Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, April 17
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had been unsympathetic to the families of the liquor death victims so far, on Monday took a U turn and announced compensation of Rs four lakh to the families of the each of those victims since 2016.
Nitish Kumar had been saying, “Jo Piyega, Woh Maarega hi (Those drinking liquor will die) and strongly opposed demand for payment of compensation to their families of the hooch tragedy in the state where his government had banned liquor. On Monday, Kumar announced that from the chief minister’s relief fund, Rs 4 lakh would be paid to the families of the victims. Besides, government will take care of the education of their children.
Nitish, however, put one condition that the beneficiary families would have to give a written declaration that their relatives died of illicit liquor consumption. They would be told to submit another declaration making commitment that they were in for total prohibition.
Nitish for the first-time regretted deaths of 35 in East Champaran district and said he was pained over the deaths. He directed the Chief Secretary to seek detailed reports from all district magistrates on liquor induced deaths since April 5,2016 when total prohibition was imposed. Till Monday evening, 40 people have died in Motihari after consuming spurious liquor.
Excise Minister Sunil Kumar said 25 people have been arrested in Turkoliya village, the worst affected in East Champaran liquor tragedy. Officers-in-charge of five police stations in the district have been suspended. There would be speedy trial of the accused in special courts, he added.
Last year, 158 people had died after consuming illicit liquor in different districts. Of them, 77 had died in Saran, the constituency of the excise minister. Since 2016, over 1,000 people had died after consuming illicit liquor in 12 districts of Bihar, including 17 in Nalanda, home town of the Chief Minister. Immediately after imposition of total prohibition, 19 people had died at Khajoorbanni village in Gopalganj district in 2016.
District SP of East Champaran, Kantesh Kumar Mishra said 14 suppliers and manufacturers of illicit liquor have been arrested from Turkoliya. Navnit Kumar, officer-in-charge of the police station had links with the suppliers.
Last year 62,140 people were arrested for violation of prohibition law. Since 2016, five lakhs have been arrested but not even one per cent convicted, according to the Excise officials.
