Bihar hooch tragedy: Death toll rises to 74

A large quantity of 'raw spirit' that the police seized in the past and stored at the Mashrak police station was missing. It was suspected that the spirit used in the spurious liquor making was taken from the police station.

Chhapra (Bihar): The death toll in the Chhapra hooch tragedy rose to 74 due to the consumption of spurious liquor making it one of the largest hooch tragedies in the state. The incident was reported on Wednesday. These deaths have been reported from the Mashrak police station area, Madhaura, Isuapur, and Amnaur blocks of Saran. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was investigating the incident.

It has also come to light that the spurious liquor, which caused the deaths, disappeared from the Mashrak police station. According to sources, when the excise department started probing the deaths, they came to know that a large quantity of 'raw spirit' that the police seized in the past and stored at the Mashrak police station was missing. It was suspected that the spirit used in the spurious liquor was taken from the police station.

Joint Commissioner Krishna Paswan and Deputy Secretary Product Department Niranjan Kumar also reached Mashrak to investigate the matter. Official sources said, "Two constables of this police station were suspended." The sick are undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital, PMCH and NMCH in Chhapra where the condition of many people remains critical. In all, 25 people have lost their eyesight after consumption of spurious liquor.

Santosh Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Saran said, "The FIR has been registered in Mashrakh police station and Isuapur police station and continuous raids are going on for the arrest of the accused. A special investigation team consisting of 31 police officers, including 3 deputy superintendents of police, have been formed for further investigation."

Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav slamming the opposition said, "Spurious liquor is being transported from UP and Haryana where BJP is in power. Why are they not taking any action on this." Rajiv Pratap Rudy, BJP leader said, "Bihar is a dry state only on paper. If the spurious liquor is being sold in the state and the government should've taken action against it."