Tension in Khidderpore as two more hooch deaths reported

Nath had consumed alcohol on Sunday night and since then he had been complaining of severe dehydration and had vomited blood frequently,locals said.

Nath’s death sparked tension in the area as locals blamed police for not acting tough on illegal liquor vendors. Rajarhat Municipal chairman Tapas Chatterjee had to step in to mollify the people.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Kolkata police continued their raids against hooch sellers and destroyed shanties in various parts of the city.

The GRP personnel conducted raids along railway lines near stations like Park Circus,Bongaon,Bidhannagar,Garia,Barasat and Ballygunge. “We have arrested 10 people for selling illicit liquor from these areas,” said a GRP official. The GRP has also seized 525 litres of hooch and 70 litres of taari. The Kolkata police also conducted raids in various parts of the city. “On the whole,95 litres of alcohol was seized from many garages that doubled up as selling points for hooch at night,” said PK Chattopadhyay,Joint Commissioner(Administration). Six persons have been arrested in this regard and a maximum of 20 litres was seized from the eastern division alone.

Meanwhile,with the death of 30-year-old Sonu Sana at Shambhunath Pandit Hospital,the toll of the hooch went up to 27. As of now,five more people are admitted in the Shambhunath Pandit Hospital after they were taken ill following the consumption of spurious alcohol. In addition to this,one person is being treated at a private nursing home.