Prime accused in Nawada hooch tragedy arrested

The main accused of Bihar's Nawada hooch tragedy has been arrested on Tuesday. Over 17 people lost their lives in Nawada and Begusarai districts in the last eight days, while three people lost eyesight due to the consumption of spurious liquor.

Nawada (Bihar): The Bihar police have arrested the key accused in the Nawada hooch tragedy in which over 17 people died on the eve of Holi. The accused has been identified as Arvind Yadav, a resident of Kharidi Bigaha village.

Yadav has been taken to police custody and is being interrogated.

Sources said over 17 people lost their lives in Nawada and Begusarai districts in the last eight days, while another three people lost their eyesight due to the consumption of spurious liquor.

Town station house officer T N Tiwari and sub-inspector Nagendra Prasad were suspended on Sunday while chowkidar Vikas Mishra was axed on Saturday on charges of dereliction of duty.

A special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted formed by the district magistrate and the superintendent of police to probe the cases registered in connection with the deaths.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has questioned the Bihar government over its total prohibition in the state.

Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, "Over 17 persons died after consuming poisonous liquor and some others lost their eyesight. Do you still believe liquor is banned in Bihar? Would you express condolence to the victims' family members or are you just working on the lines of saving top officials responsible for their murders?"

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "We have asked senior officials to keep us updated and investigations are underway," and assured action against the guilty.

The state banned liquor in April 2016 under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.