CHENNAI, MAY 16
Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) Sylendra Babu issued a statement on Monday, stating that 1,558 persons were arrested and 1,842 cases registered in connection with illicit liquor trade in the last two days. So far, at least 19 people have died in Villupuram and Chengalpattu from drinking spurious liquor.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued here on Tuesday, DGP Sylendra Babu said that the case has been transferred to CB-CID as per the directions of the Chief Minister.
According to the DGP’s statement, in a crackdown ordered after the deaths were first reported from Villupuram and Chengalpattu, police seized 19,028 litres of illicit liquor. Liquor bottles containing 4,943 litres of spurious liquor were destroyed, and 16,493 bottles of counterfeit IMFL (Indian-made Foreign Liquor) were seized.
The statement said that so far in 2023, a total of 55,474 cases have been registered in connection with illicit liquor, and 55,173 persons, including 4,534 women, have been arrested. It also said that 2,55,078 litres of spurious liquor had been seized so far this year. In addition, 1,077 motor vehicles used to smuggle liquor, including 69 four-wheelers, have also been seized this year and seventy-nine persons have been booked under the Tamil Nadu Goondas Act.
Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that Villupuram Superintendent of Police Shreenatha and two Deputy Superintendents of Police of the Prohibition Enforcement Wing were suspended over the tragedy. The SP of Chengalpattu A Pradeep was transferred and placed on a compulsory wait list.
After meeting victims, EPS slams DMK govt
https://twitter.com/premnba/status/1658461683889872897?s=20
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary K Palaniswami on Tuesday met the persons who are undergoing treatment after consuming spurious liquor in the district. The AIADMK general secretary also slammed the ruling DMK over the issue of hooch and alleged action was not being taken against those selling illicit liquor. Referring to the Marakkanam hooch tragedy here, he said those undergoing treatment were suffering from health issues, including eyesight problems.
“This is a sad and shocking incident. This government has not brought any schemes in the last two years. Those selling spurious liquor are not facing action,” he told reporters after meeting the affected persons undergoing treatment at a government hospital here.
