Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: 3 accused sent to 15-day judicial custody; MLAs removed from Assembly for ‘chaotic’ protests

Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: A District Court judge has sent the three accused in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy to 15-day judicial custody until July 5. Govindaraj, Damadoran, and Vijaya are being detained at Cuddalore prison.

The death toll has risen to 47 on June 21, and at least another 30 people are in critical condition, PTI reported. 

The mortal remains of 29 people who died till Thursday were handed over to their relatives and the bodies were either buried or cremated, Kallakurichi District Collector Prasanth MS said. 

“A total of 165 people were admitted to the Kallakurichi, JIPMER, Salem and Mundiambakkam government hospitals after consuming spurious liquor. Of them, 47 have died so far. The condition of 30 among 118 undergoing treatment is critical. A heartening news is that three affected persons have recovered,” the collector said. 

He also appealed to those among the public who had consumed illicit liquor to voluntarily subject themselves to medical examination soon and undergo treatment if needed and thus avert possible threat to their lives.

On Friday morning, Tamil Nadu state opposition AIADMK MLAs wore black clothes at the State Assembly in Chennai to commemorate the dead. The session of the House began yesterday. However, chaos erupted both inside and outside the Assembly and protesting MLAs were being removed by the police.

Here's what we know so far…

• As many as 34 people died after consuming ‘methanol mixed arrack’ in the southern state.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on June 20 announced compensation of ₹10 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and people under treatment in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
• Stalin said the state Home Secretary and Director General of Police would submit a report on the incident.

• Officials have been directed to notify a one-man commission to be led by retired Madras High Court Judge B Gokuldas to make recommendations to the government on measures to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
• The Madras High Court division bench, comprising Justices D Krishnakumar and K Kumaresh Babu, has agreed to hear an urgent petition regarding the Kallakurichi illicit liquor tragedy. The petition, filed by AIADMK advocates, is scheduled for today, June 21.
• Further, Tamil Nadu state opposition AIADMK MLAs wore black clothes to the State Assembly in Chennai today. The protesting MLAs were removed by police after chaos erupted inside and outside the Assembly due to the protest.

• Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a CBI enquiry into the deaths caused by illicit liquor in Kallakurichi.
• Annamalai accused the ruling DMK government of involvement in the incident, alleging collusion between DMK members and local liquor sellers. In his letter, he mentioned “reliable sources” mentioned that the production and sale of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu is happening at the behest of party functionaries and cadres belonging to the DMK, where points of sale of such liquor are located near judicial courts, police stations, and other government offices.

• Annamalai announced ₹1 lakh each from Tamil Nadu BJP to those affected by the tragedy. “The death toll is expected to rise. In the last 4 hours, we have visited all houses. Tamil Nadu BJP is releasing ₹1 lakhs each to the families of the deceased,” he said.

(With inputs from Agencies)