The nationwide lockdown has forced liquor sellers to shut-shop, leaving alcoholics miserable. To address the issue of the increasing number of deaths due to alcohol withdrawal, Kerala government planned to supply minimum liquor to people with a high dependency on alcohol provided they had a doctor’s prescription to attest the fact.
With an intention to help, a man from Hyderabad distributed alcohol pegs amongst the people across the city, reported News18.
In a video shared online, the man identified as Kumar was seen making alcohol pegs in plastic glasses and distributing them to daily wage workers at Champapet during the lockdown.
Crazy guy: Kumar from #Hyderabad is distributing liquor to daily wage laborers at #Champapet during the #lockdown. Reportedly he has distributed the alcohol which he bought before the #lockdown.@TelanganaDGP @hydcitypolice @cyberabadpolice @RachakondaCop #Telangana #COVID__19 pic.twitter.com/OG3Bci5iYc
— Balakrishna – The Journalist (@Balakrishna096) April 12, 2020
“Yesterday, while I was returning to my residence in Hyderabad’s old city after completing my work, I noticed in Champapet area that a woman suffering from convulsion/fits due to alcohol. She was shifted to a hospital later on.”
“I had an alcohol bottle at my residence. So, I thought of distributing alcohol pegs to such people,” he added. The 30-year-old man from Telangana further said that he distributed alcohol with the intention to help those suffering due to the lockdown, not to violate the rules. However, he was arrested by the Rachakonda Police.
Finally, @RachakondaCop have arrested the person who had distributed #liquor to daily wage labourers at Champapet X road in #Hyderabad during the lockdown. @RachakondaCop @PIBHyderabad @payalmehta100 @TelanganaDGP @KTRTRS @cyberabadpolice #COVID2019 pic.twitter.com/cLwAngqcYF
— Balakrishna – The Journalist (@Balakrishna096) April 12, 2020
The Excise Department booked him and another person for ‘illegal possession and consumption of liquor on a dry day’ and under relevant sections of the Telangana Excise and Prohibition Act, reports The Outlook.
In the view of the lockdown, several states are considering making alcohol available in limited amounts. Liquor shops in Assam and Meghalaya have reportedly reopened amid the lockdown.
The 21-day lockdown was expected to end today, however, PM Modi extended the lockdown till May 3rd. Probably the state heads will come up with a plan to help tipplers during this time.