The death toll in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy has tragically climbed to 47, with eight additional deaths reported among those who consumed the illicit liquor/packet arracks in Karunapuram, Kallakurichi. The victims include four women and one transgender individual. Most of the fatalities occurred overnight on 20 June 2024, and primarily affected residents of Karunapuram. Currently, 117 others are receiving medical treatment at Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital, as well as hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry. Out of these, 28 individuals are in critical condition.
Amidst this crisis, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a key ally of the ruling DMK, which had maintained silence until now, has voiced criticism against both the DMK and its leadership M K Stalin. VCK MP D Ravikumar has openly criticized ally DMK, while VCK chief and MP Thirumavalavan has called for complete liquor prohibition in Tamil Nadu.
VCK MP D Ravikumar has called on the central government to enforce nationwide “complete prohibition” to promote sobriety across the country. Speaking to reporters after visiting victims of the illicit liquor consumption, he highlighted the failure of successive Union (Congress) governments to implement the recommendations of the Prohibition Enquiry Committee’s 1954-55 report, which originally scheduled prohibition to begin on 1 April 1955. Ravikumar emphasized that the promised prohibition never materialized and criticized state governments for resorting to liquor sales as a revenue source, despite the risks of spurious alcohol deaths.
Regarding the Kallakurichi incident, the MP expressed deep regret, drawing parallels with the 2023 tragedy in Chengalpattu caused by methanol poisoning from illicit liquor consumption. He questioned how bootleggers obtained methanol, a controlled substance strictly meant for industrial use, and criticized the administration for failing to monitor its distribution, despite assurances from the state government about restricting its access for non-industrial purposes.
Ravikumar stated, “The fact that more than forty people have died after drinking poisonous liquor has caused a lot of shock. In May 2023, 22 people died after drinking the same poisonous alcohol mixed with methanol in Marakkanam area of Villupuram district. At that time the Tamil Nadu government announced that we will monitor and control the movement of methanol supply. If proper monitoring and control been taken, this death would not have happened this far. Therefore, we insist that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu should first come forward to regulate the distribution of methanol properly and take appropriate action.”
He later emphasized that methanol cannot be produced by individuals but is strictly supplied to industries. He insisted on a thorough investigation into its origin and the parties responsible, suggesting they be treated as culprits. He condemned the arrack sellers for knowingly causing deaths by distributing methanol-laced liquor, advocating for them to face murder charges. He criticized the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s decision to merely transfer and suspend prohibition police officers, arguing that this was inadequate. Instead, he urged for them to be considered accomplices and face murder charges as well.
Later, in a critique aimed at the DMK government, Ravikumar mocked their approach, stating that despite the government’s rationale of running TASMAC liquor shops to combat illicit liquor, the inability to control the spread of illicit alcohol makes this justification unacceptable. He firmly asserted that the Tamil Nadu government should initiate a phased implementation of prohibition instead.
40 உயிர்.. போன தடவையே நடவடிக்கை எடுத்திருந்தா இப்போ இந்த மாறி நடந்திருக்குமா? அதிகாரிகளை இடமாற்றம் செஞ்சா மட்டும் போதுமா? – தமிழக அரசை சாடிய விசிக எம்.பி. ரவிக்குமார் #Kallakurichi | #Death | #Liquor | #Methanol | #Investigation | #LiquorDeath | #VCK | #KallakurichiIssue |… pic.twitter.com/1kruJUo4py
— Polimer News (@polimernews) June 20, 2024
Regarding this matter, VCK chief Thirumavalavan issued a statement condemning the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy and advocating for complete prohibition. He emphasized that more than forty people had lost their lives due to poisonous liquor in Kallakurichi and stressed that the only permanent solution to this problem is the enforcement of total prohibition.
கள்ளக்குறிச்சியில்#நச்சு_சாராயம் – நாற்பதுக்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் பலி!
முழு மதுவிலக்கை நடைமுறைப்படுத்துவதே இக்கொடுமையைத் தடுக்கும் நிரந்தரத் தீர்வு!
விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சி அறிக்கை!
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கள்ளக்குறிச்சியில் 'மெத்தனால்' என்னும் அடர் ஆல்கஹால் கலந்த… pic.twitter.com/8HZgR3epsk— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) June 20, 2024
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