Hooch tragedy once again rocked eastern UP when five persons died after consuming spurious country made liquor in Kotwali area of Ballia on Wednesday night. Three other victims were undergoing treatment in the district hospital.
To conceal the tragedy, the local police handed over the bodies of victims to their kin without conducting autopsy. On learning about the tragedy, SP of Ballia Vaibhav Krishna spoke to the convalescing victims at the hospital and suspended Station House Officer of Kotwali police station Sunil Kumar Singh for dereliction of duty.
A majesterial probe has also been ordered by District Magistrate of Ballia. A case was registered in this regard and efforts were uderway to arrest the shop owner.
As per reports, some villagers purchased country made liquor from a shop in Sabzimandi area in Kotwali area. After consuming the liquor, their condition deteriorated after which their kin admitted them to the district hospital. Three of the victims were referred to Varanasi as their condition was critical. However, all three died on way and were pronounced dead upon arrival in Varanasi Medical College. Two more victims succumbed at the Ballia district hospital later on Wednesday night. The deceased were identified as Sadhu (42), Shiv Kumar (50), Shambhu (50), Enuddin (40) of Jagdishpur in Kotwali police station area.
On being informed about the incident, the local police reached the spot but failed to nab the shopowner, who absconded after knowing of the deaths.
A local resident Krishna disclosed that kin of Sadhu, Shiv Kumar, Enuddin cremated their bodies as the cops handed them ovwer to them without completing legal formalities like inquest and autopsy. However, the autopsy of Shambhu and Mohan was conducted on Thursday morning.