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TN cracks down on unlicensed homemade cosmetics marketed through social media

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Chennai, June 26: Amid rising concerns over the quality and safety of homemade cosmetic products marketed extensively through social media, the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Department has launched a statewide crackdown on unlicensed manufacturers.

Acting on public complaints, the department has identified 66 units suspected of violating the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

A senior official from the department confirmed that most of these units promote their products on social media platforms without obtaining the required manufacturing licences.

“We have begun block-level inspections based on instructions from the Director of Drugs Control, P.U. Karthigeyan. If violations are found, we will initiate legal action under Section 18(c) of the Act,” the official said.

The crackdown comes in response to increasing reports of substandard products flooding the market. A total of 38 types of personal care and cosmetic items fall under regulatory purview, including skin and tooth powders, toothpaste, creams, shampoos, hair oils, nail polish, kajal, henna, sindoor, cold wax, face packs, and toilet soaps.

Currently, Tamil Nadu has 340 licensed cosmetic manufacturers, with 37 operating in the Coimbatore region. The department has intensified inspections of these units, especially those actively promoting products on social media.

Two units in Coimbatore were already found violating promotional norms. Officials noted that while some units flout the law knowingly, others lack awareness of the licensing process.

“We advise such small-scale manufacturers to apply for a licence instead of facing legal action,” an official added.

To manufacture cosmetic products legally for commercial purposes, entrepreneurs must apply for a COS-8 licence through an offline process to the Director of Drug Control in Chennai.

The application fee is Rs 10,000 for up to 10 products, and the licence is valid for a lifetime, subject to a renewal fee of Rs 10,000 every five years. Approval is based on a self-declaration of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), followed by a field inspection by drug control officials.

Cosmetic products must also meet standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and comply with the 7th Schedule of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, which outlines guidelines for manufacturing premises, equipment, and hygiene protocols.

Following the recent inspections, major e-commerce platforms have begun demanding licences from sellers. In response, many small-scale manufacturers have removed contact details to evade scrutiny. However, officials stress that genuine businesses can operate legally by following the proper procedures and obtaining the necessary clearances.

Crime

12-year-old boy dies in B’luru residential school; family protests alleging assault by teacher

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Bengaluru, July 8: A 12-year-old student of a residential school in Bengaluru died under suspicious circumstances on Wednesday, prompting allegations of assault by teachers and protests by his family members and relatives.

The deceased has been identified as Gurukiran, a Class 6 student at the prominent school located in Kadayarappanahalli village in Bengaluru North Taluk. He was the son of Raghavendra, a resident of Subedarpalya.

According to the school management, Gurukiran collapsed while jogging on the school campus early in the morning. School authorities informed his parents over the phone around 6 a.m., stating that he had fallen ill and had been shifted to a hospital. However, by the time the parents reached the hospital, the boy had died.

The bereaved family has alleged that Gurukiran was physically assaulted by teachers using iron rods and sticks, and claimed that the pressure exerted on him at the residential school led to his death.

Speaking to reporters, Gurukiran’s father, Raghavendra, said, “My son was admitted to this school when he was studying in Class 5. The school claims that he collapsed while jogging this morning. But when we reached the hospital, we found him dead. I suspect something happened inside the school. The teachers might have assaulted him or done something to him.”

He further alleged that another student informed the family that Gurukiran had been beaten with an iron rod while staying in the hostel. “We have been told that the physical education teacher assaulted him. The police are protecting the teacher,” he alleged.

Raghavendra said his son had never complained about any harassment or assault at the school. “He never shared any complaints with us. What could happen to a child studying in Class 6? I strongly suspect he was assaulted. The school called us at around 6 a.m., saying he had collapsed while jogging and that his pulse rate had dropped,” he said.

Following the incident, Gurukiran’s parents and relatives gathered outside the residential school and staged a protest against the management. They alleged that the boy had been beaten with sticks and iron rods and demanded a thorough investigation.

Personnel from the Bagalur Police Station rushed to the school and attempted to pacify the agitated family members and relatives.

Another relative, Yashasvini, alleged that the family was initially not allowed to see Gurukiran’s body after reaching the hospital.

“When we reached the hospital, we were not allowed to see the child’s body. We later learned that the school staff had taken him to another hospital. We don’t know what actually happened. When we asked the management for the CCTV footage, they claimed that the cameras were damaged and the footage was unavailable,” she said.

Questioning the school’s version, she added, “If he suffered a heart attack, there should have been some signs. They have not provided any proper explanation and are simply saying that he collapsed while jogging. He was perfectly healthy. During the summer vacation, he spent time with us and never had any health issues. He was never hospitalised before. How are we supposed to believe this?”

The family also questioned the school’s claim that Gurukiran completed two rounds of jogging before collapsing during the third one. They alleged that the management failed to provide CCTV footage from either the jogging area or the room where he was reportedly taken after collapsing.

