Six held for illegal arrack auction at T’malai

Police sources said that as the area abutted Dharmapuri district and a forest terrain with many villages on the hills, brewing illicit liquor was ‘a norm’ there rather than an exception. The matter came to light when Thanipadi police arrested six persons of Sempatti for participating in an illegal auction, where they were given ‘contract’ to distill and sell arrack by the villagers.

The distillation and selling process was auctioned for a sum of Rs 2 lakh on Sunday. The auction was conducted by Sempatti village leader Allimiuthu (46). While, Settu (39) of the same village was ‘given’ the right to distill liquor, others including Mottaiyan (50), Allimiuthu (42), Settu (37), Muthammal (40) and village head Allimuthu were given the right to sell the drink locally.

While the six arrested were remanded to custody and lodged in the Vellore central prison, SP MR Sibi Chakaravarthy claimed that he had no knowledge of the incident. “I shall check and get back to you,” was his reply when asked about his reply regarding the illicit arrack auction.

However, sources said that such incidents were common in interior areas. Though such incidents had stopped for some time, the revival of arrack sale has left TASMAC officials worried. They feel that the next step for hooch sellers will be to approach TASMAC salesmen to sell their stuff in their shops for a ‘cut.’

District officials agreed that only if alternative employment through various skill development programs is provided, illicit distillation will come to an end. However, for that to happen, “Government will have to befriend tribals and until that happens, distillation will continue,” they added.