After the Hooch Tragedy in Bihar’s Chapra where the death toll has risen to 55 on Friday, five deaths have been reported in Bihar’s Siwan under Bhagwanpur police station due to consumption of spurious liquor on Friday. The numbers are expected to rise.
These areas of the Siwan district where the death has been reported is near the Saran district where 55 deaths have been reported till now. 5 People who have died in Siwan are aged between 35 and 45.
One person has died in Begusarai, Bihar today for similar reasons.
CM Kumar’s policy of liquor ban has been blamed for rising number of deaths due to the consumption of spurious liquor in absence of quality-controlled packaged alcohol in the state.
The Janata Dal (United) leader is facing severe criticism for failing to effectively implement the liquor prohibition law introduced by his government in 2016. Several BJP leaders have demanded that Kumar should be booked for murder every time any person dies after consuming spurious liquor in Bihar.
The state government has launched an enquiry by a special investigation team (SIT), which will comprise 3 deputy superintendent of police (DSP) level officers and 31 other cops to investigate deaths in Mashrakh and Ishauvpur areas.
The SIT team has arrested 126 people and conducted raids in various areas.
As the political storm continues, chief minister Kumar has refused to take any responsibility for people losing their lives in hooch tragedies. On the contrary, he has blamed common people for consuming liquor.
Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav did not keep himself behind in the blame game, he highlights death toll due to spurious liquor consumption in BJP-ruled states in light of Bihar Hooch Tragedy which has claimed dozens of lives till now.
Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court requesting that the Chhapra hooch tragedy be investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The petition requested an independent investigation and the development of a plan of action to combat the manufacture, trading, and sale of illegal liquor. It has also sought restitution for the families of the victims. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, refused to list the case, instead asking the petitioner to bring it up again after the winter break.