The death toll in the Bihar hooch tragedy, one of the biggest since the state went dry in 2016, touched 28 on Friday (October 18, 2024) with several people hospitalised, some among them even losing their eyesight. The incident occurred in the adjoining districts of Siwan and Saran of the state on Wednesday, where a total of 79 persons so far have been admitted to hospitals for alcohol poisoning.
"So far, a total of 79 persons have been admitted. Currently, 8 persons are being treated at Sadar Hospital Siwan. As many as 13 seriously ill persons were referred to Patna Medical College & Hospital (PMCH) for treatment. So far, a total of 30 persons have been successfully discharged from the hospital," said District Public Relations Officer, Siwan.
Four villagers who had consumed spurious liquor even lost their eyesight, according to a report by The Hindu.
Till now, 12 people, including a sub-inspector of Bihar Police, have been arrested for allegedly selling spurious liquor and they were likely to be "tried under the most stringent laws and punished by the court," according to police.
"Two special investigating teams have also been set up in the aftermath of the incident. The one set up at the local level will be looking into the criminality involved in the latest episode. Another SIT has been set up by the Department of Prohibition in Patna which will carry out a comprehensive study of all such incidents that have taken place in the recent past, based upon which a plan of action will be drawn out," the Bihar's Director General of Police (DGP), Alok Raj told PTI.
"The name of a liquor mafioso has cropped up. He happened to be involved in a similar case earlier and is currently out on bail. We are investigating the matter from all angles," he added.
As per officials, tragedy befell Maghar and Auriya panchayats of Siwan and Mashrakh in Saran on Tuesday night when a number of locals treated themselves to liquor, the sale of which was completely banned in the state by the Nitish Kumar government way back in April 2016.
In 2022, Saran's Mashrakh reported the worst such tragedy in which, as per the state government about 40 people had died. However, the National Human Rights Commission, which took suo motu cognisance and carried out an investigation, claimed that the casualties were more than 70.
Political Slugfest In Bihar
The incident led to a political slugfest in the state, with the opposition questioning the availability of hooch despite prohibition.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha claimed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led government wanted to "fuzz the data in such an unfortunate incident."
"Where is the CM? Who is running the state?... The deaths are not stopping. The poor and helpless are being jailed in the name of a liquor ban... Tejashwi Yadav was right when he said this is an industry, a syndicate," he said.
State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh lashed out at the government, saying, "Why only CCA? Let them hang the culprits. Let them not spare anybody, even if the suspects happen to be connected with any opposition party."
"But it is high time that the government reviewed its prohibition policy which has failed to check the sale of spurious liquor, even as its draconian provisions tend to treat hapless family members of the victims as criminals and deprive them of a much-needed compensation from the government," he added.
The Rajya Sabha MP also said the party has set up a seven-member fact-finding team which would visit the affected localities and submit its report to the Congress leadership.
Meanwhile, State Prohibition Minister Ratnesh Sada vowed to bring in a stringent "CCA" (crime control act) to rein in liquor mafia, but snapped at reporters when asked whether he saw the latest incident as a "failure" of the much-touted prohibition law.
"Do not talk like an idiot. I am sitting here at my residence. If I do something wrong inside my house, will the police station concerned get to know about it beforehand?" Sada asked.