Gurdaspur hooch tragedy: Toll rises to 11

Police also arrested Janak Masih,the accused in the Johl Nangal deaths,on Tuesday. Earlier,a case under Section 304 of the IPC and the Excise Act was registered against him. According to sources,a historysheeter,Masih has told the police that he brought the liquor from Shampura village. He has also reportedly named two women as suppliers of the illicit country made liquor.

When contacted,Gurdaspur DSP Gurmail Singh said: “Masih was convicted in two cases and is under trial in six cases under the Excise Act. He says he has procured the liquor from Shampura,a village notorious for illicit country made liquor.” “We have booked the accused under Sec 304 of the IPC,where he could be imprisoned for 10 years,” said Gurdaspur SSP Raj Jit Singh.

Meanwhile,when asked for a demand for compensation for the victims,Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Trikha said: “On humanitarian grounds,I will recommend compensation for the families and it is for the government to decide upon the compensation,if any,and the quantum.”

He,however,added: “The deceased came from economically weaker families and were habitual drinkers. The demand has to be checked to avoid recurrence of such incidents.”