5 killed after consuming spurious liquor

 

All the victims had consumed cheap liquor at Swarna Bar and Restaurant in Krishna Lanka at around 10 am on Monday. Three of them collapsed on the spot and died while two others died while being rushed to the Government General Hospital. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a thorough inquiry into the issue and has asked officials to ensure proper health care for the victims. 

 

Task force police who took up investigations are likely question former MLA and Congress city president Malladi Vishnu. Mr Vishnu's mother and relatives are among the license holders of the bar. All bar employees have been taken into custody and are being questioned. Police has reached the office of Mr Vishnu and summoned him. Additional DG (law and order) R.P. Thakur, who visited the victims at GGH, said, “We are probing the cause of death. Prima facie it appears that it was spurious liquor.” 

 

Police commissioner D. Gautam Sawang, who visited GGH and the bar, said that special teams had been formed for investigation. He said the bar owners had violated basic norms.

Excise minister Kollu Ravindra said adulterated liquor had killed the persons and the shop had been seized. “Liquor samples have been sent for tests”, he said. MLA Gadde Rammohan Rao demanded a high level probe into the incident and punishment for everyone behind the adulteration. He alleged that the bar belonged to Congress leader Mr Malladi Vishnu.  The dead have been identified as Narasa Gopi, Meesala Mahesh, M.B.B.V. Nancharayya, Akula Vijay Kumar and Munagala Shankar.