West Champaran Hooch deaths: 16 arrested, cop suspended, SHO shifted

Sixteen people were arrested and a police officer and a chowkidar suspended on Saturday in connection with 16 suspected hooch deaths in separate villages in Bihar’s West Champaran district over the week, officials said

Sixteen people were arrested and a police officer and a chowkidar suspended on Saturday in connection with 16 suspected hooch deaths in separate villages in Bihar’s West Champaran district over the week, officials said.

HT Image

The station house officer (SHO) of Lauriya police station and other police personnel have been recalled to the district police lines.

The action came after families of 12 of the deceased accepted that they had consumed liquor.

A press release issued by the district administration on Saturday said, “While 16 people have been arrested, search for others is underway. SHO Rajeev Kumar and other personnel attached with Lauriya police station have been shunted to the police lines. The officer-in-charge of the police station, K P Yadav, and one chowkidar have been suspended.”

The release said that during investigation, family members of 12 of the deceased had given written statements to the police that consumption of spurious liquor was the cause of their deteriorating health and eventual deaths.

Meanwhile, kin of the deceased recounted a harrowing ordeal.

Wakil Khan (60), a resident Sabeya in Ramnagar block, said his brother-in-law of Taj Mohammed (60), who died on July 10, foresaw his death after consuming liquor with three others the previous day. “When his condition deteriorated in the middle of night, he realised he had drunk something spurious. As he suffered from bouts of vomiting, giddiness and loss of vision, we took him to a doctor in Ramnagar the following morning. He died barely few hours after he was brought back home,” said Wakil Khan.

Taj Mohammed’s wife Quaraisa Khatoon said her husband consumed liquor regularly and had a drinking session on July 9 at Hardiya village (in Ramnagar block) along with Guddu Miyan and Jowahir Miyan, who have died too, and one Bharthari Sah who has survived.

Families of other victims too shared similar experiences.

Meanwhile, Birendra Gupta, the CPI-ML (L) legislator from Sikta assembly constituency, wrote to chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday, accusing the district administration of hushing up cases and demanding action against police officials.

“Of the 16, highest number of deaths (13) occurred in Deurawa village, where runs eight liquor outlets. Three deaths occurred after consumption of liquor at Hardiya village in Lauriya block,” Gupta has written in his letter.

Locals said sale and consumption of liquor, which is banned in Bihar since April 2016, is rampant in these villages in connivance with the police.

In a related development, the Bagaha police on Friday evening seized 3,700 liters of country liquor and destroyed more than half a dozen liquor manufacturing units in raids at separate locations in Chautarawa and Bhaironganj police stations area, officials said.