13 die after consuming hooch in Gopalganj

Alok Mishra

Gopalganj: Even as Bihar CM Nitish Kumar boasts of implementing stringent Excise Laws and warning police officials of stern action if liquor was sold under their respective jurisdiction, 13 persons died after consuming hooch in Gopalganj district. Gopalganj DM Rahul Kumar, however, confirmed the death of 11 persons only. But, he said the  officials can reach any conclusion only after the autopsy is carried out.

DM Kumar, who has been camping at Gopalganj Sadar Hospital with SP Ravi Ranjan since Tuesday, said that such cases have been reported from different villages falling under the jurisdictions of Manjha, Thawe, Yadopur and Sidhwaliya police stations. He said that he has directed the officials to carry out raids across the district. The DM said that he has also directed the officials to meet the victims’ family members and record their statements. He said that blood samples of the victims and others, who were undergoing treatment, would be collected and sent to Forensic Science Laboratory for further test to ascertain the behind the deaths. He said that stern action would be taken against the officials if it was established that the deaths were caused due to consumption of liquor. Meanwhile, a pal of gloom descended at Nonia Tola in urban locality.

The deceased include Parmanand Mahto (54), Mantoo Giri (34), Sashikant Mahto (24), Dinesh Mahto (Sareya), Umesh Chauhan (Majhwaliya), Ramji Sharma and Manoj Sah (Bideshi Tola, Thawe). If sources are to be believed, some of the survivors have either shifted to Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) or private nursing home of Gopalganj.

Manto Giri and Umesh Chauhan lived in a rented house and used to sell fruits. If the versions of the victims’ family members are to be believed, they had consumed liquor at Kurav Khajoorbai locality on Monday. According to Sashikant’s wife, her husband had returned home after consuming liquor and had also brought liquor to house. She further said that her husband fell ill on Tuesday and later died at Sadar Hospital.

Soon after the news of death spread in Gopalganj, police team carried out raid in Nonia Toli locality and recovered liquor bottles from there. However, none of the officials went on record about recovery.