Bengal hooch tragedy prime suspect surrenders

Noor Islam Sheikh alias Khora Badshah, prime suspect in the Sangrampur hooch tragedy in which 171 people were killed, surrendered before a court in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district today, police said.

Noor Islam Sheikh alias Khora Badshah, prime suspect in the Sangrampur hooch tragedy in which 171 people were killed, surrendered before a court in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Monday, police said.

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State police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sources said Sheikh gave himself up at the additional chief judicial magistrate's court in Diamond Harbour.

"We are now trying to take him in our remand," deputy inspector general (operations) CID K Jayaraman.

With this, the total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 15. Among those arrested are Nurjahan Bibi - Sheikh's wife.

At least 171 people -- mostly masons, labourers and hawkers -- perished after consuming spurious liquor at shanties near Sangrampur railway station of South 24 Parganas district Dec 13-14 last year.