Latest hooch tragedy brings infamy for a place with rich Buddhist history

The latest hooch tragedy in Bihar’s Nalanda district, which has claimed 13 lives so far, has also brought infamy for a place that has a rich history associated with Lord Buddha — Hiranya Parvat in Biharsharif town — which now has at least 2,000 illegally constructed houses and is considered to be a den of manufacturing spurious liquor, according to local officials.

The latest hooch tragedy in Bihar’s Nalanda district, which has claimed 13 lives so far, has also brought infamy for a place that has a rich history associated with Lord Buddha — Hiranya Parvat in Biharsharif town — which now has at least 2,000 illegally constructed houses and is considered to be a den of manufacturing spurious liquor, according to local officials.

LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan consoles affected families of a hooch tragedy in Nalanda district on January 17. (PTI)

Hiranya Parvat, situated close to the Buddhist site of Odantpuri, has been known for to its scenic beauty.

But all that his history.

The place has now been divided by illegal settlers into Badi Pahadi, Chhoti Pahadi, Sringar Haat Pahar etc., which together have over 2,000 houses constructed illegally. The Chhoti Pahadi is a den of liquor manufacturing and smuggling, said a police officer.

In the ensuing crackdown after hooch deaths, the district administration has identified more than 150 houses constructed illegally at Hiranya Parvat and eviction notices have been pasted on 64 houses.

Nalanda district magistrate Shashank Shubhankar said action against encroachment of government property had been initiated against those who resisted demolishing the illegally constructed structures within 15 days.

The DM said the police have registered six separate FIRs (first information report) against and arrested seven persons, including one Karoo Paswan, a wanted liquor supplier.