NHRC notice to UP govt over hooch tragedy

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that more than 26 people have died and several others are critical after consuming spurious liquor in Etah and Farukhabad Districts in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Five gGovernment employees including three from the State Excise Department have reportedly been suspended following the incident.

Expressing its concern over the loss of life due to consumption of spurious liquor, the NHRC has observed that the reported suspensions of some public servants in the matter, point towards negligence on the part of the official machinery, which resulted in the tragedy.  Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, UP government, calling for reports in the matter.  They have been given four weeks to respond.          According to the media reports, a huge quantity of illicit liquor and raw materials were recovered from various places including Bareilly, Bijnor, Etah, Kanpur Dehat, Allahabad, Mau, Kushinagar and Sonbhadra districts.