools, which have low income, will be closed in the first phase.

Following Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s instructions, Tasmac liquor shops were closed down.  The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has stated that the liquor shops are being closed down as per the government directive.

Imphal: Conflict again in Manipur.  Three persons, including a woman, were shot dead during the clash between the two factions.  Two people were injured.  At around 4am on Friday morning, gunfire broke out between Kuki-dominated Khanpopi district and Meitei sect-dominated Imphal West district.

 It is reported that a group dressed as soldiers opened fire with guns.  The gang reached Khoken village on Friday morning and opened fire on the villagers.  Kuki organizations accused the Meitei group of being behind the attack.

 The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) called the attack yet another example of sheer brazenness by the insurgents and demanded swift action against the culprits.

 Meanwhile, the CBI formed a special investigation team to probe the Manipur riots.  The conspiracy in the riots will be investigated.  The CBI has registered six cases related to the riots. An officer of the rank of DIG will lead the investigation.  The state government had recommended a CBI probe to probe the conspiracy.

Kochi: High Court directive to protect Kanjirapilli Amaljyoti Engineering College.  Justice N Nagaresh’s interim order was on a petition filed by the college management.  The police have been instructed to provide necessary security to the college.  The petition was filed by the college authorities in the background of the student’s suicide and subsequent incidents.

 Meanwhile, after Shraddha’s death, the high-profile student agitation ended with government intervention.  With representatives of the students and college management, the crime branch will investigate Shraddha’s death and no punitive action will be taken against the students.  There was an agreement in the discussion.  The college will reopen on Monday.

 Thiruvankulam native Shraddha (20), second-year student of food technology department in the college, hanged herself in her hostel last Friday.

Ranchi: Three people died in a mine accident in Jharkhand.  Many people are suspected to be trapped.  The incident took place in Baura area of ​​Dhanbad.

 The accident happened in the mine of Bharat Coking Coal Limited at 10:30 in the morning.  Reports are that the mine was collapsing.  An illegal coal mine collapsed.  The police said that they did not get the exact information about how many people died or how many people were trapped. Three people have already been evacuated.  They were rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.  A 10-year-old boy was also included in the dead.