The toll in the latest Siwan hooch tragedy in 'dry' Bihar has risen to five. The incident occurred after several people allegedly drank spurious liquor in Bhopatpur sub-division of Siwan district. At least seven people have been reported to have fallen sick so far.
According to the district administration, 10 people were hospitalised on Sunday evening after they fell sick. They complained of stomach pain, nausea, and dizziness.
Siwan district officials said that the autopsy reports of the deceased would ascertain the exact cause of death.
The incident came to light after the Bihar Police recovered illicit liquor bottles hidden in a gutter in Danapur on December 21, 2022.
Twelve suspects have been taken into custody so far and 50 litres of spirit and alumn have been seized. “A team of security personnel have already been deployed in the area. The police station concerned has registered a case and is investigating the matter. Twelve people have so far been arrested in connection with the case," a statement by the district administration read.
Officials said prime suspects Sandeep Chauhan and Deepak Chauhan procured several litres of spirit, pretending to manufacture sanitizer. However, they gave it to Surendra Bind and Mantu Bind, who allegedly passed it off as country liquor to the victims.
The government of Bihar banned the sale of alcohol in the state in 2016. However, incidents of people dying and falling sick after consuming spurious country liquor have come to the fore periodically.
Previously, over 60 people died in Bihar’s Saran and Chhapra districts in December after consuming spurious liquor, making it the biggest hooch tragedy in the state since it went dry in April 2016. The BJP, however, claimed that over 100 deaths have occurred due to spurious country liquor.
The incident also triggered a political slugfest in the Bihar assembly, with opposition leaders mounting a strong attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the repeated incidents of spurious liquor deaths.
The BJP then claimed that over 100 deaths occurred due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Saran.
(With inputs from PTI.)