At least 20 people died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Bihar’s Siwan district, police said. On Wednesday, District Magistrate Mukul Kumar Gupta said that four people lost their lives after consuming spurious liquor in the region, while 15 were brought to the local civil hospital for treatment.
The toll jumped to 20 on Thursday, confirmed Siwan SP Amitesh Kumar.
#UPDATE | Bihar: The death toll in Siwan, Bihar after consuming illicit liquor, rises to 20: SP Siwan Amitesh Kumar https://t.co/GhfIE9961h
— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2024
In a similar incident, four people died due to consumption of illicit liquor in the Saran district. An SIT has been formed and an FIR has been lodged against eight people, while three have already been arrested, Chhapra SP Kumar Ashish said.
Additionally, the panchayat beat police officials and the local chowkidar have been suspended, while an explanation has been sought from the SHO of Masrak Police Station and other senior officials, ANI reported.
DM Gupta said that legal action has also been ordered against the Bhagwanpur SHO and an ASI. A relative of one of the victims said that his health deteriorated after consuming the spurious liquor on October 15.
“He consumed liquor on October 15, while his health started deteriorating by October 16 evening. He was unable to see anything and later we brought him to the hospital,” his relative said.
RJD slams Nitish Kumar-led government
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has come down heavily on the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government over the availability of liquor in the state, despite the blanket ban.
“People have lost their lives by drinking spurious liquor. It is very sad and a matter of concern that despite the liquor ban law being in force in Bihar, spurious liquor is available. Every time during Holi and Diwali, it is seen how people die due to spurious liquor,” RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari said.
Tiwari said the NDA government in the state was ‘directly responsible’ for the incident, claiming the liquor mafias had “protection of the government and as long as they have the protection of the government, the prohibition law will be violated in the same way.”
Meanwhile, Siwan Councillor Sushil Kumar Dablu alleged that the toll was nearing 50, but the state administration “always reports false figures.”
“They are trying to cover up. Had the administration been alert, such an incident would have never happened. Ever since liquor has been banned in the state, such incidents have happened very frequently and the administration is not alert at all,” Dablu said, asking whether the Nitish Kumar government wanted to make Bihar the ‘land of widows.’
“The total number of deaths is nearing 50… 40-50 people are undergoing treatment,” he alleged.
#WATCH | Bihar | Siwan Hooch Tragedy | Siwan Councillor Sushil Kumar Dablu says, “The administration always reports false figures… They are trying to cover up. Had the administration been alert, such an incident would have never happened. Ever since liquor has been banned in… pic.twitter.com/yvUvwQr7IX
— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2024
Further, the RJD has asked for compensation of at least ₹10 lakh each for the families of those dead.
“The administration is involved in whatever is happening. The ministers are largely associated with liquor mafias in the state… I demand the government to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of those killed in the hooch tragedy,” RJD MLA Bhai Birendra said.
BJP defends Bihar government
Defending the state government, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain noted that a “complete and strict” ban on liquor has been imposed in Bihar.
“Whoever is involved in this, will not be spared. CM Nitish Kumar is very strict about it,” he said.
