Hooch tragedy: toll rises to 48,cops suspended

The number of deaths due to consumption of spurious countrymade liquor (hooch) rose to 48 on the second day of the incidents being reported in Odhav and Majoor Gam...

The number of deaths due to consumption of spurious countrymade liquor (hooch) rose to 48 on the second day of the incidents being reported in Odhav and Majoor Gam areas of the city,according to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation records.

Gujarat DGP S S Khandwawala said 19 victims belonged to the Odhav area.

The bootlegger,Harishankar Kahar alias Hari Om,who is suspected to have supplied the hooch in both Majoor Gam and Odhav,was arrested Wednesday evening. Deputy Commissioner of Police,Detection of Crime Branch,Abhay Chudasma said Kahar was being interrogated. Kahar hails from UP and has over 15 cases of prohibition registered against him.

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The DGP,in an impromptu press conference held in the evening,said six police officers from Ahmedabad,including four inspectors and two Assistant Commissioners of Police,have been suspended and transferred.

State Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Assembly to set up a commission of inquiry to probe into the deaths and also ordered a CID probe. The ongoing Budget session in the House turned stormy with the Opposition shouting slogans against the Chief Minister and demanded Shahs resignation,leading to expulsion of 14 Congress MLAs from the House. The commission of inquiry would be headed by retired high court judge Kamal Mehta,an official press release stated.

The inspectors against whom action has been initiated are R G Patel and A A Pathan of the Kagdapith police station,and J B Rana and N G Jadeja attached to the Odhav police station. ACP G L Khunti of the A Division (Kagdapith) and another ACP K V Vadher of the I Division (Odhav) have been placed under suspension and transferred to Bhuj and Banaskantha (SRP Group) respectively,the DGP said.