Villupuram (Tamil Nadu): As many as 10 people including three women died allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu. This included six people from Ekkiyarkuppam near Marakkanam in Villupuram district and two from Maduranthagam in Chengalpattu district.
Police sources said that more than two dozen people are undergoing treatment. Following the incident, Inspector General of Police (North) N Kannan said that all 10 victims may have consumed spurious liquor with ethanol-methanol substances in it.
Two separate incidents of spurious liquor deaths have been reported in the north zone of Tamil Nadu, one in Chengalpattu district and another one in Villupuram district. However, police have not found any link between the two incidents.
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In Ekkiyarkuppam village under Villupuram district near Marakkanam six were hospitalised with complaints of vomiting, eye irritation and giddiness. All of them died subsequently. A man identified as Amaran has been arrested in connection with the incident. Spurious liquor was seized from his possession and sent to the lab to ascertain the presence of methanol in it.
In Chengalpattu, one case was reported from Chithamur where two persons from the same family died. Initially, it was thought to be a case of death by suicide owing to a family dispute. However, after examining their symptom we suspected that it could be due to consumption of spurious liquor.
Another two were admitted to the hospital with similar symptoms and died subsequently. While four were dead from Chengalpattu another victim is undergoing treatment. The police have arrested one, Ammavasai in connection with the incident.
In both incidents, some of the accused are absconding. Special teams have been formed to nab them. In the Villupuram Marakkanam, 2 inspectors and 2 sub-inspectors have been suspended. In Chengalpattu, an inspector and 2 sub-inspectors have been suspended. (With agency inputs)
