Man dies after consuming hooch at Bhojpur village

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Birbal Ram, 42, died after allegedly consuming hooch at village Haripur under Koelwar police station in Bhojpur district on July 15, 2018. After his death, his family members and people of the area  blocked Koelwar-Babura main road near village Mohammadpur since morning with the body of the deceased harging police with patronising liquor smugglers, liquor mafias and liquor brewers in the area.

The locals burnt tyres on road, paralyzed movement of vehicles and raised slogans against the district administration. They were demanding compensation to the deceased’s family, arrest of the liquor smugglers and mafias and action against the guilty police officials. The blockade was lifted after positive response from the police officials. Later, police brought the body over to Sadar Hospital, Ara, for post-mortem.

SHO, Koelwar police station, said that Birbal Ram, son of late Ashok Ram of village Haripur, was liquor addict and took liquor daily. On Julu 14, 2018, late evening he came to his home  drunk and went to his room to sleep after abusing and thrashing his wife and family members. On July 15 morning, when he did not wake up, his family members went into his room and found him dead.

Ranjan Kumar, son of the deceased, said liquor smugglers and liquor brewers are quite active in Bhojpur district despite complete prohibition and enjoy tacit support from police. He alleged that liquor smugglers and mafias operate in the area in connivance with police personnel and countymade liquor and Indian Made Foreign Liquor are being sold with impunity. He said that liquor was being sold in entire Koelwar area including diara area of river Sone.

On the other hand, police denied sale of liquor in the area and said that the deceased purchased the liquor from somewhere else.