Tamil Nadu Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll Rises To 17; Police Starts Crackdown On Bootleggers, Large Quantities Of Illicit Liquor Seized

The death toll in the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy has risen to 17, with fresh deaths being reported from both the districts, i.e., Villupuram and Chengalpattu. Several others have been admitted to hospitals.

The police have raided bootleggers in many districts. In Villupuram district, 55 bootleggers have been arrested. 109 litres of illicit arrack and over 400 liquor bottles have been seized from them.

22 people were arrested in Cuddalore district and produced before a local court. The court ordered judicial custody of the accused.

Similarly, 44 were arrested in Tiruvarur district.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) has called for the resignation of Chief Minister MK Stalin and Excise Minister V Senthil Balaji for their failure to curb the sale of illicit liquor in the state.

Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the victims of the tragedy yesterday (15 May) to offer his condolences. He announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50000 to those undergoing treatment.

Critics of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have questioned the government on the issue of compensation. They said that while the government announced Rs 3 lakh for those who died in an explosion at a cracker factory, it has announced Rs 10 lakh for those who died after consuming spurious liquor.