Final link in killer hooch case nabbed

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, DEC.22. With the arrest of one Gunashekaran alias Guna (25) from Hosur in Tamil Nadu early yesterday the final link in the serial hooch tragedy case has been nabbed, the Kollam SP, Mr. Manoj Abraham, told presspersons at the Police Club here today.

The arrest will also bring the curtains down on the probe into the serial hooch tragedy by the Special Investigation Team led by the Inspector General, Mr. Sibi Mathew, Mr. Abraham informed. With Guna's arrest all, except two persons wanted in connection with the case have been nabbed. However, the probe by the SIT into the supply and sale of spirit in the State would continue.

The Attingal-based hooch mafia used to mix methylated spirit with ethyl alcohol and then supply the same to the retail hooch dens. Ethyl spirit used to be regularly supplied to this gang in tanker lorries by one Mahesh, a native of Tamil Nadu, and one Ashraf, a native of Aluva. Both are absconding.

The Kollam SP parried a question on the alleged role of a so called "Kayamkulam lobby" in the serial hooch tragedy. Guna, a native of Tamil Nadu who worked as area manager with a Hosur- based private hardware and chemical trading concern, is believed to be the person who procured the killer hooch for Anil Kumar alias Ani who in turn brought the brew to Kerala in a secret tank of his Fiat car. Ani was arrested by the SIT sleuths at the Coimbatore bus stand on Wednesday. It was following interrogation on Ani that Guna's role was revealed.

Guna told the police that he met Ani six months ago and that the latter had been "pestering" him since then for the spirit. Guna made arrangements to get the spirit from a chemical factory at Bangalore.

However, the stuff was methylated spirit obtained at the rate of Rs. 19 a litre. While 430 litres were purchased, only 370 litres were brought to Attingal and sold at Rs. 70 a litre. The balance was destroyed, according to Ani. The secret tanks in Ani's car had the capacity to store only 370 litres.

Though Ani had confessed bringing spirit on eight occasions earlier in his car and supplied the same to Kochani at Attingal, the 430 litres of spirit in question is the only consignment he procured through Guna and the 370 litres from it was the last load supplied to Kochani by Ani.

Guna was arrested from his house at Hosur at 3 a.m. on Thursday by SIT sleuths led by the Kollam West circle inspector, Mr. Jayachandran Nair. The Kollam SP informed that Guna would be produced before the Paravur Munsif Court Magistrate tonight.

Gunashekaran alias Guna being produced before presspersons at the Kollam Police Club on Friday

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