Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: I’ll take any drastic measure to protect people from anti-socials, Stalin says

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Friday urged the opposition not to try to gain political mileage out of the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi and promised strong measures to protect people from anti-social elements. A total of 47 people had died without responding to medical treatment, and 117 are still undergoing treatment as in-patients in the four hospitals, said the CM in the assembly.By evening, however, the death toll rose to 50.
The CM announced additional relief measures for the affected families. Govt would take care of educational expenses of children, who lost either of their parents, and children who lost both parents, would get an additional allowance of Rs 5,000 per month until they attain 18 years of age. Immediate relief from the CM’s public relief fund would include Rs 3 lakh or Rs 5 lakh, depending on whether the child lost one or both parents.
Replying to a special calling attention motion moved by the opposition on the tragic incident in Kallakurichi, Stalin, who also handles the portfolio of home department, said he was not running away from any issue. He said four people had been arrested. Methanol used in the liquor had been illegally procured from Puducherry, he added.
“We will bring anyone involved in the incident to justice. I am reining in criminals with an iron hand. Methanol produced in the neighbouring state is brought into our state illegally and is causing such incidents,” he said.
Detailing the govt’s actions, Stalin said his govt had filed 4.63 lakh cases against bootleggers and arrested 4.61 lakh people in the past three years.
He added that Goondas Act had been invoked against 565 people, including 58, in Kallakurichi. The authorities seized and destroyed 16.51 lakh litre of spurious liquor and 1.42 lakh litre of rectified spirit during this period.
The chief minister said 57 govt doctors from various regions were deployed in Kallakurichi hospital to expedite treatment, in addition to the existing 161 doctors. “Lifesaving medicines are adequately stocked, and medicines are also procured from the open market to save the people,” he said.
Amid questions over the fate of the CB-CID probe into the previous fatalities in Villupuram and Chengalpet last year, Stalin said 21 people were arrested and Goondas Act was imposed on eight people in Villupuram.
Sixteen police officers faced disciplinary action. “Investigation revealed that methanol was procured from Andhra Pradesh. Chargesheet has been filed in Villupuram court,” the CM said.