Hooch claims 66 lives in Bihar this year

PATNA: Spurious liquor has claimed at least 66 lives in 13 separate incidents across Bihar this year so far. Complete prohibition was enforced in Bihar in April 2016.
The latest hooch tragedy happened in Rupauli and Vishahar Patti villages under Saraiya police station area in Muzaffarpur district. Eight persons died since October 28 night and four were still undergoing treatment at different hospitals. They had consumed spurious liquor on October 27 night. This is the third biggest hooch tragedy in the state this year in terms of deaths.
Overall, six persons, including Santosh Kumar, have been arrested till now. Police said Santosh had been making hooch for the last one month. Raids are still on to arrest more persons involved the making and smuggling liquor.
This is the third hooch poisoning case in Muzaffarpur since January and third in state in October.
Earlier, five persons had died after consuming spurious liquor at Dargah under Katra police station area of Muzaffarpur on February 17 and 18 this year. Two more villagers died at Vishanpur Giddha under Maniyar police station area of Muzaffarpur again from hooch poisoning on February 26.
One Ranjeet Kumar Singh (55) died and Aman Kumar (25) fell ill from hooch at Baikunthpur village under Rajapakar police station area in Vaishali on October 12. Four more persons died from hooch poisoning at Belauri under Guthani police station area in Siwan on October 24.
At least 16 persons were killed in different villages under Town police station area of Nawada district just after Holi and then the same number of casualties was reported from Lauria in West Champaran in July. These were the top two hooch tragedies in state this year so far.
Besides, two hooch deaths were reported from Bakhri in Begusarai after Holi, four in Kochas, one at Kargahar in Rohtas, two from Town police station area in Kaimur, three from Manjhaulia under Vijaypur police station area in Gopalganj, one from Barhi Bigha under Mufassil police station area in Nawada and one from Mukundpur village under Mahua police station area in Vaishali.
The opposition has attacked the state government over its failure to enforce liquor prohibition in the state. RJD spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan said prohibition is only an eyewash and it has given birth to a parallel economy. “Liquor manufacturing, smuggling and home supply are common everywhere, especially in villages. Policemen also patronise those in involved in liquor smuggling, leading to the death of innocent people from hooch poisoning,” he added.
However, JD(U) spokesperson Dr Suheli Mehta said CM Nitish Kumar is very serious on hooch incidents. “The CM has directed top police and excise department officers to take stern action in all such cases and act seriously against those involved in manufacturing liquor,” she said.
Mehta said these incidents are painful and should not take place at any cost. “However, it can’t be stopped only by the government. Active participation of society is also required,” she added.