Hooch kills at least 36 in UP, Uttarakhand

LUCKNOW/DEHRADUN: At least 36 people were killed and dozens others were critical after three incidents of people consuming tainted liquor were reported in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Friday.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur and Kushinagar districts, a total of at least 23 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.

According to police, residents of Balapur village in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district had gone to attend a mass lunch organi s e d by a vi l l ager af t e r a funeral. After having the meal, the mourners consumed liquor and a day later, people started falling ill, police said.

Meanwhile, at least 15 people were killed in Saharanpur and five others were critical, while at least eight people were killed in Kushinagar and few others are undergoing treatment in the district hospital, UP director general of police (DGP) OP Singh said.

In light of the tragedy, the UP government suspended seven policemen and three excise inspectors in Kushinagar and Saharanpur, while further action i s l i kely t o be t aken against more officials found responsible, district officials familiar with the developments said. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the family of the deceased and ₹50,000 to those undergoing treatment.

The c hi e f minist e r a l s o ordered excise officials to take d e p a r t mental action a nd directed a 15-day-joint-operation

In light of the tragedy, the UP government suspended 7 policemen and three excise inspectors in Kushinagar and Saharanpur, while further action is likely to be taken against more officials.

of excise department and the state police to take action against spurious liquor sellers, a UP government spokesperson said.

Directing the officials t o ensure proper medical treatment of those taken ill after consuming hooch, the chief minister directed the DGP of the state to fix responsibility of police officers of the affected districts, it

said.

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 including excise inspector. Four policemen including station house officer of local Jhabrera police station were also suspended.

Senior superintendent of Haridwar police Janmayjay Khanduri said the police are looking into production of illegal spurious liquor in the villages, as per disclosures made by some villagers and stern action will be taken against offenders.

The Uttarakhand Police said that four people have been detained on suspicion of smuggling the liquor from neighbouring Saharanpur district. Khanduri said the incident took place when locals consumed liquor after a mass lunch organised as per Hindu ritual on the death of a villager in Balapur on Wednesday. “The person, who had organised the lunch, claimed no liquor was served. He claimed villagers who consumed the alcohol, had bought it from nearby sellers,” said Khanduri said. He said the police have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits.