E Palaniswami has demanded that Chief Minister MK Stalin resign.
Chennai:
Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts have mourned the death of 14 people after consuming spurious liquor this weekend.
Many fishermen were among the dead at Marakkanam. Tamil Selvi, a mother of two, is shattered. She has lost her husband Shankar. “He complained of thirst and a burning sensation in the stomach. I thought he had not eaten lunch. He died,” she said, crying.
51 people are undergoing treatment in hospitals of both the districts. Chief Minister MK Stalin, who visited those under medical care, blamed it on the use of deadly industrial methanol by bootleggers.
“Preliminary probe suggests that the tragedy occurred because criminals used industrial methanol to make illicit liquor. Those involved have been arrested. We will take strict action against all those involved,” he said. “
The state government has suspended 10 police officers, including the Villupuram SP and two DSPs, in charge of enforcing prohibition. The Chengalpattu police chief has been transferred.
The investigation has been transferred to the Crime Branch CID.
Tamil Nadu state BJP chief Annamalai and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami have criticized the ruling DMK for being incompetent. Mr. Palaniswami has demanded that the Chief Minister resign.
PMK chief Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said, “Almost 5 lakh people die every year in Tamil Nadu due to alcohol. No one talks about it. We are only talking about these 14 cases. We want complete prohibition.” “
In the crackdown following the tragedy, more than 400 suspected liquor smugglers have been arrested.
While the ruling party has promised a phased prohibition, the DMK government was recently criticized for introducing automatic liquor vending machines in shops and allowing liquor at international events, which has been stayed by a court.
Last year, the state government earned Rs 44,000 crore from the sale of liquor.
Over the years, successive state governments have argued that prohibition would lead to a flood of illegal liquor.
The current tragedy – which is seen as a failure by enforcement agencies – has put more pressure on the ruling DMK to accelerate the gradual closure of liquor shops.