With the fear of the spurious liquor spreading to nearby areas toddy shops in Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur districts were shut down after one person was admitted to hospital in Thrissur.
Kerala government today sought the services of a sitting high court judge to conduct judicial probe into the hooch tragedy in Malappuram which claimed 23 lives while five persons were arrested a part of the investigations and closed down toddy shops in three districts.
With the fear of the spurious liquor spreading to nearby areas toddy shops in Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur districts were shut down after one person was admitted to hospital in Thrissur with eye problem after consuming toddy from a shop.
A deputy commissioner and an assistant commissioner of excise in Malappuram were placed under and the authorities indicated that action against more officials are likely in the coming days.
The preliminary assessment based on analyses of samples collected from the affected areas was that toddy was laced with methyl alcohol to make it more heady, official sources said.
Police had arrested two more persons today, taking the total arrests to five in the case, including Unnikrishnan and Balakrishnan, the licensees of the toddy shop at Kuttippuram
in Malappuram where most of the casualties happened.
Those arrested yesterday included one Dhravyan, the key suspect who was allegedly running the shop at Kuttippuram as benami for the licensees.
According to police and excise sources, the toddy was sourced
mainly from Palakkad district and it was mixed with chemical
substances to increase the kick.
Searches conducted at the house and godown of Dravyan last night yielded documents throwing light into the wealth amassed by him through liquor trade, sources said.
Engraged people in Malappuram and Palakkad let loose their ire at toddy shops in many places in the area.
A meeting of the state cabinet announced a solatium of Rs5 lakh each for the kin of those died, Rs4 lakh each for those who lost the eye sight.
Chief minister VS Achuthanandan said murder charges would be brought against the culprits and authorities had been asked to take stringent action against adulteration of liquor.
The tragedy came at a time when liquor consumption and sales reached dangerous proportions in Kerala, especially during the festival season.
It also came as an embarrassment to the ruling LDF as the state is getting for the local body polls of next month.
Meanwhile, the Congress led United Democratic Front today demanded the resignation of excise minister P Gurdusan, owning
moral responsibility for the tragedy.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of UDF partners at Kochi, front convenor PP Thankachan said chief minister VS Achuthanandan should remove him from the cabinet if he does
not resign.
The UDF also demanded that the compensation to the next of kin of those who died be raised to Rs10 lakh from Rs5 lakh and that those hospitalised be provided free treatment.
On selection of candidates for the panchayat polls, he said winnability would be the sole criteria. Strong action would be
taken against rebel candidates, he said, adding that those having any connection with fundamentalist outfits would not be made candidates.
During the elections, UDF would raise issues relating to corruption during the LDF government's tenure, corruption in
LDF ruled panchayats and the government's 'lacklustre' attitude towards development, he said.
Thankachan alleged that the LDF had cut short the authority of the panchayats and reduced funds of the local bodies and said both would be restored if the UDF comes to power.
The Congress would also hold talks with three factions of Kerala Congress led by KM Mani, R Balakrishna Pillai and TM Jacob today on seat sharing for the polls, he added.
Opposition leader Oommen Chandy told reporters after holding separate talks with Mani, Balakrishna Pillai and Jacob that the talks were friendly and it was decided that all partners would cooperate with seat sharing arrangements for the Panchayat polls. "It is important that the front should be united".
Apparently referring to the Mani faction, which has been demanding more seats after its merger with Kerala Congress
(Joseph), Pillai said front partners should not seek more seats.
Mani and Jacob said talks will continue.
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