5 commit suicide in K’taka, Kerala after liquor curbs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/BANGULURU: Five tipplers have committed suicide over the weekend in Kerala and four in Karnataka apparently due to non-availability of liquor, police in the two states said on Sunday. After the three-week countrywide lockdown was announced on March 24 to check the halt of the coronavirus pandemic, all commercial establishments including liquor shops have been shut down across the country. The state governments have been flooded with complaints of suicides, brawls and withdrawal symptoms.

A 40-year-old hotel employee in Bidar district of Karnataka committed suicide by jumping into a well early on Sunday as he could not get his regular drink over the last one week. He had apparently been showing withdrawal symptoms. A case has been registered, police said.

In Kadaba taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, two labourers, who worked as rubber tappers, also killed themselves as they could not get their regular supply of liqour. Kadaba police station in charge said the two were from Kollam in Kerala.

“While one has committed suicide in a nearby pond, the other one hung himself in his room on Saturday morning. We have registered cases in both instances. Both had been apparently agitated over the non-availability of liquor,” he said on condition of anonymity since he is not authorised to speak to the media. Top police officers were unavailable as they were busy enforcing the lockdown.

A watchman in Hosur taluk of Hubli district committed suicide by hanging himself due to nonavailability of liquor on Saturday, police said. A 60-year-old man of Madhugiri taluk in Tumkur district slit his throat on Sunday as he was disappointed about the non-availability of liqour. He has been admitted to a hospital and is said to be recovering.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government was planning to provide minimum liquor to heavy drinkers if they come with prescriptions of doctors to avert suicides and other incidents. But the Indian Medical Association, or IMA, on Sunday came down heavily on the government’s proposed move.

“It is a dangerous situation. Tipplers will soon flood the government hospitals for certificates. We cannot prescribe liquor for any ills and it is against our medical ethics...,” said Joseph Chacko, who heads an association of medical officers.

Chacko’s organisation has written to Vijayan requesting him not to take such a decision. The IMA has also criticised the government’s suggestion saying it will create more troubles. “How can doctors prescribe liquor? We have all along been discouraging people not to take it. Instead of treating them, the government is pushing them to addiction,” said an IMA functionary.

In Karnataka, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s lawmaker Ayyanur Manjunath empathised with the tipplers saying that he heard of their hardships. “Without availability of liquor, I am told that several of those habituated to drinking are behaving in all kinds of manner at their homes. It is unfortunate.”

In the early hours of Saturday, some people broke into a liquor shop in Hubballi and made away with liquor worth over ~ 60,000, police said and added they have registered a case.

KERALA CM SAYS THE GOVT WAS PLANNING TO PROVIDE MINIMUM LIQUOR TO HEAVY DRINKERS IF THEY COME WITH PRESCRIPTIONS TO AVERT SUICIDES AND OTHER INCIDENTS