Kallakurichi hooch tragedy claimed 70 lives and left 161 people with partial or permanent disabilities.
CHENNAI: Retired judge Justice B Gokuldas commission constituted by the previous DMK govt, has held police, prohibition enforcement and revenue officials responsible for the June 2024 Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which claimed 70 lives and left 161 people with partial or permanent disabilities. Illicitly distilled arrack was being sold barely 250 metres from the Kallakurichi police station and 200 metres from the combined court complex, as well as near govt offices and the Kallakurichi bus stand.
“No prudent man can imagine such an unabated continuous selling of illicit distilled arrack under the very nose of the enforcement officials could have continued for many years without the explicit knowledge, consent, blessing and support of the police officials in Kallakurichi town,” the report said. The commission recommended that the govt issue instructions to curb the parallel “unlawful licensing system” reportedly adopted in some villages. The committee, it said, should meet every month to examine prima facie cases against erring officials and recommend criminal prosecution wherever necessary. Also, the proceeds from the sale of ill-gotten assets amassed by prohibition offenders should also be channelled into the fund, it said.
The commission faulted sub-inspectors, inspectors, deputy superintendents of police, prohibition enforcement personnel, village assistants, village administrative officers, revenue inspectors and tahsildars, and recommended departmental inquiries and action against officials posted in the region at the time of the tragedy. Under this system, community leaders and elders allegedly permitted illicit arrack vendors to operate after collecting hefty licence fees, ensuring that the vendors faced little fear of police action. It suggested that legal duties be imposed on elected representatives of local bodies, with failure to discharge those duties attracting punishment, including removal from office or disqualification. The commission called for a district-level, impartial, apolitical and autonomous committee headed by a retired district and sessions judge. Fines collected from offenders are credited to a special govt fund for rehabilitating victims’ families.