60 under treatment, Collector-SP removed; The investigation of the incident has been handed over to the CID
Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi has taken the death toll to 34, while more than 60 are undergoing treatment at different hospitals. According to the police, these people had consumed liquor available in packets.
Most of the victims of the June 18 incident at Karunapuram in Kallakurichi district were daily wage labourers. After drinking alcohol, these people started having diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and eye irritation at night.
Police have arrested 4 people including K Kannukutty (49) in this case. About 200 liters of toxic liquor mixed with methanol was seized from Kannukutty.
12 ambulances are stationed at Kallakurichi. According to the police, the postmortem of the deceased is being done. The actual cause of death will come out after the report.
After this incident, the state government has removed the Collector-SP of Kallakurichi. MS Prashant has been appointed as Collector and Rajat Chaturvedi as SP in his place.
The hearing will be held tomorrow in the Madras High Court
AIADMK lawyers appealed to the Madras High Court for an urgent hearing on the Kallakurichi case. A bench of Justice D Krishnakumar and K Kumaresh Babu agreed to hold the hearing on June 21.
The Chief Minister has directed to set up a commission to probe the liquor scam under the chairmanship of retired Madras High Court judge B Gokuldas. It has also been announced to give assistance of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
A special team of doctors was called to Kallakurichi Hospital
More than 20 people have been admitted to Kallakuri Medical College Hospital. 18 were referred to Puducherry JIPMER and 6 to Salem. Medicines have been brought from Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai and Salem for their treatment. A special team of doctors has been called at Kallakurichi Hospital. Senior officials of the health department are present at the spot.
Investigation handed over to CB-CID, DM, SP removed
The state government has handed over the investigation of the case to CB-CID. Also, Kallakurichi DM Shravan Kumar Jatwath has been transferred, while SP Samay Singh Meena has been suspended. Apart from this, 9 policemen including the police of alcoholism branch of Kallakurichi district have been suspended.
CM Stalin has sent Ministers EV Velu and Subramaniam to Kallakurichi to help the affected families. MS Prashant has been appointed as the new District Collector and Rajath Chaturvedi as the SP. Salem Range DIG Uma said – 7 SPs and 1000 policemen are on duty in Kallakurichi. A help desk has also been created.
The opposition will attack the government
AIADMK has attacked the state government over the issue of people dying due to drinking adulterated liquor. Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami said around 40 people were admitted to hospital after drinking poisoned liquor.
Since the DMK government came to power, deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor have continued. I am also raising this issue in the assembly and demanding action. I demand that the state government should take strict action on this issue.
PMK founder leader S Ramdas demanded that Stalin take responsibility for the death. He alleged that the police department and the government were unable to control the sale of fake liquor. He has demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each from the government to the families of the deceased.
BJP State President Annamalai said DMK did not learn a lesson after the death of 22 people last year and 5 more people died today due to their mismanagement.
There is no accountability in the DMK government. His ministers take pictures with those who sell poisoned liquor. They have no fear.
