Bihar hooch tragedy: Nitish refuses to compensate bereaved families

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar continues to dither on taking responsibility for the hooch tragedy that has hit Bihar in Chapra and Siwan districts claiming 60 lives. He has refused to give any compensation to the affected families. “You think the government will give compensation to those who die because of liquor consumption? If you drink you will die. Piyega, garbar piyega marega,” he said.

Nitish Kumar was speaking on the floor of the Assembly after the members of the Opposition party created a ruckus. The death toll in the Chapra district incident has risen to 55 while a fresh set of cases have been reported from Siwan district. As reported, five people have died in Siwan because of consuming illegal liquor.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav took the same line and highlighed that similar cases are  happening in BJP ruled states.

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.

Saran superintendent of police (SP) Santosh Kumar has suspended Mashrakh police station in-charge Ritesh Mishra and constable Vivek Tiwari for alleged negligence in discharging their duty. In addition, Madhaura SDPO Yogendra Kumar has also been shunted out.

The state police have detained at least 40 illegal liquor suppliers. A liquor supplier is also said to be among the victims.

As the political storm continues, chief minister Kumar has ac refused to take any responsibility for people losing their lives in hooch tragedies. On the contrary, he has blamed common people for consuming liquor.

“Now the opposition is shouting about the liquor ban. This law was implemented when these opposition members were in power with us (JDU). Consuming liquor is injurious to health. Government is running an awareness campaign, distributing pamphlets from home to home but people don’t understand the harmful effects of liquor,” said Kumar.