K'taka: Toll in Hooch tragedy climbs to 135

Bangalore, May 22: With eight more deaths reported today, the toll in the Sunday's hooch tragedy in Karnataka rose to 135. Police sources said that deaths were reported from Hoskote (5) and Anekal (3) in Bangalore rural district. In the city, which has accounted for 63 deaths so far no fresh fatality was reported today.

In Kolar that reported 33 deaths, the condition of those admitted to hospitals was stabilising, officials said. More than 100 people were undergoing treatment in the city, Bangalore rural and Kolar districts. Five fresh cases, two persons from Hoskote and three from D G Halli in the city admitted to hospitals today.

Soundar Rajan the kingpin behind the brewing and selling of the killer brew was today nabbed by Central Crime Branch of the city police from his hideout in Namakkal in Tamil Nadu. He was later brought to the city.

According Kolar report, there was no fresh cases and the death toll remained at 33. Almost all the patients affected were discharged, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Excise Department sleuths continued their raids over illicit liquor dens and destroyed more than 500 liters of the killer brew in Bangalore Rural District alone.

UNI