At least 24 people have died and several others fell ill after consuming suspected spurious liquor in Gopalganj and West Champaran districts of Bihar, where total prohibition is in place, in the last two days.
Eight persons died on Thursday after allegedly consuming hooch in Telhua village at Bettiah, the headquarters of West Champaran district, while the toll in another incident of consumption of suspected spurious liquor in Gopalganj climbed to 16 on Thursday with six more deaths being confirmed by the district authorities.
The administrations of both districts have not confirmed the cause of the deaths so far. The Telhua hooch tragedy is the third such incident in north Bihar in the last ten days.
Bihar minister Janak Ram rushed to Gopalganj. He later told reporters “I have visited the houses of persons who died allegedly because of consuming spurious liquor. It could be a conspiracy to defame the NDA government.”
Gopalganj superintendent of police Anand Kumar said “Some people have died under mysterious circumstances in Muhammadpur village in the district in the last two days. The cause of their death cannot be confirmed as autopsy reports are still awaited. Three teams are probing the case.”
Some of the bodies have been cremated by their families, the local police said.
The victims belonged to South Telahua village under Nautan police station. Following the incident, DIG of Champaran range Pranav Kumar, suspended the SHO and a ‘chowkidar’ of Nautan police station.
“Strict action will be taken against the negligent officials and those involved in manufacturing and selling spurious liquor in the region,” Pranav Kumar said.
“The liquor prohibition department and the district police have seized 187 lakh litres of liquor. As many as 700 police personnel were terminated from service and over 3 lakh persons involved in liquor consumption, trade and transportation in the state arrested,” Sunil Kumar said.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders have accused the Nitish Kumar government of hiding the actual death toll.
Since January, around 90 persons have died due to poisonous liquor in Bihar. Action against SHO and chowkidar are just an eyewash, they alleged.