Toll in Kerala toddy tragedy rises to 17

Malappuram (Kerala) (IANS) - The death toll in the Malappuram hooch tragedy rose to 17 Monday with the death of eight more people. The dead include five people from Tamil Nadu.

The people had consumed toddy from five liquor shops in this Kerala district, officials said. According to officials, the toddy contained methyl alcohol.

Toddy is a traditional local drink extracted from either a coconut tree or a palm tree flowers.

"We have now reports that those who died have been drinking from these shops for the past two days. While one person died two days back, it was initially written off as a heart attack, but now it appears that was not the case.
While some died last (Sunday) night, the others passed away today (Monday)," local legislator T.K. Jaleel told IANS.

"One more is in serious condition, while another has turned blind. The preliminary report indicates that the toddy contained methyl alcohol," Jaleel said.

The five toddy shops were located in and around Kuttipuram area. The district administration has closed down all the toddy shops in the district until further orders.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who visited the area, said that none of the guilty would be spared.

"We have asked for a murder case to be registered against those responsible. One person who looks after the shops has been arrested. The guilty won't be spared," he said.

Police arrested Unnikrishnan and Balakrishnan who hold the license for these shops. One of the shop employees has also been arrested.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said a judicial probe would be ordered and announced compensation of Rs.1 lakh each for the kin of the dead.

Angry Congress workers smashed the toddy shops to vent their anger.

State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

"For some time Kerala has been under the siege of illicit liquor and the government is a silent witness to the free flow of illicit stuff. Only a probe by a sitting judge would reveal everything," he said.

Meanwhile, the organisers of Tuesday's shutdown organised by eight trade unions at the national level has decided to exempt Malappuram district from the stir in view of the tragedy.