“They are saying the CCTV footage is unavailable because the cameras were damaged. We found that the CCTV cameras had been removed and the wires had been cut. We suspect foul play. Other students have also told us that children are beaten in the school,” a relative alleged.

Tension prevailed at the school as angry parents allegedly assaulted the physical education teacher in the presence of police personnel. The police intervened and managed to rescue the teacher from the agitated crowd.

Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of Gurukiran’s death. Further investigation is underway.

When contacted, the phone went unanswered at the residential school. The school is yet to react to the allegations.

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Crime

Assam road rage accused arrested, not linked to BJP: Himanta Sarma

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Guwahati, July 7: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the accused in the recent road rage incident in Guwahati has been arrested and clarified that the individual has no association with the BJP.

The Chief Minister’s statement came amid social media posts claiming that the accused was a BJP youth leader after a video of the alleged assault surfaced online and triggered widespread outrage.

“The accused has been arrested and is not associated with the BJP,” Sarma said in a post on social media platform X.

Reiterating the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards such incidents, the Chief Minister asserted that strict legal action would be taken against anyone involved in acts of violence on public roads.

“Road rage has no place in Assam. Anyone who indulges in such acts will face the full force of the law,” Sarma added.

The clarification came after several social media users, including public commentators, shared a dashcam video purportedly showing a confrontation between two motorists in Guwahati.

The video allegedly captured a car owner being assaulted following an altercation on the road, prompting calls for immediate action against the accused.

The incident sparked a political debate after claims circulated online that the accused was linked to the ruling BJP.

However, the Chief Minister dismissed those allegations, stating that the accused was not affiliated with the party. Police have already arrested the accused in connection with the incident. However, officials are yet to release detailed information regarding the charges invoked or the circumstances that led to the confrontation.

The viral video has generated widespread public concern over incidents of aggressive driving and road rage in urban areas. Netizens and civil society members have urged authorities to ensure swift prosecution of those responsible and to strengthen enforcement against violent behaviour on the roads.

The Assam government has repeatedly maintained that law and order violations will be dealt with firmly irrespective of the background or affiliation of those involved.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, and police are expected to record statements of witnesses and examine the video footage as part of the probe.

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Crime

Intoxicated passenger threatens to kill man in Mumbai local; arrested after threat video goes viral

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Mumbai, July 4: A disturbing incident aboard a Mumbai suburban local train has once again raised concerns over passenger safety after a man allegedly threatened to kill a fellow commuter during an altercation. The incident comes just weeks after a youth was stabbed on a Mumbai local train, leading to his death.

The accused was later arrested by the LTT Railway Police after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

The accused has been identified as Ramzan Fakir Mohammad Ibrahim Qureshi, also known as Ibba (36), a resident of Shivaji Nagar.

According to the Railway Police, he was allegedly travelling in a heavily intoxicated condition when he threatened the life of another passenger over what officials described as a trivial issue.

The Railway Police stated that the incident took place on June 29, 2026, aboard a ‘Down’ direction Mumbai local train that had departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). The train was passing near Govandi station at around 10:34 P.M. when the altercation occurred.

Officials said the confrontation took place between Govandi and Chembur stations. The complainant, Surendra Shukla (55), a resident of Ulwe in Navi Mumbai, told police that he had boarded the train at Govandi. He alleged that the accused was speaking to someone on his mobile phone while using abusive language in a loud voice and appeared to be heavily intoxicated.

According to Shukla, he requested the accused to refrain from using abusive language because women were travelling in the compartment. The request allegedly enraged the accused, who suddenly became aggressive, started shouting and allegedly threatened to kill him in full public view.

The incident created panic and an atmosphere of fear among passengers travelling in the compartment. During the altercation, another commuter recorded the entire episode on a mobile phone. The video was later uploaded on social media, where it spread rapidly and drew widespread attention.

After the video went viral, the LTT Railway Police took cognisance of the matter and immediately launched an investigation. Officials said the detection team carried out a technical analysis of the viral footage and examined CCTV footage from railway stations and nearby areas to identify the accused.

Based on the investigation, police tracked the accused’s movements and eventually detained him outside Reay Road railway station. He was subsequently arrested, and further legal proceedings are underway.

The incident comes close on the heels of another similar case reported in Borivali, adding to concerns over the safety and security of passengers on Mumbai’s suburban rail network.

On June 23, a 22-year-old passenger was stabbed to death inside a first-class compartment of a Churchgate-Nallasopara fast local train following an argument over keeping the coach door open during heavy rain, police said.

The victim, identified as Mayank Lohar, a resident of Virar, was travelling in the first-class coach of Train No. 90663, when the incident occurred between Andheri and Borivali stations, when he reportedly asked the accused Roshan Suvarna to close the coach door.

The request allegedly led to a heated argument between the two passengers. During the altercation, the accused Suvarna allegedly pulled out a sharp weapon and stabbed Lohar in the abdomen, inflicting serious injuries that led to his death.

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