The death toll in the illicit liquor tragedy at Sangrampur and adjoining villages in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district rose to 170, with one person dying on Sunday.
Senior officials of the Health Department said about 30 persons were still being treated at different hospitals.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Sikha Adhikari said most patients were released.
Removed from duty
Following the incident, the officer in charge of the Usti police station, which has jurisdiction over Sangrampur and several other villages where most of the deaths occurred, has been removed from duty.
“The officer in charge of the Usti police station has been removed. We have started departmental proceedings against him,” Superintendent of Police L. N. Meena said.
He said the police camp at Sangrampur was closed. The circle-inspector of Mograhat was given the additional charge of the Usti station.
Several illicit liquor dens have come up in the village close to the Sangrampur police camp. Locals had alleged that these dens were doing a brisk business, what with the police colluding with the bootleggers.
The police have so far arrested 18 people for allegedly selling illicit liquor, but the key players are at large.
List being prepared
Even four days after the State government announced Rs. 2 lakh in compensation for the bereaved families, the money has not been disbursed.
“We have not received the funds from the State government. We are preparing the list of the deceased,” said a district official.
The zilla parishad has given Rs.10,000 to each of the bereaved families for conducting the last rites.
Published - December 18, 2011 11:06 pm IST
