At least five men died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Rohtas district in Bihar on Friday. The incident happened in the Danwar village, which falls under the Kachwa police station, 50 kms from district headquarters, Sasaram.
The deaths took place on Saturday morning after seven of the nine people who had consumed the illicit liquor were admitted to the Narayan Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) following complaints of uneasiness and vomiting on Friday night.
The men who lost their lives after drinking spurious liquor have been identified as Kamlesh Singh (35), Harihar Singh, Dhanjit Singh (26), Baijnath Singh and Uday Singh (35). Two others are still battling for their lives at the NMCH hospital and their condition is said to be critical.
Soon after the incident was reported, the DIG and SP of Rohtas district rushed to Danwar. The DIG, taking immediate action, suspended eight police officers of the Kachwa police station and transferred the remaining 10 constables to police lines.
It was only after the top cops cracked down on local police that protesting locals, who had blocked the Piro-Nasriganj state highway for over two hours, agreed to clear the road.
Villagers claim that spurious alcohol is easily available, partly due to inaction by the Kachwa police station, in Danwar despite prohibition in the state.
“Five persons have lost their lives in the hooch incident. Two others are critical and undergoing treatment. Preliminary investigations reveal that it’s a case of consuming spurious liquor,” SK Singhal, ADG (Headquarters), said.
“The matter is extremely serious and therefore the police headquarters have suspended 9 police officials of the Kachwa police station and 12 remaining have been transferred. Raids are being carried in the area to apprehend the culprits involved in manufacturing illicit liquor,” Singhal added.
Opposition leaders in the state, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s former ally Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi, used the tragedy to attack the Bihar government.
Nitish ji formed govt with those who called alcohol prohibition act a draconian law. He just makes law to be in news & not serious to implement. Police’s failure to curb crime is directly proportional to his own failure https://t.co/rH7lKoLHmn
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) October 28, 2017
Nitish never ever take onus of failures, crime, corruption and law & order. He always throws ball in others court to save his flops & deeds. https://t.co/tu1ned2exD
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) October 28, 2017
This is a second big hooch tragedy that has taken place in the Bihar the Nitish Kumar government imposed prohibition in the state on 1st April 2016. In an earlier incident, 16 people had lost their lives in Gopalganj after consuming spurious liquor.
india toady
