The case of toddy-linked suicides in Telangana’s northern Nirmal district during 2015 has moved ahead with a court convicting a liquor vendor and awarding him a 10-year jail sentence.
Yet, the conviction of the licenced toddy vendor, Umapathi Goud, whose was accused of adulterating liquor and possessing 4.5 kg of a regulated sedative-hypnotic drug, chloral hydrate, by Adilabad First Additional District Judge Aruna Sarika on March 20 has not ended the problem of drug-laced liquor being put on sale.
In the September-October 2015 incidents, 17 people ended their lives reportedly unable to get toddy mixed with drugs.
However, several people continue to drink such toddy, especially in Nirmal and Adilabad districts, doctors say.
Umapathi Goud was arrested in 2012 for possessing the contraband and five barrels of adulterated toddy.
At the height of the problem, hospitals in Nirmal, Bhainsa and Basar got over 300 patients a day.
Chemicals and drugs like chloral hydrate, diazepam and alprazolam with sedative or anxiety-reducing properties were mixed with liquor.
The drugs, which are strictly regulated for retail sale, were sourced from the Mumbai black market.
Created dependency
“The drinkers exhibited fear, anxiety, giddiness and sweating due to withdrawal. Some who were in a state of extreme distress ended their lives, jumping off tall structures,” recalled a doctor, who served the Area Hospital, Nirmal, two years ago.
“The cases tapered off towards October end 2015, because the chemical-laced toddy was back. The vendors simply set up their business a little farther,” a doctor who served at Basar PHC during those days recalled.
