PATNA: At least 14 people died and over a dozen was taken ill after allegedly consuming ‘spurious’ liquor in Bihar’s Motihari district, the police said on Saturday. The district officials swung into action and started conducting raids after receiving complaints about the death and hospitalization.
The deaths occurred in Turkaulia, Harsiddhi, Sugauli and Paharpur blocks of the district. Taking immediate action in this matter, the police arrested 10 liquor smugglers and seized alcohol and spirit during the raids. A team led by the superintendent of police (SP) Kantesh Kumar Mishra reached the affected areas and started investigating the incident.
Mishra said in Turkaulia, the locals alleged that some people had brewed liquor and consumed it. “It was also told by the locals that some people have performed the last rites of the deceased and some people are also undergoing treatment in various hospitals of the city,” said the SP in an issued statement.
Motihari DM Saurabh Jorwal told this newspaper that 14 persons have died under the mysterious circumstances in different villages of four blocks since Friday evening. “Of 14, the family members cremated the bodies of 11 deceased in a hurry while post-mortem of three persons, who were admitted at government health facilities were conducted on Saturday morning,” he said adding that viscera report along with the post mortem report will reveal the actual cause of the deaths as the family members of the deceased are refraining from saying anything
Jorwal further said that more than 10 persons are undergoing treatment at government health facilities while several people are admitted at the private hospitals in the district. “A police and a medical team has been sent in the village for door-to-door survey to admit those who are having some health ailments. Miking is also being done. During the raids, the police team has arrested 10 liquor smugglers, who brought liquor in pouches in the villages. The sample of the liquor has been sent for the test,” the DM said.
According to the police, the deceased identified as Dhruv Paswan of Laxmipur of Raghunathpur OP, Jokhu Singh of Jaisinghpur East, Manohar Rai of Mathurapur, Dhup Yadav of Jaisinghpur South, Abhishek Yadav of Jaisinghpur South, Tuntun Singh of Bara Lohania, Bhutan Manjhi of Balua Bairia of Paharpur police, Sudish Ram of Giddha, Indrasan Mahto of Giddha, Ajay Paswan of Giddha of Sugauli police and Chhote Lal Manjhi of Harsiddhi have been cremated by their relatives.
The other victims of suspected hooch were identified as Chhotu Paswan (25) and Ashok Paswan (45), of Raghunathpur OP, both of them died during the treatment at a hospital in Muzaffarpur and their bodies have been sent for the autopsy while the post-mortem of Rameshwar Ram alias Jatta Ram was conducted at Motihari hospital.
They died after complaining of nausea, disorientation, stomach ache, breathlessness, and loss of vision and consciousness, all typical side effects of consuming adulterated liquor.
Gyaneshwar, a local of the village alleged that all of them consumed liquor on Thursday evening after reaping the wheat crop. “Desi sharab (local alcohol) was brought by Jatta Ram, who died after his health deteriorated,” he said. Pramod Shah, a resident of Gai Ghat village of Harsidhi block, was taken by the medical team after he complained about breathlessness. He told the media persons that said he drank four pouches of liquor while his partner consumed three pouches.
The police officials said that the Crime Investigation Department (excise department) will ensure further investigation of the incident and legal action will be taken. A team of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has also reached to the spot to collect evidences.
The local sources, however, claimed that more than 20 people have died since Friday evening in Laxmipur village. The death toll may increase as around 25 persons are undergoing treatment at different health facilities.
