As many as 10 persons including three women have died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts in north Tamil Nadu.
Six persons including a woman hailing from Ekkiyarkuppam near Marakkanam in Villupuram district died on Sunday. In Maduranthagam in Chengalpattu district, two persons died on Friday and a couple died on Sunday, all caused due to illicit liquor consumption. Over a dozen persons from Ekkiyarkuppam are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Puducherry.
Police sources said over 15 persons, mostly fishermen from the coastal hamlet of Ekkiyarkuppam, had bought the brew from Amaran. It was reportedly a cocktail of methanol, chemicals, and water, sold as arrack. The villagers started falling ill after consuming it. They were rushed to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) and Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
“Though Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) is mostly smuggled into the district from Puducherry, the demand for the illicitly distilled arrack has been on the rise. This demand has spurred an illegal network of officials and bootleggers that operates with impunity,” sources said. Superintendent of Police N. Shreenatha visited Marakkanam and held inquiries.
In Chengalpattu, four persons died after consuming suspected methylated spirit in two villages near Maduranthagam.
Director-General of Police C. Sylendra Babu ordered the suspension of Inspectors Arun Vadivel Azhagan (Marakkanam) and Maria Sobi Manjula (Kottakuppam-Prohibition Enforcement Wing); and Sub-inspectors Deepan (Marakkanam) and Sivagurunathan (PEW) in connection with the Villupuram incident.
In Chengalpattu district, Melmaruvathur Inspector Prem Anand, Siddhamoor Sub-Inspector Mohanasundaram, and PEW Sub-Inspector Ramesh were suspended.
Six special police teams have been formed to establish the source of the methanol-based brew, which Amaran (25) of Marakkanam, since arrested, procured in sachets and supplied to the victims in Villupuram. Mr. Babu said two persons, Ammavasai and Ravi, have been arrested in connection with the spurious liquor tragedy in Chengalpattu.
Those who died on Sunday have been identified as Sankar, 55; Dharanivel, 50; Suresh, 65; Rajamoorthy, 55; Malarvizhi, 60; and Mannankatti, 65; all belonging to Ekkiyarkuppam village.
Police at Siddhamoor Police station had received information on Saturday that three members of a family, who had consumed liquor had fallen unconscious in Perunkaranai village of whom two had died. A senior police officer said, “We initially thought it was case of suicide. Later we found symptoms of methanol poisoning. On further investigation, it was found they had taken some kind of illicit arrack.”
Police said Chinnathambi, 34, his wife Anjali, 22, and mother-in-law Vasantha, 42, living in a tribal settlement in Perumkaranai had consumed the liquor on Thursday night. On Friday neighbours found them unconscious and rushed them to Government Hospital, Maduranthakam where Chinnathambi and Vasantha died. Anjali is critical.
Police arrested one Amavasai who said he procured the brew from Puducherrry and gave to workers in his farmland.
During investigations, police learnt a couple Venniyappan, 65 and Chandra, 55 of Perambakkam died on Sunday at a hospital. They had consumed the same liquor supplied by Amavasai.
Inspector-General of Police, North, N. Kannan told The Hindu, “We are checking if there is any connection between the incidents in Marakkanam and Maduranthagam. As of now, there is no evidence to connect them. Preliminary investigation suggests methylated spirit was used. From the contents we received at Marakkanam and lab reports also suggest the brew had methanol - around 6%. It was used for industrial purposes,” he said adding the other suspects will be arrested soon.
He denied claims that people died of consuming liquor available from TASMAC.
DGP Babu said, “We don’t have samples as regards the Maduranthagam incident. Going by preliminary inquiries, investigators had reasons to suspect it could be a case of over consumption or even poisoning.”
Mr. Babu told The Hindu Commissioners/Superintendents of Police have been ordered to conduct checks at vulnerable locations that had a history of spurious liquor or illicit arrack sale. The menace of illegal distilleries has been contained to a large extent and the brewing was reported in some parts of the State bordering Puducherry and Karaikal, he said.
Ammavasai, who too had consumed the brew, is undergoing treatment at Chengalpet Government Medical College and Hospital.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to families of three of the deceased in Marakkanam (based on initial toll).
In a statement, he said he has instructed for ensuring medical treatment for those admitted and an assistance of ₹50,000 to each of them.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)
