Four dead after consuming hooch in Ghaziabad
Four policemen have been suspended for dereliction of duty
GHAZIABAD: Four are dead, and one is battling for life at a Delhi hospital after consuming spurious liquor in Khoda police station area of Ghaziabad district in NCR on Monday night.
Five persons had allegedly purchased local liquor from a shop in Shankar Vihar Colony under Khoda police station in Ghaziabad.
The deceased have been identified as Sandeep (17), Ashok (40), Avanish (35) and Ravinder (35) while another, Sriniwas (40) is battling for life at Lal Bahadur Shashtri Hospital in Delhi.
GHAZIABAD: At least four people were killed and one other was stated to be critical after consuming toxic bootleg alcohol in Shankar Vihar colony under the Khoda area in Ghaziabad, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased have been identified as Sandeep (17), Ashok (40), Avanish (35) and Ravinder (35) while the one who is critical and is receiving treatment at Lal Bahadur Shashtri Hospital in Delhi has been identified as Sriniwas (40).
According to locals, Sandeep and his brother-in-law Avanish, both natives of Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh were living in a rented accommodation in Khora area.
“On Monday night both of them bought illicit liquor from a local vendor and consumed at their home. Soon after consuming the liquor the victims developed stomach ache and began vomiting and were rushed to local hospitals. Sandeep died on way to the hospital while Avanish succumbed later,” said a family member of the victim.
Avanish is survived by his four children –three girls and a son. Sandeep came to Khora in search of work, six days back, and was living at his sisterin-law's house in Khora.
Locals claim that the business of illicit liquor has been on the rise in Shankar Vihar and Subhash Park area.
The SSP along with the District Magistrate of Ghaziabad Ritu Mahershwari and the Superintendent of Police reached the spot, on Tuesday, to take a stock of the situation.
All these victims fell sick after consuming hooch on the night of March 12, Senior Superintendent of Police H N Singh said.
“The family members of the victims have told us that they consumed illicit liquor. We have seized the liquor bottles which they consumed and have sent them for forensic examination. Unless we get the reports, we cannot confirm the reason of deaths. Meanwhile, we have taken few people under police custody for questioning,” said Singh.
The incident exposed the production and sale of illegal and chemical mixed liquor in the district which prompted the suspension of four policemen in the area.
The SSP added that station house officer (SHO) of Khora police station Dhruv Bhushan Dubey, police postin-charge Ram Samajh Rana, beat constables Rajbir Singh and Mohammad Asgari were suspended for dereliction of duty after the incident came to light. Apart from these, Excise Inspector Sheelam Mishra and two other staffers were also relieved from their post due to the incident.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Ritu Maheswari also wrote to the State Excise Commissioner urging stringent action against errant staff of the department for not cracking down on illicit liquor sale in the area.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also ordered an inquiry into the incident following which police have launched a probe in the matter.