Shawarma killer cafe owner gives up

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Abdul Khader, 50, owner of Salwa Cafe at Vazhuthacaud here, surrendered before the Museum police on Wednesday afternoon.

The police meanwhile launched a search for some of the employees of the restaurant. The Museum police had earlier registered a case after complaints came that several persons who took shawarma from the hotel on July 10 suffered food poisoning.

A youth, Sachin Roy Mathew, who allegedly took the shawarma bought from the shop, had died in Bengaluru. Museum circle-inspector Mohanan Nair said sections 273 and 328 of IPC for sale of noxious food and causing hurt by means of poison, which warrants up to ten years’ imprisonment, were charged against the accused.

Confusion stalls food inspection

Despite clear directions from the Principal Health Secretary on May 16 to conduct inspections in hotels to check the sale of unhygienic food, no such activities were carried out effectively owing to the confusion that prevailed among officials.

Health officials say that under the Travancore-Cochin Public Health Act, 1955, health inspectors in southern districts do not have the power to take legal action. They have to be authorised by the government to initiate such action.

However, the directive issued by the Principal Health Secretary clearly stated that there were provisions in both the Travancore-Cochin Public Health Act, 1955 and Madras Public Health Act, 1939, to prevent the sale of unhygienic food.

Later, the health secretary had asked the director of health services and deputy DMOs to authorise health inspectors, supervisors, technical assistant grade II and I to conduct inspections in hotels to prevent the sale of harmful food.

But, a senior official said: “The authorities will have to issue a GO if they are to be authorised as health officers. A mere letter will not stand in the court of law.”

Principal Health Secre-tary Rajeev Sadanandan said: “When there is an Act where is the need to issue another Government order? These are all excuses for not taking action.”