Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, July 16
Though total prohibition was imposed in Bihar in April,2016, the sale of liquor continued to remain unabated across the state.
In the last two days,16 people of four villages in Lauriya block of West Champaran died after consuming illicit liquor from a hooch joint at Deorwa near Bettiah.
Though villagers have disclosed the names and age of 16 people who died on Wednesday and Thursday after consuming liquor, the district magistrate, Kundal Kumar, claimed only nine died. According to him, six of them died due to “mysterious” disease and two others because of old diseases. Only one died after consuming liquor, he claimed.
The deceased are in the age group of 25 to 70 years.
A team of excise officials and police on Friday morning searched liquor manufacturing illicit distilleries at Shikapur and destroyed huge stock of country made liquor. Police arrested four, including a woman. DM admitted presence of an illicit liquor distillery in Lauriya.
In Nawada district in central Bihar, 15 people had died after consuming liquor in March this year.
District administration has started a search in the private hospitals and nursing homes to locate the surviving liquor consumers as villagers claimed they have been sick people being rushed to private hospitals late last night.
Villagers said due to fear of action by the police, they had buried their relatives in the late night hours and also cremated some of them in the night hours.
Brother of one of the victims, Latif Shah, alleged even home delivery of liquor was done in the area. He alleged police were informed about the illicit sale of liquor in the past, but there was no action.
Vinod Kushwaha who is a newspaper vendor in Lauriya disclosed the names of the 16 people who died after consuming liquor in the last two days. According to Vinod, the victims have been identified as Bhikhan Ansari, Rambriksha Paasi, Latif Miyan of Deorawa, Suresh Turha, Nayim Miyan ,Bashistha Saini, Hiralal Dome of Jogiya, Chutu Miyan, Taaj Mohammad, Jawahir Miyan of Sahgayar village, Amiran Sah of Baswariyam, Ratul Miyan of Bagalim, Julphur Miyan of Dumra, Izrahul Ansari and Jhumman Miyan of Garnala and Bhagwan Panda of Pandapatti.
He feared the toll may cross 20 as more are missing.
A former village head (mukhiya) of Telpur, Mohammad Javed who is also chairman of primary agriculture co-operative society (PACS) confirmed 16 deaths. Quoting relatives of one of the deceased, Bharat Shah, alleged his brother had consumed liquor from an illicit liquor vend at Baghi Pokhra market.
A team of Bettiah police visited Government Medical College Hospital where one of the consumers was admitted. He admitted that he had consumed liquor.
In the last five years, 2.73 lakh people have been arrested and 2.12 lakh cases were filed for violation of prohibition laws.
