Alok Mishra
Gopalganj: Even as state CM Nitish Kumar boasts of implementing complete prohibition in Bihar by enforcing stringent Excise Laws and warning police officials of stern action if it was found that liquor was being sold under their respective jurisdictions, 13 persons died after consuming hooch in Gopalganj district. Gopalganj DM Rahul Kumar confirmed the death of 13 persons. He, however, said that officials can come 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. The DM said he has directed the officials to carry out raids across the district. Kumar said that five persons had been arrested in this connection and the excise sleuths had seized liquor also. He said that a FSL team had reached Gopalganj and preserved the viscera of the victims. The DM said that he has also directed the officials to meet the victims’ family members and record their statements.
Gopalganj DM went on to add that stern action would be taken against the officials if it was established that the death was caused due to consumption of liquor.
As per hospital sources, the victims had been identified as Mantoo Giri, Parma Mahto, Dina Nath Manjhi, Shashikant, Manoj Sah, Raja Sharma, Durgesh Sharma, Sobrati Mian, Raju Ram, Anil Ram, Vinod Singh, Janendra Kumar and Manish Chouhan. Manto Giri and Umesh Chauhan lived in a rented house and used to sell fruits.