The ruling DMK had promised to shut down liquor shops in a phased manner.
Chennai:
Two people died allegedly after consuming liquor at a bar in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district. Earlier this week, 22 people died after allegedly consuming industrial methanol.
The men have been identified as fisherman Kuppasamy and driver Vivek.
A forensic analysis of samples collected from the bodies of the two men has confirmed the presence of cyanide and ruled out methanol, a deadly concoction made by illegal brewers. Methanol used for industrial purposes has an odor of alcohol.
Thanjavur Collector Dinesh Ponraj Oliver said, “Police are probing whether it was a case of suicide or murder.”
In an apparent case of violation, the bar allegedly served liquor even before the liquor vends opened at 12 noon, substantiating the opposition’s allegations that the bars sell alcohol illegally.
District Superintendent of Police Ashish Rawat said, “The CCTVs installed at the bar are not working and we are collecting evidence.”
Industrial methanol consumption claimed 22 lives in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts earlier this week.
Still about forty people are undergoing treatment. The government had suspended ten police personnel, including the SP of Villupuram district, and two DSPs in charge of prohibition enforcement. SP of Chengalpattu transferred
In Tamil Nadu, the opposition has criticized the government as incompetent. AIADMK chief EPS, who has demanded Chief Minister MK Stalin’s resignation, will on Monday lead a protest against the ruling DMK and submit a petition to the state governor demanding a probe.
Alleging illegal sale of liquor in government shops, BJP state chief K Annamalai has demanded the resignation of Senthil Balaji, the minister in charge of liquor. However, a senior police officer denied Mr. Annamalai’s allegation.
A senior police officer told NDTV, “The liquor served at the bar was genuine liquor supplied by the state government. It was not illegal liquor.”
Last year, the sale of liquor generated a revenue of Rs 44,000 crore for the state government.
The ruling DMK had promised to shut down liquor shops in a phased manner.
In the last two years, the government claims that around 90 shops were closed and it is working on closing 500 more.
However, the state government’s move to allow liquor to be served at international events was criticized as a move to increase liquor sales and was stayed by the court.