It is atrocious. The killer brew from across the border has claimed thirteen lives(at the time of writing) in Krishnagiri area. Despite the ban on arrack, it was being produced in Bayalunarasipura in Kolar district from where it was supplied to parts of Kolar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban besides neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The Karnataka Government, like its Tamil Nadu counterpart has declared that it stands committed to eradicate illicit arrack in the State, to protect the poor from the hazards of illicit arrack and spurious liquor.

The irony in Krishnagiri is that among those who died was Chinnamuniamma, a bootlegger.Very recently, her thirty-year old daughter and son-in-law of Binnamangalam in Thally were arrested for boot-legging, she continued to sell illicit arrack at Binnamangalam.

What is it that prompts them to involve in this shady trade? First and foremost is easy money. Secondly, there is high and uninterrupted �demand� for the product. Last, but not the least is that the investment is minimal. That is why even the spirited campaign of the State has not carried much conviction, especially among the vulnerable rural masses. .

They select areas which are easy for distillation, but difficult for detection. The location would make the search very difficult for the law enforcing agency. The hunt of illicit distillation points and the culprits is arduous, especially when there is little reliable information. The organised sellers have their own network to alert them of the raid.

Raiding parties have returned empty handed after spending a full day in the distilling area.

Unless there is public awareness, this menace cannot be eradicated. It is the duty of the Government to continuously create awareness on the evils of consumption of illicit arrack and spurious liquor.