JD(S) urges K'taka Govt to invoke Organised Crimes Act

Bangalore, May 22 (UNI) The Janata Dal (Secular) today urged Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur to invoke provisions of the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act to punish those responsible for the death of over 135 people in a hooch tragedy in the State.

Talking to newspersons here, JD(S) leader M C Nanaiah alleged that innocent people were killed by the brew due to dereliction of duty by officials of the police and excise departments. It was unfortunate that the Excise Commissioner and the Joint Excise Commissioner in-charge of the Enforcement Wing had still not resigned owning moral responsibility for the tragedy, he averred.

He claimed the killer brew was supplied with the connivance of the department officials. Both the sellers and officials in- charge of the jurisdictional areas where the tragedy occurred should be taken to task. The Government should also look into the involvement of political leaders, if any, and initiate action against them as per the provisions of the Act. The Act laid down death penalty or life imprisonment for such ''inhuman and mass killing'' of innocent people, he added.

UNI SR MSP RSA RN1953