Drive against illicit liquor ineffective, admits Munde

Almost a year-and-a-half after after the alliance government launched its much hyped tribal welfare programmes like Navsanjivani and Integrated Tribal Development Project, the plight of the tribals has forced the government to make some more promises. “Apart from health and welfare of women and children, the government will ensure the implementation of its various programmes for tribal rehabilitation,” Munde said. “The task before us is not only to check the country liquor dens, but also to find a permanent solution to the socio-economic problems of the adivasis,” he added.

The Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, who also visited the hamlet ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident by Director General of Police Arvind Inamdar. He has asked the DGP to submit report in 15 days.

Even as the main accused Shaikh Mohammed Abdul Latif , a history-sheeter, remained absconding, the Chief Minister came down heavily on the local administration. Holding the police and excise officials in the area responsible for dereliction of duty, Joshi announced the suspension of Assistant Police Inspector Nana Deshmukh, the officer incharge of the Khalapur police station and Inspector Mane, with immediate effect.

Sub-inspector More and Inspector Nagpal of the State Excise department, Raigad Circle were also suspended.

“There is some serious communication gap and lack of co-ordination between various agencies. The Collector should have rushed to the spot and made adequate medical arrangements. Many lives could have been saved if the Raigad Police Commissioner and District Collector had shown some promptness in tackling the situation,” Joshi remarked.

The police has already arrested Aishabi, Bedekar’s mother, who has been awarded police custody for seven days by the Khalapur metropolitan magistrate.

Later the Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the kin of those who died at Khalapur in Raigad district. Joshi also said that the government would make it mandatory that methanol, the deadly chemical used to brew khopadi, was mixed with another chemical to give it a tint unlike water. This was recommended by the Parthasarthi committee set up by the government in 1992 to check the use of methanol in illicit liqour.

Joshi was supposed to pay a brief visit to Khopoli to seek the blessings of the local saint Gagangiri Maharaj, but lengthened his stay to visit the affected Hal and Mahad hamlets in the area. Accompanied by Munde and Minister of State for Home, Prabhakar More, Joshi visited almost all the adivasi families who lost their kin to the illicit liquor.

Distressed by the first such tragedy to rock the alliance government, while Joshi was in a fiery mood, Munde seemed quite composed. In fact, in a rare impromptu action, Munde threw all protocol norms to the wind and drove a police jeep with More by his side for a major part of the tour.