At least four persons died and two others were battling for life on Saturday after consuming spurious liquor at Danwar village in Rohtas district of Bihar, which was declared a dry State in April last year.
The State government ordered a probe and suspended eight policemen. The Opposition said the prohibition policy had “totally failed.”
Villagers said eight persons consumed spurious liquor on Friday after the completion of the ‘Chhath’ festival. Later, they showed symptoms of nausea, headache, vomiting and uneasiness. They were taken to hospital on Saturday morning, but four died even before treatment.
The dead were identified as Harihar Singh (50), Kamlesh Singh (35), Uday Singh (35), and Dhanjit Singh (26). Of the four others admitted to Narayan Medical College, the condition of two — Ashok Pandit and Ravi Kumar Singh — are said to be critical.
“An FIR has been lodged in the case and eight policemen, including the Inspector of the Kachhawa police station, have been suspended for lapses and all constables too have been shifted from there... stern action will be taken against all those found guilty in the investigation,” said Rohtas District Magistrate Animesh Kumar Parashar.
In a media briefing, Director General of Police P K Thakur said in Patna, “we’ll order speedy trial in the case and stern action will be taken against the guilty persons.”
According to district excise officials said 20,120 litres of liquor and 857 persons have been arrested in connection with 1,013 cases of violation of new prohibition law in Rohtas since the liquor ban was imposed in the State.
Meanwhile, the opposition leaders took pot-shot over Nitish Kumar government’s “prohibition policy” and said it has been “totally failed” in the State. “Nitish ji formed govt with those who called alcohol prohibition act a draconian law. He just makes law to be in news & not serious to implement. Police’s failure to curb crime is directly proportional to his own failure”, tweeted RJD leader and former Dy CM Teajswi Yadav.
His father and party chief Lalu Prasad tweeted a little after, “Nitish never ever take onus of failures, crime, corruption and law & order. He always throws ball in others court to save his flops & deeds. (sic)”
