Chennai, June 19 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday night clarified that it was spurious liquor that claimed innocent lives and not illicit liquor as claimed by the people in Kallakurichi district of the State.
An official release said precious lives were lost due to consumption of spurious liquor sold in sachets and the person who sold it was arrested.
It also said 200 litres spurious liquor were seized from the arrested person and they were sent to Villuppuram Zone forensic department and the reports confirmed traces of methanol found in it.
It said soon after hearing about the incident, Chief Minister M K Stalin has initiated action against
the erring officials.
Taking a serious view of the incident, Mr Stalin, apart from ordering transferring the probe to the Crime Branch-CID, also transferred the District Collector and suspended District Superintendent of Police Samay Singh Meena and nine other police personnel in connection with the incident with immediate effect.
Mr Rajath Chaturvedi and M S Prasanth were appointed as the new SP and Collector respectively.
Senior Ministers, including Health Minister Ma.Subramaniam and PWD Minister E V Velu have rushed to Kallakurichi to monitor the situation as directed by the Chief Minister and provide all necessary assistance to the victims.
Meanwhile, police have arrested a bootlegger Govindaraj alias Kannukutti (49) , who had sold the illicit liquor sachets. His wife and others were also being interrogated.
The government has formed a special 18-member medical team for providing treatment apart from deputing special team of doctors from Salem, Villuppuram and Tiruvannamalai districts to Kallakurichi.
UNI GV 2130