Taking strong exceptions to a hooch trgedy at a Azamgarh village that left seven dead and dozens hospitalised, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered suspension of Station Officer, police outpost in-charge and other cops posted. Yogi also conveyed his condolence to the family members who lost their relatives in the tragedy.
Ironically, the Azamgarh police had earlier claimed that only four persons died of consuming liquor and the remaining three died natural deaths.
The CM also ordered initiation of action against Excise department officials. Besides, all District Magistrates and District Police Chiefs were ordered to ensure that spurious liquor was not sold in their area of jurisdiction. Yogi also ordered fo a drive to be launched against persons involved in making and sale of spurious liquor.
An official communiqué said that Chief Minister asked Azamgarh district administration to fix responsibility of officials responsible for the hooch tragedy. Besides action against erring police officials for patronising sale of hooch, action would soon follow against Excise Inspector and other staff of the department.
late on Thursday night, some locals consumed liquor in Kewatihaya village in Raunapar police station area of Azamgarh after which became uncosncious and were admitted to hospital.
later, Ram Vriksh Kewat (70), Charitra Kewat (85), Ram Nayan Kewat (70), Shyampreet Kewat (18), Shiv Kumar Kewat (18), Subri Paswan (35), and Keshav (45), died in the night.
To underplay the gravity, the local police said that only Shyampreet, Shiv Kumar, Subri and Keshav died due to the spurious liquor and the remaining three died of natural causes and handed over their bodies to their kin for last rites without autopsy.
SSP, Azamgargh Ajay Kumar Shahni later said that the initial probe revealed that all four had consumed ‘tadi’ (country-made liquor) and died therafter. Their bodies wer sent for autospy to ascertain the cause of death.