Tamil Nadu DGP orders action on illegal liquor vends

Chennai (IANS) | Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) C. Silendrababu on Monday ordered a crackdown on bootlegs selling bootleg liquor after 12 people died of spurious liquor in two separate incidents over the weekend. The DGP has directed Villupuram district superintendent of police, Chengalpattu city police commissioner and Prohibition and Enforcement Wing (PEW) officials to conduct raids on spurious liquor vends.

Fatalities were reported from Villupuram and Chengalpattu.

Police are of the opinion that the victims may have consumed illicit liquor mixed with industrial alcohol, which contains methanol.

According to the police, in Villupuram, preliminary investigation revealed that the victims had consumed spurious liquor or local liquor, while those who died and were hospitalized in Chengalpattu had consumed industrial liquor.

Police arrested Amaran (27) for supplying spurious liquor in Villupuram district, while Ammavasai (40) was caught in Chengalpattu for selling mixed industrial liquor to people.

Seven policemen have been suspended.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has already announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those hospitalised.

–IANS