After ten deaths in Agra due to consumption of illicit liquor, the State Government has finally cracked the whip against officials found primarily “responsible” for the tragedy.
The police have confirmed that four people died after consuming spurious liquor and said the investigation is on to ascertain the reason behind the death of six others. “Nine police personnel, including three SHOs and six constables, have been suspended over the incident. We have also sent a recommendation for action against the guilty excise officers and the policemen to the Government,” Additional Director General of Police, Agra, Rajeev Krishna said.
The viscera report confirmed the cause of the deaths, though the local police had earlier denied that spurious alcohol had killed more than half a dozen villagers under Dauki police station. A team led by ADG zone Rajiv Krishan visited the villages and interacted with the family members of the deceased.
Divisional Commissioner Amit Gupta and district magistrate PN Singh also visited the affected villages to gather ground reports. Four outlets have already been sealed and samples sent for analysis.
He said, “Reports from Forensic Science Laboratory confirmed the presence of methyl alcohol in four viscera samples sent for testing.”
Thus the four men died after consuming spurious liquor, he added. Ten people died in Agra in the past four days after consuming spurious liquor, family members have said.
Four deaths were reported in Deoria Village and two deaths in Garhi Jahan village in the Shamsabad area of the district.
Four people died in Kaulara Kalan and Barkula villages after consuming spurious liquor, the family members said.
People said spurious liquor was easily available in the villages and urged to administration to crack down on those selling it.
The three Station House Officers (SHOs) against whom the action was taken are Umesh Chandra Tripathi, in-charge of Taj Ganj police station, Ashok Kumar, in-charge of Dauki and Rajkumar Giri, in-charge of Shamsabad, police station.
Meanwhile, the police and excise department are looking to trace the origin of alcohol distribution. Opposition leaders have demanded financial compensation to the family members of the deceased.