In UP and Uttarakhand 114 deaths have been reported due to poisonous liquor, many are serious, and are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.Two days after 10 people died in Kushinagar after consuming spurious liquor, another 54 have died in Saharanpur district of the state,while 18 died during treatment in Meerut, taking the death toll to 82 In neighbouring Uttarakhand also 32 people have died till now.
While four policemen and 13 excise department officials were suspended in Uttarakhand, Saharanpur SSP suspended 10 policemen, including an SHO, from Gagalhedi and Naagal police stations that cover affected villages. In Kushinagar four excise officials were suspended on Friday. UP government has announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 for those undergoing treatment. The UP CM has ordered a state-wide 15-day joint crackdown by excise and police department against illicit liquor.
In Saharanpur alone 54 youths have died after drinking poisonous liquor, while more than 10 are being declared serious. Meanwhile, three youths have died after drinking poisonous liquor in Sharbatpur village under Gaagalheri police station. Apart from this, reports of deaths are coming from different villages too.It began on Friday morning after several villagers from Salempur, Umahi, Sherbatpur, Malipur, Dankopur village of Saharanpur and Bhagwanpur area of Haridwar fell ill, following which they were rushed to nearby hospitals. The origin of the tragedy in both districts was traced to Baalupur village of Haridwar. The police and the district administration have been stirred after the case of death by poisonous liquor came to light.
Inquiry entrusted to IG Saharanpur and Gorakhpur
On the instructions of CM, DGP OP Singh has handed over the investigation to IG Saharanpur and Gorakhpur in this case. They have to complete their investigation in a week and submit their report to the DGP Office. In Kushinagar, the first two suspected deaths were reported from Tarya Sujan police station on Feburary 6. However, authorities failed to confirm cause of death as families had cremated the bodies before police could intervene. Four more people died on Thursday and the toll touched 10 by Friday morning.
Additional commissioner (excise) OP Arya said in Kushinagar that spurious liquor was being smuggled from bordering Bihar. Kushinagar SP Rajeev Mishra said police arrested one person after he confessed to have supplied spurious liquor to victims.
32 confirm hooch deaths in Haridwar
According to excise department officials there are 32 confirmed casualities in Haridwar, while two are critical. All victims in the age group of 35-55 belong to Bindu, Kharak, Baalupur and Bhalaswagaj villages, located in Bhagwanpur area of Haridwar district.