The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notice to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu over the death of people by consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of the state.
Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, which alleged that several people have died and many have been hospitalised allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu since May 12, the Commission directed the senior government functionaries to file a detailed report on the matter within four weeks.
Noting that the state government apparently failed to prohibit sale and consumption of illicit/spurious liquor, the Commision said the report should include the status of FIR registered by the police, medical treatment of the victims and compensation, if any, granted to the aggrieved families.
The State Chief Secretary and the Tamil Nadu DGP were further directed to include in the report, action taken against the delinquent officers responsible for the tragedy.
According to media reports, the illicit liquor sold as Arrack, was a cocktail of methanol, chemicals and water, which was consumed mostly by the fishermen from the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
The Commission observed that the contents of media reports, if true, amounted to violation of the right to life of the people.