39 die in 3 hooch tragedies in UP, U’khand

LUCKNOW/SAHARANPUR/GORAKHPUR/DEHRADUN: At least 39 people were killed and dozens of others took ill after three incidents of people consuming spurious liquor were reported in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Friday.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts, a total of at least 26 people were killed, while in adjoining Haridwar district in Uttarakhand, at least 13 deaths were reported at Balapur village, officials in the three districts said. Around 40 people are reportedly critical in Uttarakhand, local police said.

Taking strong view of the tragedies, the Uttar Pradesh government suspended 14 policemen (10 in Saharanpur and four

TAKING STRONG VIEW OF THE TRAGEDIES, CM YOGI ORDERED ACTION AGAINST THE GUILTY AND ANNOUNCED ₹2 LAKH EACH FOR KIN OF DECEASED AND ₹50,000 EACH FOR THOSE ILL

in Kushinagar) and eight excise officials (three in Saharanpur and five in Kushinagar) in the two districts.

A UP government spokesperson said chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that proper medical care of the victims be ensured by the district magistrates of the two districts. The spokesperson said the chief minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those undergoing treatment. He also directed principal secretary, excise to take departmental action excise officers of both the districts and a 15-day joint operation of excise and police officials to nab spurious liquor operatives. Interacting with media persons in Lucknow, director general of police (DGP) OP Singh said at least nine people were killed in Saharanpur and eight in Kushinagar after consuming spurious liquor.

Later in the day nine more deaths were reported from Saharanpur.

The DGP said inspectors general (IG) of police of Gorakhpur and Meerut zones have been asked to enquire the matter and submit their reports within a week. He also ordered launch of a state wide drive by police, in coordination with excise officials, to check such incidents in future.

Meanwhile in Uttarakhand, taking cognizance of the incident, finance and excise minister Prakash Pant ordered a magisterial inquiry and suspended 13 personnel of Haridwar excise department. Four policemen, including station house officer of local Jhabrera police station, were also suspended.

According to police, residents of Balapur village in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district had gone to attend a mass lunch organised by a villager after a funeral. After having the meal, the mourners consumed liquor and a day later, people started falling ill, leading to their death, police said.

In Saharanpur, hooch victims were reported from Umahi, Sarbatpur and Mali villagers of Nangal police station area on Thursday night.

Saharanpur district magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey also said the villagers attended a dinner in Uttarakhand’s Balapur village and consumed liquor there after one Pintu of Umahi village, had bought some pouches of liquor from there and gave it to some of his friends also. Pandey said Pintu also consumed the same liquor and died later.

He added that liquor samples have been collected from the village for examination.

In Kushinagar, deaths were reported from Jabhidyal, Kanhwalia and Bedupur villages under Taryasujan police station area. The deaths triggered a massive protest by village women who demanded action against illicit liquor sellers.

Kushinagar district magistrate Anil Kumar said four deaths were reported on Wednesday while four others died on Thursday night.