16 die after consuming spurious liquor; 5 excise officials suspended

CM HAS ASKED OFFICIALS TO TAKE STERN ACTION AGAINST THE ACCUSED

AGRA : Sixteen people died and 14 took ill on Friday after allegedly consuming spurious liquor sold by licensed vendors in the rural belt of Aligarh. Four people, including a vendor, manager, salesman and helper, were arrested in Karsua village while five officials of the excise department were suspended for laxity leading to such a tragedy.

The deceased included 12 locals and four truck drivers who had gathered at a gas depot on the Aligarh-Tappal highway for work. Six teams had been constituted to nab the other accused, said officials.

“A magisterial inquiry has been ordered, which will be conducted by an additional district magistrate-rank officer. In all, 16 people from Karsua village (under Lodha police station), Andla village (Khair police station) and Chairath village (under Jawan police station) of Aligarh have died,” said Chandra Bhushan Singh, district Magistrate of Aligarh.

Most of the victims had consumed liquor on Thursday night from three vends in Karsua, Andla and Chairath villages in the rural belt of Aligarh. Their condition deteriorated and they died on Friday morning. Fifteen of the victims were sent to hospitals but they were declared brought dead while one died during treatment.

“All the accused have been booked under Gangster Act and National Security Act will be invoked against them,” stated Kalanidhi Nathani, SSP (Aligarh)

Additional chief secretary (excise) Sanjay Bhoosreddy suspended three officials including district excise officer Dheeraj Sharma, excise inspector (region 3) Rajesh Kumar Yadav and constable of excise police Ashok Kumar ordered departmental inquiry against them. Later in the evening, the excise department suspended two more personnel--an excise inspector, zone-4, Aligarh and an excise constable, zone-4, Aligarh..

Meanwhile, CM Yogi Adityanath asked excise and home department officials to take stern action against the accused (proceedings under National Security Act and seizure of property followed by auction).