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11 killed TN hooch tragedy

Eleven people died and about 60 others were hospitalised after they consumed illicit liquor at Puttalur village near Sivapatti in Thiruvalore district early today.

According to reports received at the police headquarters in Madras, the majority of the victims of the killer brew belonged to Puttalur village and neighbouring Ramapuram colony. The condition of some of the hospitalised was serious and some persons had lost their eyesight.

Several others who had consumed the liquor were rushing to hospital for check-up and treatment till late this afternoon.

According to official sources, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who is touring Namakkal, on hearing about the tragedy, contacted top officials at the state secretariat, following which seven police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were placed under suspension.

Top police officials including additional director-general of police (enforcement) A X Alexander have rushed to the spot and police were on the look out for one Jayaraman, who sold the spurious liquor.

The victims had consumed the killer brew after visiting the house of panchayat official Nityanandam who passed away last night.

This is the second major hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu in the last one year. In August last, 41 persons had died in Hosur after consuming a killer brew mixed with methanol stolen from a tanker.

UNI

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