20 Dead, 5 Ill After Consuming Poisonous Liquor In MP's Morena; District Collector, SP Suspended

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday held a high-level meeting. The CM ordered a high-level probe and said stern action will be taken against the guilty.

Image: Representational/AFP

In a highly tragic incident, at least 20 people lost lives while five are believed to have fallen ill after consuming poisonous liquor. The incident happened in two separate villages of Madhya Pradesh's Morena district. While three people died in Pahawali village, seven lost their lives in Manpur. The ones who fell ill have been hospitalised and are said to be in critical condition. Taking cognizance of the incident, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday held a high-level meeting. The CM ordered a high-level probe and said stern action will be taken against the guilty. "The Morena incident is very unfortunate and tragic. The investigation of the case is going on. The District Excise Officer has been suspended for prima facie negligence," Chouhan said "As soon as the remaining facts of the investigation come out, whoever is found guilty will not be spared. We will take drastic action," the CM added. As per the latest development in the matter, an investigation into the tragedy has been ordered and a case has been registered under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 34 and 91 of the Excise Act. Meanwhile, the District Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Morena have been removed from their post with immediate effect in connection with the matter of deaths due to poisonous liquor.