Tamil Nadu CB-CID begins probe into alcohol-related deaths
Chennai (IANS) | The elite CB-CID of the Tamil Nadu Police has started probing the alcohol-related deaths in Tamil Nadu. Twenty-two people have died and 55 are hospitalized after consuming spurious liquor in two separate incidents in Villupuram district and adjoining Chengalpattu district.
The distance between Marakkanam in Villupuram and Marakkanam in Chengalpattu is only 50 km and the police is probing whether the same spurious liquor was distributed at both the places.
ADSP Gomathi is in-charge of CB-CID probe in Villupuram district, while ADSP Maheshwari Chengalpattu is leading the CB-CID team probing the alcohol-related deaths.
Significantly, out of 22 people who lost their lives, 14 are from Marakkanam in Villupuram district while 8 are from Maruthanthakam in Chengalpattu district.
Tamil Nadu Police has already arrested chemical engineer and owner of Jayashakthi Chemicals Pvt Ltd S. Ilaya has arrested Nambi for allegedly supplying methanol, which is used for industrial purposes. He has also been charged with murder.
The police have also filed murder charges against 16 people who distributed spurious liquor in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts.
As per the local police investigation, Ilaya Nambi sold 1200 liters of methanol at a price of Rs 66,000 to Barkatullah alias Raja and R Ezhumalai of Puducherry. Petty smugglers bought liquor in small quantities from these people and distributed it to people at Ekkiyarkuppam in Marakkanam in Villupuram district and Sitamur near Maruthanthakam in Chengalpattu district.
It may be noted that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has already issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government over the hooch tragedy.
