In dry Bihar, at least 13 people have died in the last 24 hours in Gopalganj district allegedly after consuming toxic country liquor even as authorities have claimed that the reason behind the deaths is not clear and ordered a probe.
Some people are undergoing treatment in various hospitals and those critical have been referred to Gorakhpur hospital in Uttar Pradesh.
At least seven of the victims were from Nonia Toli hamlet in Gopalganj town. They died in Sadar Hospital. Family members of the deceased alleged that the victims had consumed spurious liquor on Monday evening near the railway line at Khajurbani village under Harkhua Police Station where sale of illicit liquor continued unabated despite the strict prohibition law. After consuming liquor, they started complaining of stomach pain and began vomiting. They were rushed to Sadar Hospital where they passed away, said victims’ kin.
However, the district administration and Sadar Hospital doctors claimed that those deceased were suffering from various diseases. To know the exact cause of their deaths, a team of doctors has been constituted, said Gopalganj DM Rahul Kumar. The team will also speak to the kin of the victims, he said, adding report was also sought from the attending doctors.
Meanwhile, in a rich haul, more than 378 pouches of country liquor and around 300 bottles of IMFl were seized from Patna and two more places in Bihar. Police raided Hardinge Park area in capital and arrested seven women
who were allegedly illegally trading in pouches of country liquor, Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said in a statement.
The 378 pouches of country liquor that the women had brought for selling were seized. During questioning, the women said they had smuggled the pouches into Patna from neighbouring Jharkhand, the statement said.
Meanwhile, police conducted raids at some houses in Nonia Toli and recovered 50 bottles of country liquor and arrested one bootlegger. However, Gopalganj SP Ravi Ranjan Kumar refused to admit that the people had died to consuming liquor.
The official denial of death due to liquor consumption is understandable as the State Government after the imposition of total prohibition from April 5 had issued stern warning to the civil and police personnel of stringent actions if liquor was found in their jurisdictions. The DMs and SPs have been given special responsibility of checking the menace.
Wife of one of the deceased Shashikant Mahto said he went to consume liquor on Monday evening and had also brought a bottle to home. His condition deteriorated after repeated vomiting on Tuesday and was rushed to Sadar Hospital where he died on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Opposition parties sharpened their attack on the Government. Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said more liquor-related deaths have been reported during the past four months than in the last ten years. He said similar incidents were reported from eight places that claimed 30 lives including the Gopalganj and the victims belonged to Dalit and EBC society.
"If 11 SHOs can be suspended for their failure in checking the bootlegging then who should be held for the 30 deathsIJ Why the CM should not be held responsible for these tragedies in Bettiah, Khagaria, Gaya, Aurangabad, Nalanda and Patna CityIJ" asked Modi.
Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav said Gopalganj tragedy has exposed the reality of total prohibition in Bihar. "The CM should own responsibility for these deaths and resign on moral grounds," Yadav demanded and said the administration was trying to cover up the tragedy. Bihar BJP president Mangal Pandey too demanded CM's resignation.
Bihar JD(U) president Bashistha Narain Singh, however, asserted that the Gopalganj tragedy indicated how urgently total prohibition needs to be enforced forcefully.