The Hindu : Front Page : Illicit liquor claims 17 lives in Kolar, Bangalore

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Monday, May 19, 2008
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Illicit liquor claims 17 lives in Kolar, Bangalore

Karnataka Bureau

Seven arrested; many in critical condition

— Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

ANXIOUS: Relatives of liquor tragedy victims in front of the Lady Curzon and Bowring Hospital in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: As many as 17 people, including four women, died after consuming illicit liquor in two places in Kolar district and Devara Jeevanahalli in Bangalore city on Sunday.

Seven people, including a woman, died and many are in critical condition after they consumed illicit liquor sold at Roshan Nagar in Devara Jeevanahalli police limits.

According to the police, the dead have been identified as Dorai (42), Moula (38), Rani (40), N. Dorai (50), Manikham (40), Malakundiaya (55) and Babu (60), all residents of Roshan Nagar and surrounding areas.

Angry residents damaged the shop around 10.30 p.m. where the liquor was being sold alleging that the police had failed to take action against those who were illegally selling illicit liquor. However, the police interfered and dispersed the mob.

The tragedy occurred after people, mainly belonging to labour class, consumed illicit liquor between 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. at a petty shop, located near D.J. Halli police station, and began vomiting. Some even collapsed.

The police said that while some people vomited after reaching their houses, others collapsed near hotels and shops where they went to eat after consuming illicit liquor.

As the number of people affected after consuming the liquor increased, the residents rushed the victims to nearby hospitals, including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College Hospital, where a couple of them were declared brought dead. Many were shifted to the Government Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Shivajinagar as private hospitals did not have enough doctors and paramedical staff to treat such a large number of patients. The victims were shifted to hospitals in ambulances, police patrol vehicles and private vehicles.

Many of those who had consumed liquor from that particular shop earlier in the day were also rushed to hospitals by their family members.

Ten in Kolar

Ten persons, including three women, died after allegedly drinking illicit liquor in two places of Kolar district.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with the two incidents.

While five persons died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor at Narsapur in Kolar taluk, as many died at Tekal in Malur taluk. The victims at Narsapur have been identified as Manjunath (35), Chinnakka (55), Narayanswamy (35), Muniswamy (35) and Narayanamma (55). The names of those who died at Tekal have been given as Karagappa (45), Dyavappa (56) and Subrahmanya (35), Krishnappa and Ramakka.

A few of the victims died on Saturday night and others on Sunday. Seven persons have been admitted in local hospitals and the District SNR Hospital, Kolar. Some have been shifted to the R.L. Jalappa Hospital, according to Rural Circle Inspector of Police.

Enraged by the incident, people staged a protest at Narsapur demanding that compensation be paid to the families of the victims. They raised slogans against the police and excise officials for their alleged failure in preventing the sale of illicit liquor in their village.

Superintendent of Police Seemanthkumar Singh and Excise Deputy Commissioner Jayaram visited Narsapur and Tekal.

Mr. Singh said seven had been arrested in this connection.

Illicit liquor was supplied from Byalnarasapur in Hoskote taluk of Bangalore district, the sources said.

Charge

Such tragedies in the district are a result of connivance of officers of the Police and Excise departments with the illicit liquor lobby, Gandhinagar Narayanswamy, member of the State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), alleged.

Seeking compensation to the families of the victims, Mr. Narayanswamy said that action should be taken against the officials responsible for the two incidents in the district.

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