News
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It’s
business as usual despite death and raids In one of the worst cases of poisoning caused by the consumption of illicit liquor, 14 people died and over 100 were hospitalized in Matara. Many who were in hospital have now been discharged, but they would probably suffer from side effects including blindness for a long time or even a life time. As the Government Analyst’s report was awaited to determine the reasons for the poisoning, there are indications that the Methyl level in the ‘moonshine’ or Kasippu had exceeded the ‘normal’ level, poisoning more than 100 people who had consumed the liquor at six different outlets in the areas of Bandaranayakapura, Kekanadura, off Matara on November 8. The incident has sparked off an immediate crack down on illicit liquor outlets in the area, but also raised questions on how such a large kasippu operation was in motion despite previous police raids of the same spot. The main supply den was on the banks of the Nilwala river, from where the poisonous brew was distributed to almost every nook and corner of Matara district. The six outlets from where the people consumed the liquour catered to about 150 to 200 people daily while the other spots catered to about 700 to 1000, The Sunday Times learns. When the police were questioned as to why they waited for a major catastrophe to raid the Matara den, they came up with a flimsy excuse that it was a difficult location to raid, but at the same time claimed that the same spot had been raided as many as five times for the year and that the main manufacturer had been fined Rs. 113,000 for this year alone and had served a term of rigorous imprisonment term before. “There is no easy access to the den on the banks of Nilawala and the manufacturers travel in boats and we too have to use the same mode of travel and most of the time the distillers get away. We also have to depend heavily on information provided by the people to carry out these raids,” Assistant Superintendent of Police D.S.Karunanayake said. He said this particular brewer had the reputation of being the biggest kasippu distributor in the area and four other cases were pending against him. He also claimed that although regular raids had been carried out at the same spot, the business went on. The thriving kasippu dens in Matara and other areas of the island also raises the question whether police were fighting a losing battle against Kasippu dealers. The number of raids carried out by the Police and the Excise department last year have been high and the fines have been increased to Rs. 5,000 a bottle from the earlier Rs. 3000, yet the free flow of moonshine continues. The Excise Dept. alone collected more than Rs. 80 million in fines this year up-to date. In 2000 the police had carried out 148,514 raids, and followed it with 583,062 cases the following year. In 2002 they conducted 190,091 raids. The latest figures are yet to be updated. A staggering number of 900,000 people had been convicted in 2001, and it dropped to 113,984 the following year. Police say they have been able to contribute millions to the state coffers by way of fines. In 2000 Rs. 362 million was netted in while the amount rose to Rs. 442 million in 2001 and dropped to Rs. 189 million in 2002. However Excise chief, R.P. E. Bandara says although the number of raids have increased, the business continues to thrive because only the people involved in the distribution of kasippu are arrested while the main suspects who invest money in the business get away. “Though
the government has increased the fines on illicit liquor, the increase
of the price of liquor during every budget is drawing more and more
people to purchase the illicit brew thereby making it difficult
to control this trade,” he said. He said this year the department
had conducted more than 40,000 raids islandwide and of them 870
had been in the area of Kekunadura in Matara. The meeting followed a directive from President Mahinda Rajapakse who ordered a raid on the Matara location, following the poisoning incident. The President also has ordered that liquor shops and taverns close to schools and places of worship, be shifted. At
the meeting the officials decided that more facilities including
vehicles and additional manpower were needed to make the raids more
effective. At least four people who fell ill after consuming the illicit brew in Matara have lost their eyesight, while many could suffer other side effects if they continued to consume liquor, Dr. Prematillake warned. He said that according to medical evidence the brew had been mixed with thinner which is usually used to dilute chemicals including paints. He believes stepped up police raids on kasippu dens and awareness programmes could help curb the trade. But in many instances although the police know who the main culprits are, and their whereabouts, those who are eventually arrested are only connected with the distribution or selling of the illicit brew. These people are produced in courts and are given bail by evening. The illicit liquor outlets are raided occasionally, but the men are back in business less than two weeks after the raids are conducted. Prof. Ravindra Fernando who heads the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board says that the police have to crackdown on the main culprits behind the trade. “Police are very well aware where the illicit liquor is manufactured, where it is transported to and where it is sold. But they turn a blind eye without conducting regular search operations. The police have to act impartially,” he said. Dr. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera who served in the advisory committee on controlling crime believes that a national plan should be drawn up to control the illicit liquor trade too. |
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