Nearly two years after 14 people died by consuming spurious liquor in Marakkanam, Tamil Nadu, five police personnel have been sent on compulsory retirement for their alleged links with bootleggers. The order was issued on Saturday, March 22, by Villupuram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Disha Mittal.
The five officers include: Velu (head constable, Roshanai police station), Senthilkumar (head constable, Arakandanallur police station), Muthukumar (Kanjanur police station), Gunasekaran (Vikravandi police station), and Prabhu (Sathyamangalam police station).
They were suspended earlier but resumed duty while a departmental inquiry was ongoing. In the inquiry, the charges against them were proved and the orders were issued based on the report of an inquiry committee.
On May 13, 2023, over 50 people in Ekkiyarkuppam, a coastal fishing village in Villupuram district, consumed methanol-laced illicit liquor. Soon after, many developed symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and eye irritation. Several were rushed to JIPMER hospital in Puducherry and the Government Medical College Hospital in Mundiyampakkam, Villupuram.
Despite medical treatment, 14 people from villages near Marakkanam, including Ekkiyarkuppam, lost their lives. The tragedy also claimed eight lives in Chengalpattu district, as some had purchased the illicit liquor from Marakkanam.
Following the incident, several senior police officers were suspended for failing to prevent the sale of illicit liquor. This included the then-Villupuram Superintendent of Police (SP) N Shreenatha, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), two inspectors, three sub-inspectors, and two other police personnel. Over 10 policemen were dismissed for their alleged links with bootleggers arrested in connection with the case.
The CB-CID, which took over the investigation, reclassified the case as murder and arrested 15 illicit liquor sellers. They were later remanded in custody.