Seven persons died and 16 others were hospitalised on November 28 after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in the Santipur area of West Bengal’s Nadia district. State Finance Minister Amit Mitra who holds the State’s Excise Department confirmed the deaths and said investigation is on ascertain the substance consumed by the victims.
“As per the directions of the Chief Minister, the officer-in-charge of the area has been removed,” Mr. Mitra told journalists in the West Bengal Assembly.
The Minister said that there were reports that something was mixed with the illicit liquor and only a proper inquiry would reveal the material that led to the poising. The State government has announced ₹2 lakh to the next of the family of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the State leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party targeted the State government for the deaths. “The Trinamool Congress has an insurance policy for those dying after consuming illicit liquor but is not taking steps to contain the problem,” BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said.
West Bengal has seen one of the worst illicit liquor tragedies in recent times when more than 170 died at Sangrampur in South 24-Parganas district in December 2011.