Same hooch to blame

In a tragedy which could have been averted, police are suspecting that it could be the same consignment of hooch that has killed as many as 28 people in Delhi, Ghaziabad and Bulandshahar in the last five days.

In a tragedy which could have been averted, police are suspecting that it could be the same consignment of hooch that has killed as many as 28 people in Delhi, Ghaziabad and Bulandshahar in the last five days.

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Police are suspecting the involvement of a de-notified tribe that has earlier too been involved in manufacturing and smuggling of hooch.

Last year, around 48 people died in two different incidents of hooch tragedies in the city.

According to Delhi Police, the same consignment of spurious liquor is being circulated in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

“It was brought in sometime before the festival Holi. We are trying to pin down the exact location of the whole consignment of spurious liquor,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

In the Capital this year, around five people have been reported dead after consuming spurious liquor.

“We are still awaiting the postmortem report in three cases. But initial investigations have revealed that they had consumed liquor and were diagnosed for blood poisoning,” added the officer.

Three people were reported dead in Inderpuri area in southwest Delhi and two in Krishna Nagar in east Delhi. Around 48 people were killed last year in Raghubir Nagar in west Delhi and Dabri in southwest Delhi.

Later, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police had arrested the ‘kingpin’ of the spurious liquor racket.

“We have rounded up a few people of this tribe been involved in making spurious liquor under the brand name of ‘Shokeen’. We are questioning them,” added the officer.

Police fear that if the spurious hooch is not found soon, the toll could rise.