Bihar Hooch Tragedy: Death toll soars to 50; political blame game continues
Chhapra (Bihar) December 16: The death toll in Bihar's Chhapra Hooch tragedy has risen to 50, with 11 more people succumbing after consuming spurious liquor in the Saran district.
On the recommendation of Marhaura Sub-Divisional Police Officer Yogendra Kumar, Masrakh Station House Officer (SHO) Ritesh Mishra and Constable Vikesh Tiwari were suspended immediately following the Tuesday night tragedy.
The majority of the deaths occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, causing outrage both at the state and national levels, as the Nitish Kumar government has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar since April 2016.
Nitish Kumar's former ally, the BJP, has come down heavily on him, with MPs from the state raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. When asked about the Chhapra Hooch tragedy, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told the media on Thursday that "if someone consumes liquor, they will die," which outraged victim families and others.
"The liquor ban has benefitted several people. A large number of people have given up alcohol... This is good. Several people have happily accepted this. But there are some troublemakers. I have told officers to identify the actual troublemakers and nab them," Kumar said.
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Bihar Excise Minister Sunil Kumar has also called for strict action against the culprits responsible for the deaths. "Process of filling an FIR is underway. I have spoken over the phone with SP," Sunil Kumar had said.
The opposition attacked the Bihar Chief Minister in the state assembly hours after the first few deaths were reported from Chhapra, causing Kumar to lose his cool and scream back at the BJP leaders.
The Chhapra Hooch tragedy was one of the issues raised in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, prompting the House to adjourn three times in 40 minutes as both the Treasury benches and the opposition raised their concerns at the start of the Zero Hour.
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- ANI
