At least four people have died, including one BSF and one Army jawan, in Bihar's Samastipur, after allegedly consuming spurious liquor. This is the third day that deaths due to illegal liquor have been reported from the state.
The incident took place at Rupauli panchayat in the district under the jurisdiction of Patori police station.
The deceased have been identified as BSF jawan Vinay Kumar, Army jawan Jagannath Rai, Shyam Nandan Chaudhary and Veerchandan Rai, Samastipur superintendent of police (SP) Manavjit Singh Dhillon said on Saturday, 6 November.
Police have also found a 'McDowell's' liquor bottle from the spot, the SP said, adding the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team will conduct a chemical examination on it.
As many as 34 people have died after allegedly consuming poisonous liquor in Bihar's Gopalganj and West Champaran districts, reported News18 on Thursday, 5 November. A few other have fallen severely ill, as well.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar chaired a high-level review meeting on the issue later on Friday.
Reacting to the tragic news of the deaths, Kumar said:
"I have been saying again and again that if you consume a wrong thing, this situation will occur."
Further, the CM added that he keeps talking to the officers but "after the festival we will have a detailed review".
"The CM instructed officers concerned to take strict action with regard to recent hooch tragedies. He also asked the officers to identify and take action against erring officials," the CMO said, as per ANI.
According to the families of the deceased, the men had consumed liquor on Tuesday evening and their health deteriorated in the night.
"It is a sad incident. A thorough investigation will be conducted. Those found guilty of supplying spurious liquor will not be spared," Bihar minister Shahnawaz Hussain was quoted as saying by news agency ANI on Friday.
More Details
On the instructions of district magistrate, Sadar SDO Upendra Pal, SDPO Sanjeev Kumar Singh along with the Police and Excise Department team of Mohammadpur, Baikunthpur and Sidhwalia police stations had launched a search operation for liquor traders.
Four liquor traders Chhote Lal Sah, Ashok Sharma, Rampravesh Sah and Jitendra Prasad were arrested from Turha Tola.
On Friday evening, Upendra Nath Verma, SP, Bettiah shared that 13 people have died and nine are under treatment.
"Nautan SHO and a local 'Dafadar' suspended. We have arrested three people and raids are being conducted to nab others," he added, according to ANI.
Meanwhile Anand Kumar, SP, Gopalganj said that they are investigating the matter.
"If any police officials' involvement is found then we will take action on that also. During the last 24 hrs, we've raided more than 50 places, arrested 19 people, seized 270 litres of country-made liquor and six vehicles," Kumar further informed ANI.
DM Gopalganj Dr Nawal Kishor Choudhary, on his part, shared:
"Prima facie evidence shows that they have tried to make it (spurious liquor) through esprit but only after FSL report the exact reason will be ascertained. Three people are arrested and over 50 places were raided across the district."
Background
This is the second hooch tragedy reported in West Champaran district in the past four months. Last week, five people lost their lives in a similar incident in Muzaffarpur's Repura village.
"This year 40 people have died due to spurious liquor. Liquor worth 187 lakh litres has also been seized. 700 policemen have been sacked. More than 3 lakh people have been arrested," Bihar's Minister for Prohibition of Alcohol, Sunil Kumar, told reporters.
The use, consumption, trade, and transportation of liquor in Bihar has been banned since April 2016. Despite that, violations frequently take place in the several districts of the state.
(With inputs from Utkarsh Singh, ANI, News18 and IANS.)
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