TTV Dhinakaran Blames DMK for Kallakurichi Hooch Tragedy, Demands CBI Inquiry
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 23: TTV Dhinakaran, the General Secretary of Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK), has called the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy a “failure of the DMK government” and has demanded an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He stated, “This is a failure of the DMK government. DMK functionaries are responsible for these deaths. Due to this incident, for three months there would be a complete ban on this spurious liquor but after that, it would be back to older times. CM Stalin is scared to face people; hence, he hasn’t met the victims until now. AMMK demands a CBI inquiry into this.”
The death toll in the Tamil Nadu Hooch tragedy has risen to 56, according to the district administration’s report. The District Collectorate of Kallakurichi reported that 216 patients were admitted to four hospitals in Tamil Nadu after consuming illicit liquor. At Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Pondy, 17 patients are alive and three have died. At Vilupuram Medical College, four people are alive and four have died. Most deaths occurred at Kallakurichi Medical College, where 31 people have died and 108 are alive. At Salem Medical College, 30 people are alive, and 18 have died. Official data states that 160 people were admitted to the hospitals, and 56 have died.
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragedy, led by retired Madras High Court judge Justice B Gokuldas, who will submit a report within three months. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each deceased victim and Rs 50,000 for each person under treatment. The CB-CID of Tamil Nadu police, led by SP Shantharam, has commenced a probe into the tragedy. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, according to the Kallakurichi Collector.
