Malappuram: Tragedy struck the sleepy town of Kuttippuram in Malappuram district, as the death toll in the suspected hooch tragedy in Kerala, has risen to nine, after reportedly consuming illicit liquor from a toddy shop at Kuttippuram on Monday.
Out of the nine who had died, five people were from Kerala while the rest were workers from Tamil Nadu, whose are yet to be identified, police said.
The death toll was likely to go up as it was very difficult to calculate how many had consumed the illicit brew, they said.
Five others who complained of exhaustion and nausea were undergoing treatment at the hospital, police said adding five of the deceased, belonging to Kerala, had been identified.
The bodies of two persons were recovered from Kuttippuram Railway station premises, in the morning while the others died at a hospital, they said.
One person said to be the manager of the toddy shop had been arrested, police said.
The preliminary investigation conducted in the samples taken from the shops where the killer brew was sold showed the presence of 'methanol' alcohol, Forensic Science officials had said, police said.
Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who had rushed to the site in the morning, told mediapersons that murder charges would be framed against the culprits if investigations proved the deaths were caused by illicit brew.
"The investigation is on. If it is proved that the deaths were due to consumption of illicit liquor, stringent action, including slapping murder charges, would be taken against those behind the sale of the toddy," Balakrishnan said.
Excise officials have sealed some toddy shops in Perassanoor and Kuttipuram areas, and widespread raid are being conducted in the nearby shops, police said.
Kerala Excise Minister P K Gurudasan has ordered an inquiry into the tragedy, official sources said, adding the Excise Commissioner has been asked to submit a preliminary report about the incident.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Ramesh Chennithala alleged that illicit liquor was "flowing freely" in the state and demanded a judicial inquiry.
Accusing the LDF Government of failure to control liquor and spirit mafia, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Oommen Chandy also demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge to bring out all facts.
Angry local people have ransacked and burnt the toddy shop at Kuttippuram, police said.
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