Three alcoholics in TN consume after shave lotion-laced soft drinks, two die

PUDUKKOTTAI: Two men died in

Pudukkottai

district of Tamil Nadu after consuming

soft drinks

mixed with after shave lotion on Friday night as there was no

liquor

available due to the closure of bars and Tasmac shops in the wake of Covid-19 lockdown.

The deceased have been identified as M Raja alias Hasan Mydeen, 31, of North Street in Kottaipattinam and M Arunpandi, 29 of Rameswaram. Their friend, Anwar Raja of Kottaipattinam, who also consumed the after shave lotion-laced soft drink, has been admitted to Government Hospital in Aranthangi. His health condition was said to be critical, police said.

The incident came to light after local people found Arun Pandi lying unconscious on a roadside. Hasan was found unconscious in the room of his friend, M Ajees Rahman, 30.

They were rushed to Government Hospital in Manamelkudi where the doctors checked the two and declared them brought dead. Their friend Anwar Raja, who too was found unconscious, was admitted to Aranthangi Government Hospital by local people.

Ajees Rahman said he and Hasan were fishermen and were staying in a room. They befriended Anwar Raja and Arun Pandi.

Ajees said they had the habit of drinking alcohol. Since the Tasmac shops were closed due to the lockdown, they were desperate to get the liquor. As they could not get liquor even in black market, Anwar Raja suggested the idea of mixing after-shave lotion in soft drinks. They bought soft drinks and after shave lotion from a shop, mixed them and consumed the mixture. Ajees said he had rejected his friends’ offer as he had no money to contribute.

The Kottaipattinam police registered a case of suspicious deaths.