The series of deaths started from Kushinagar district of UP, has not stopped till now. The number of persons, who died due to poisonous liquor is increasing so far, 89 people have died in this liquor case and 297 cases have been registered in UP and 400 people have been arrested. After the deaths caused by poisonous liquor, the State police and excise department have shown sternness.
The cases are buried
Whenever there were such incidents in the state, it were examined at the highest level. The only action taken was suspension of local police and Excise Officers. For many days Police and Excise Department carried out campaign against illegal liquor traders, But, the general perception is that after few days the conditions were back to normal and the suspended officers for the incident were deployed again .
Illegal liquor businessmen do not fear death
In order to stop the deaths due to poisonous liquor, laws were amended by the U.P Government. In the amended law provision of death penalty for illegal liquor makers was also put in, but illegal liquor trade could not be stopped in UP. This is the fifth incident in the last two years of the this government. Before the deaths in the districts of Kushinagar and Saharanpur, there have been incidents of poisonous liquor in Azamgarh, Barabanki, Kanpur Dehat and Kanpur city.
Amendments were made in the Act
Amendments were made to 22 such streams under the provisions of the Excise Act, which provides for penalties, under Excise Act section 3, 5, 31, 52, 53, 54, 55, 60, 62, 63, 64, 64A of Excise Act, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 69 A, 70, 71, 72, 73 A, 74 were amended and 60-C has been added in the form of new stream.
In this new section, there has been provision for life imprisonment or a fine of Rs 10 lakh or both, or even death sentence, if death or permanent disability from illegal liquor is proved.
In the Act there are arrangements that if there is negligence or collusion on the part of departmental officers, they will be given strict punishment.If there is slight negligence in the search of illegal liquor distelleries, arrangements have also been made to suspend or dismiss the concerned officer . The Act has been amended for two years now, but till date there is no information of action under the new sections, the excise department has not released any such figure.
The Incidents didn’t Stopped
In September 2017, the government changed the Excise Act and three months later, in January 2018, the incident of poisonous liquor happened in the district of Barabanki adjacent to the capital. 12 people died after drinking poisonous liquor in Barabanki. In May, death of 16 people was reported in Kanpur Nagar and Kanpur Dehat due to poisonous liquor.