TARN TARAN: 2 DIE AFTER CONSUMING HOOCH

Victims belonged to Pandoori Gola village, which is the supply hub of illicit liquor, as per police

TARN TARAN: Two men died while as many were hospitalised allegedly after they consumed illicit liquor (hooch) at Pandoori Gola village of Khadoor Sahib sub-division in the last 24 hours.

Dilbagh Singh, 30, an autorickshaw driver, had died on Tuesday afternoon, while Hira Singh, 38, a labourer, died in the night. Hira Singh’s younger brother Dhira and Rampal were admitted to Tarn Taran civil hospital on Wednesday after their condition deteriorated.

The incident has put a question mark on the efficacy of the local police, which failed to check the illicit liquor trade in the village.

The police probe had found the village to be the “supply hub” of the smuggled spirit that caused the death of 123 people between last week of July and first week of August in Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts.

Tarn Taran senior superintendent of police Dhruman H Nimbale said they have arrested two people who had sold liquor to Dilbagh and Hira. “The accused have been identified as Joga Singh and Karanbir Singh. We have sent samples of liquor that Hira Singh consumed for chemical examination.”

Dhira Singh said, “We consumed liquor. My brother died at around 11pm on Tuesday. The illicit liquor business is still ram

pant in our village.” Dilbagh’s brother Gurjant Singh said, “Had the police acted with an iron hand, the life of my brother could have been saved.”

Tarn Taran DC Kulwant Singh said they have yet not included the names of the two fresh victims for ex gratia. “It is yet to be confirmed that the two men died after consuming the same spirit that caused earlier deaths,” he said.

ILLICIT LIQUOR TRADE RAMPANT

In the state’s worst ever hooch tragedy that claimed 123 lives, 94 deaths were reported in Tarn

Taran district alone, including 12 in Pandoori Gola. The police had arrested around 12 villagers after deaths were reported.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) district president Virsa Singh Valtoha said, “The government is not serious even after 123 deaths. Those who were still selling illicit liquor in the village must have got patronage of the ruling party’s leaders. Those who were arrested earlier from the village were not thoroughly interrogated by the police, due to which two more people have died. The police and the government are solely responsible for this.”