Deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor continue in Bihar. According to an official of Bihar police, so far 37 persons have died after consuming spurious liquor in the three districts of Bihar since the day of Holi.
Maximum number of deaths took place in Bhagalpur district where so far 22 persons have died since Saturday morning. Besides, 12 persons lost their lives in Banka district and 3 in Madhepura.
The Bihar police however claim that these are mysterious deaths and an investigation is underway to identify the actual cause of deaths.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that some people died after reportedly consuming poisonous liquor while others were suffering from some kind of illness. We are waiting for the post-mortem reports to ascertain the actual cause of deaths,” Gangwar told IANS.
“We have directed SPs of respective districts to investigate the incidents of death and submit the report to the headquarters at the earliest,” police official Gangwar said.
In Bhagalpur, 22 persons of Sahebganj and villages under Narayanpur block died due to poisonous liquor. In Banka, 12 persons of different villages under Amarpur police station died since Sunday morning. While in Madhepura, three deaths took place in the villages under Murliganj police station.
The family members of victims claim that they consumed liquor on Friday evening and Saturday morning on the occasion of Holi and since then, their health conditions deteriorated. The victims complained of stomachache, vomiting and loose motion. The victims were admitted to different private hospitals of Bhagalpur, Banka and Madhepura.
Kumar Gaurav, a native of Sahebganj in Bhagalpur claimed that he informed local police about the sale of liquor in the area but the police refused to take action.
“I informed the local police of Bhagalpur to act against the liquor traders. Even when some of the victims were taken to the hospitals for treatment, I informed the police about the development, but no one reacted,” Gaurav said to local media.
The Bihar Police has said most of the many deaths blamed on consumption of spurious liquor by locals in various districts during Holi, could have other causes.
The DM said statements of all the bereaved family members were recorded in course of an inquiry conducted by the administration. All claimed that the deceased had not consumed alcohol and upon their request the bodies were handed over for cremation without post mortem. In Bhagalpur, where four deaths in Sahibganj locality had led to angry protests, post mortem reports of two were awaited. Their family members had agreed to investigation, said the police headquarters, quoting the DM’s report.
However, bodies of two others were handed over to family members who denied consumption of liquor and expressed aversion to post mortem. One person, who fell ill allegedly after consuming liquor, was being treated at a hospital which had, so far, not confirmed the reason of sickness.
No official word was, so far, received from Naugachia police district, which falls under Bhagalpur and accounted for four deaths, and Madhepura district from where two fatalities were reported. Bihar became a dry state in April, 2016.
The District Magistrate of Banka’s team constituted to probe the issue, meanwhile, said that there was no proof of deaths due to consumption of liquor. The team is being headed by SDM Dr Preeti Kumari and SDPO Dinesh Chandra Srivastava.
“We went to every village that comes under Amarpur police station and took the statements of the families of the deceased. They said that the victims were having health issues. Following their deaths, they cremated their dead bodies without any post-mortem. There is no proof of deaths due to consumption of liquor in Banka district,” said Dinesh Chandra Srivastava, SDPO Banka.
With IANS, PTI inputs
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