Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday made a visit to the Gujran village in Sangrur district on the fifth day of hooch tragedy that has claimed 21 lives due to suspected consumption of spurious liquor. The Chief Minister’s visit aimed to assess the situation firsthand and provide immediate assistance to the families affected by the tragedy.
Reaching Sangrur from Delhi on Sunday morning, Mann met the grieving families of victims and expressed deep condolences while assuring them of Government’s unwavering support during these trying times.
Addressing the media, Mann condemned the heinous act of poisoning individuals through illicit liquor consumption, equating it to murder. He stressed that those responsible for selling spurious liquor would face stringent legal action, with efforts underway to identify any further criminal activities in the area, including the distribution of synthetic drugs.
“The police have registered a murder case in the incident…FIR under Section 302 (of the IPC) has been registered against 10 accused. Killing somebody by giving poison is a murder,” he said, adding that those involved in selling spurious liquor will be nabbed.
“We are trying to find out if these accused have more links in Punjab. If there are more gangs selling spurious liquor, they will also be arrested and booked under Section 302,” Mann said.
During his interactions with local residents, some youths informed the Chief Minister about the alleged distribution of ‘chitta’ (synthetic drugs) in the village, raising concerns about the broader illicit activities in the region. Mann assured the community that necessary measures would be taken to tackle drug-related issues and ensure the safety and well-being of the people.
The hooch tragedy has not only led to a loss of lives but has also ignited political debates, with opposition parties criticizing the AAP Government’s response to the crisis.
The Chief Minister’s visit came amidst mounting pressure on the government, with opposition parties demanding accountability and seeking the resignation of Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the incident. However, Mann’s presence in the affected area signaled a proactive approach by the administration to address the immediate needs of the victims’ families and expedite the investigation process to bring the culprits to justice.
However, the AAP government has refuted these allegations, asserting that it is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety of its citizens. Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who also visited Sangrur on Sunday, reiterated the Government's stance and assured the families of the victims of full support.
“We stand by these families. Whatever support they require, we will provide,” said Cheema, who is MLA from Dirba which falls under Sangrur. He affirmed that those found guilty in connection with the tragedy would face exemplary punishment, sending a strong message against the illegal liquor trade.
Police Arrest Two More Accused
Two more people were arrested in connection with the Sangrur hooch tragedy that claimed 21 lives so far. Sharing details, Deputy Inspector General, Patiala Range, Harcharan Singh Bhullar on Sunday said that with this, a total of 10 people have been arrested so far.
The two accused were identified as Mangal Singh — a resident of Tibbi Ravidaspura in Sunam; and Veeru Saini — a resident of Sunam, he said.
Among the eight arrested earlier were Soma Kaur, Rahul alias Sanju and Pardeep Singh alias Babi — all hailing from Chauwas in Cheema; Gurlal Singh of Ubhawal village in Sangrur; Harmanpreet Singh of Taipur village in Patiala; Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh of Rogla village, Manpreet Singh alias Mani, and Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukhi — all residents of Gujjran village in Dirba.
Modus Operandi
A four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Gurinder Singh Dhillon, was set up on Saturday to probe the incident. Investigation revealed that Veeru Saini bought four boxes of spurious liquor from Soma Kaur and sold two boxes to Mangal Singh and the other two to the public. Mangal Singh then sold his two boxes of spurious liquor to the people in the Tibbi Ravidaspura area.
The police have already registered three FIRs at Dirba, City Sunam and Cheema police stations under relevant sections, including 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and the Excise Act. “Police invoked section 61-A of the Excise Act in all three FIRs lodged in connection with the case at Dirba, City Sunam and Cheema police stations. Section 61-A is punishable with imprisonment for life or the death penalty.
ADGP Dhillon, addressing the media in Chandigarh on Saturday, said that accused Harmanpreet, after procuring methanol from a Noida-based factory, was preparing spurious liquor at his home and selling it after packing it in liquor bottles and putting the label of the liquor brand ‘Shahi’ in Hindi.
The police had also found spurious liquor and other equipment used for manufacturing and labelling it from the possession of the accused.
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