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This is an archive article published on October 18, 2024
High-level probe ordered, several arrests made as hooch toll mounts to 37 in Bihar
Siwan police have made 10 arrests and Saran police 37 arrests so far in connection with the case.
A man being taken to the hospital after he consumed suspected spurious liquor, in Siwan district. (PTI)
The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Bihar’s Siwan and Saran districts has gone up to 37, officials said Friday.
In Siwan, the toll has gone up to 28, and in Saran, it is nine. As of Thursday, the number of deaths in these two districts were 20 and five respectively. Over a dozen people, who had consumed spurious liquor, are undergoing treatment at Siwan Sadar hospital and Patna Medical College.
Separately, two deaths in Gopalganj district are also suspected to be related to the consumption of spurious liquor.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday evening held a review meeting with the Prohibition and Excise Department. A probe by an additional director general-rank officer is also.
In the review meeting, the CM said, “Let the administration ensure that the liquor law is fully enforced. We request people to refrain from drinking.”
Siwan police have made 10 arrests and Saran police 37 arrests so far in connection with the case. A senior police officer from Siwan told The Indian Express, “There is an almost-similar trend as witnessed in the 2022 hooch cases in Saran and Siwan. Country-made liquor in pouches from adjoining UP is transported to Saran, Siwan and Gopalganj. All the deaths can be attributed to the same consignment.”
In 2022, 73 people had died in Saran and Siwan due to the consumption of illicit liquor.
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Siwan and Saran police have seized over 2,000 litres of illicit liquor in the last four days.
Most of the victims were daily wagers or hawkers. Since 2016, over 350 people have died due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Bihar, with most deaths reported from the north of the state, including East Champaran, West Champaran, Saran, Siwan, and Gopalganj districts.
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