Ruckus in Tamil Nadu Assembly over Kallakurichi hooch tragedy; Speaker evicts protesting AIADMK MLAs

Chennai: The second day of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Session began in Chennai on Friday with a ruckus as AIADMK legislators sporting black clothes raised slogans inside the House over the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi.
The Speaker Appavu ordered the watch and ward staff, which performs security duties inside the Assembly, to evict AIADMK MLAs from the Assembly hall.
Visuals from outside the Assembly showed watch and ward staff escorting AIADMK members outside. There were heavy police personnel outside the Assembly.
Chaos erupted both inside and outside the Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai, as AIADMK members raised slogans demanding discussion on Kallakurichi illicit liquor tragedy in which at least 47 persons have lost their lives.
The state Assembly session yesterday ended by paying respects to those who died from consuming spurious liquor in Kallakurichi. The legislators also paid tribute to 17 former legislators and the sitting DMK MLA Pugazhenthi, who had passed away. They also paid tribute to victims of the Kuwait blaze, which included seven people from Tamil Nadu. State Assembly Speaker Appavu read the obituary note after which the members stood in silence to pay the tribute.
The Assembly session is scheduled to continue till June 29.
Earlier today, three accused in the Kallakurichi illicit liquor case were sent to 15 days of judicial custody and taken to Cudallore Central prison. Earlier, Kallakurichi police produced the accused before district combined court
Three accused named Govindaraj, Damadoran and Vijaya were sent to 15 days judicial custody till July 5 by district court judge Sriram. The accused were sent to Cudallore central prison.
Since June 19 afternoon, at least 47 persons lost their lives in the Kallakurichi district of the State after they consumed illicit liquor on Tuesday evening, Tamil Nadu Director of Medical Education Sangumani said.
Over 100 were hospitalised after suspected consumption of illicit liquor, officials said.
Tamil Nadu government had ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragedy. The inquiry will be led by retired Madras high court judge Justice B Gokuldas. Justice Gokuldas will submit a report within three months.
The CB-CID of Tamil Nadu police which was handed over charge of investigating the tragedy commenced a probe under SP Shantharam.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each of deceased victims, with those under treatment to receive Rs 50,000 each.
Victims are undergoing treatment at the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital and in Hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry.