4 dead in suspected hooch tragedy in West Champaran

At least four people have died, while two fell seriously ill, after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Bihar’s West Champaran and Siwan districts, police said on Wednesday.

BETTIAH: At least four people have died, while two fell seriously ill, after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Bihar’s West Champaran and Siwan districts, police said on Wednesday.

According to police, while one died in Khaptola village under the Nautan police station of West Champaran, three others died in Dhebara village in Pakkaliya panchayat under Daraunda police station limits of Siwan. (Picture for representation)

According to police, while one died in Khaptola village under the Nautan police station of West Champaran, three others died in Dhebara village in Pakkaliya panchayat under Daraunda police station limits of Siwan.

Confirming one death in West Champaran, superintendent of police (SP) Upendra Nath Verma said, “ I came to know about the incident late Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Ranjit Singh. Prima facie, the death looks to have occurred following consumption of poisonous substances. However, the exact cause of the death could only be known after the post mortem report arrives. We are looking for one more person who is also suspected to have consumed spurious substance,” the SP said.

At Siwan’s Dhebara village, the wife of deceased Kamlesh Manjhi told media persons that some people from the village forced her husband to accompany them to a nearby liquor outlet at around 5 am on Wednesday. “After returning, he complained of uneasiness and started having severe pain in his stomach. He was taken to a doctor after he started vomiting and later died,” said Champa Devi, wife of the deceased.

However, Siwan’s SP Shailesh Kumar denied that the deaths occurred due to the consumption of illicit liquor. “The family members have claimed the death occurred due to illness and that they have given their statement in writing as well,” the SP said.

The others, who died have been identified as Noor Mian (50) and Awadh Kishore Manjhi (70) - all residents of separate wards of the same village, the SP said.