bihar-hooch-toll-rises-to-nine-as-three-more-die

The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Bihar’s East Champaran district rose to nine on Sunday after three more persons who had consumed suspected spurious liquor succumbed, authorities said, triggering an intensified investigation and fresh political sparring.

 

The fatalities were reported from the Turkauliya and Raghunathpur areas in Motihari, with the first death recorded on Thursday. Officials said several victims had complained of severe illness after consuming illicit liquor, pointing to suspected poisoning.

 

District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal said a total of 15 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the case, as law enforcement agencies widened their crackdown on those involved in the supply chain of the spurious brew.

 

A case of murder has been registered based on complaints filed by families of the deceased, police said, indicating the seriousness with which authorities are treating the incident.

 

Jorwal said one affected person continues to remain hospitalised in critical condition, while seven others who had been admitted earlier have been discharged following treatment. “The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. The exact cause of death will be known once the reports are received,” he said.

Also read: Bihar hooch tragedy: Death toll rises to four

In a swift administrative action, the station house officer of Turkauliya police station has been suspended on charges of dereliction of duty. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been constituted to probe the incident and identify lapses at various levels.

 

The tragedy has once again brought into focus the recurring challenge of illicit liquor in Bihar, where a complete ban on the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol has been in force since 2016. Despite the prohibition, sporadic hooch-related deaths have continued to surface from different parts of the state, raising questions about enforcement and ground-level vigilance.

 

The latest incident has also sparked a political slugfest, with opposition parties criticising the state government over alleged lapses, while the administration has maintained that strict action is being taken against those responsible.

 

Authorities said further arrests are likely as the probe progresses and efforts continue to trace the source of the spurious liquor that led to the deaths.