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| Sunday, 18 January 2004 |
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Illicit hooch causes many deaths Crime Sunday by Jayampathy Jayasinghe People dying of alcohol poisoning is not so uncommon in Sri Lanka despite constant media warning about consuming toxic substances. What comes to mind is the case in the early eighties where over 20 persons died and 81 persons went partially blind due to the consumption of adulterated arrack from a local tavern in the area. A colleague told me of an incident of how several media personnel escaped death due to what could only be divine providence. On the day of the incident a group of media personnel were on their way to cover an assignment at the "Gamuawa" celebration in the South. They decided to purchase a bottle of arrack from the tavern at Moratuwa, where several people died after consuming adulterated arrack on the very same day. However due to an objection raised by a photographer, the rest of the group decided to drop the idea thus preventing another catastrophe. The incident at Baddegama this month where nine people died due to suspected alcohol poisoning is no different to the previous one. Three persons admitted to the Baddegama government hospital early January died while six others admitted to Karapitiya hospital died on January 7. The incident sent shock waves in the Baddegama area where people have now began to realise their folly. Police say that villagers now dread to consume illicit booze due to fear of being poisoned. It is a fact that illicit liquor thrives because the poor cannot afford what is available in the market, police say. The victims of this tragedy were people living in abject poverty. After consuming the illicit liquor at the house of one Steven Withanachchi (72) a notorious illicit liquor dealer in Boralukande, they had complained of a strong bitter taste and severe pain in their eyes and stomachs. As they no longer could bear the pain some had got themselves admitted to the Baddegama hospital, while others had admitted themselves to the Karapitiya hospital in Galle. The illicit hooch dealer Withanachchi also became a victim of his own brew poisoning. According to OIC Baddegama Police, Chief Inspector Y.L. Leelawanse, a team of police officers have been detailed to apprehend Steven Withanachchi's two sons Ananda and Sarath who allegedly sold the poisonous stuff to the victims. The two sons are said be absconding. Withachichi's wife was arrested and remanded till January 23. Inspector Leelasena said he was awaiting the report of the Government Analyst to take further action on the suspects. A special team has been detailed by OIC Leelawanse to investigate persons responsible for supplying the poisonous brew to Withanachchi. It is rumoured that the stuff had been brought from Hikkkaduwa area by some persons who are also absconding. Meanwhile the Government Analyst K. Sivarajah, said that the initial investigations have revealed that toxic substances have been found in the alcohol. He says the manufacture of alcohol have to be in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the Gazette Notification of No. 1232\12 of 18 of April 2002. According to Sivarajah the illicit brewers use industrial alcohol or wine spirits to manufacture liquor because it is cheaper than potable alcohol which contains an excise duty. Industrial alcohol is used mainly to manufacture various cosmetic products like perfumes and paints and is unfit for human consumption owing to its toxicity. Anybody consuming such alcohol run the risk of being maimed, blinded or dying because of its toxicity. He says potable alcohol which is manufactured from sugar cane does not contain methyl alcohol. The toxic substance is the methyl alcohol which are found in the industrial spirits. According to Police, most restaurants and bars in the city are being supplied with adulterated alcohol manufactured in the suburbs of Colombo. Several illicit hooch dens in the Ja-ela area in the past have been raided by the police. Several illicit dens located in marshy lands have also been destroyed by the Central Police Vice Squad. But, according to residents of these areas the hooch dens prop up after sometime when the police become complacent. Illicit hooch dealers now seems to be having a field day after the police disbanded the Central Vice Squad which conducted raids all over the country. |
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