Death toll in Tamil Nadu spurious liquor tragedy rises to 20

Villupuram: The death toll in two incidents of spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpet districts rose to 20 on Tuesday. According to the police, two separate incidents of death due to spurious liquor have been reported in the northern region of Tamil Nadu. Police said 13 people died in Villupuram and 7 in Chengalpattu.

Police said that a person named Amaran has been arrested in this connection and he has been sent to the laboratory to detect the presence of methanol in the spurious liquor seized from his possession. On Sunday, Chief Minister Stalin announced Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased and also announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 to those hospitalised.

He also directed the concerned authorities to provide special treatment to the people admitted to the hospital in the incident. He also said that the government is taking strict steps to curb illegal liquor and drugs.

“As per the forensic report, it was found that those liquors are not meant for human consumption and they are methanol toxic liquor used in the industry,” DGP Silendra Babu said on Tuesday. The spurious liquor seized from Ekiyarkuppam village of Marakkanam in Villupuram district has been sent for forensic analysis.

“In the Vilupuram incident, Amaran was arrested. On probing him, it was found that he had brought the spurious liquor from Muthu and Muthu said that he had brought it from Pondicherry Elumajalai,” he added.

The DGP said that the spurious liquor that created hue and cry in both the districts was brought from the same place and the same person. “Similarly, Ammavasai has been arrested, who sold spurious liquor in Chithamoor, Perunkaranai and Perambakkam. Ammavasai also took those spurious liquor and underwent hospital treatment. During interrogation, he said that he was Velu and his brother Chandiran Had brought spurious liquor from.”

Meanwhile, when he was questioned, he said that he had brought liquor from Panayur-Rajesh and he said that he had brought spurious liquor from Vilampur Viji. Vilambur Viji said that spurious liquor was brought from Pondicherry.”

Earlier, the police had said that no evidence has been found to link the two incidents. He also said that in the year 2022, 1,40,649 cases have been registered in relation to spurious liquor and 1,39,697 accused have been arrested.

“37,217 liters of spurious liquor has been seized and 2,957 vehicles have been seized which were used to smuggle spurious liquor,” he added. Similarly, according to the official, in this year 2023, 55,414 cases have been registered and 55,173 accused have been arrested in connection with spurious liquor.

So far 2,55,078 spurious liquor has been seized. 69 vehicles used in smuggling spurious liquor have been seized. 79 accused have been arrested under the Gundas Act. Used to steal poisonous liquor from industries and sell it. Because of that this unpleasant incident has happened. The DGP said from which industry the spurious spurious liquor came and its link is being probed.