File Photo: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa (Press Trust of India)
Tamil Nadu government today announced a relief of Rs 7 lakh to the family of a TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) liquor outlet employee who died after some unidentified persons torched the shop in Salem district.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa directed police to initiate "stringent legal action" against those who committed the "barbaric" attack in which Selvam died.
"I express my deep condolences and sympathies with the family of TASMAC employee Selvam," she said in a statement.
She said she was grieved when she came to know about his death. Selvam had stayed back to check accounts after business hours and some miscreants had poured petrol in the gaps between the shutters and set the outlet on fire, she said, adding, he died of suffocation.
Considering the family's poverty, she had directed that Selvam's wife be given appointment in a nutritious meal centre, Ms Jayalalithaa said.
Selvam's cash benefits like PF and others should also be disbursed immediately, she added.
"I have directed the police to take stringent legal action against those who were involved in this barbaric attack," she said.
Selvam (43) had stayed back in the shop on Tuesday night to check the accounts when it was set abaze.