Southern States - Kerala   

Rivalry between retailers may have led to tragedy

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM April 11. The rivalry for gaining control over the retail sales of hooch in Kooppana area could have resulted in the liquor tragedy yesterday, it is feared. While Valiya Thampi is the main source of supply to the retail hooch dens, the greed to boost sales had resulted in rivalry between hooch retailers in the area.

A couple of days ago, there was a clash between them and even yesterday noon, two retailers, Gin Shaji and Siyad, were seen engaged in a bloody feud using weapons. It is feared that one of the retailers could have secretly mixed methyl in the rival's stock earlier. The clashes erupted after persons who consumed the liquor were hospitalised.

Shaji had consumed a portion from the stock with him. In the midst of the fight, he swooned and was rushed to the District Hospital here from where he was referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. He was declared dead there this morning.

Meanwhile, Siyad was also admitted to the district hospital here around the same time when Shaji was admitted and he was also referred to the MCH. In addition to showing symptoms of uneasiness after having consumed the killer brew, Siyad had a deep knife inflicted gash on his left arm that was profusely bleeding when he was brought to the district hospital here. He is reported to be in an unconscious state at the MCH.

The spirit supplied by Thampi is diluted and sold by the retailers to the customers. Sales from such dens take place in the morning and evenings extending late into the night. The stock the retailers receive from Thampi is stored in cans at various convenient locations in the area.

However, the entire "general supervision" of the whole operation remained under Thampi's control though he had given the retailers ample freedom in dealing with the competition between them, the locals of the area said. It is this carte blanche over competition that could have led to the rivalry and the tragedy, the locals fear. There are 11 abkari cases pending against Thampi, police said.

Meanwhile the Rajya Sabha Member, J. Chitharanjan, the CPI district secretary, K.R. Chandra Mohan, the CPI(M) district secretary, K. Rajagopal, and the CPI(M) leader, J. Mercykuttyamma, visited the area..

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