Seven lives cut short by toxic liquor in Bihar, inquiry underway

Seven people died allegedly after drinking spurious liquor in dry Bihar’s West Champaran district, prompting the administration to order an inquiry.

Timeline of Events

The police came to know about the deaths on Sunday, though the first fatality occurred four days ago and the bodies of all seven were already cremated, officials said. Superintendent of Police Shaurya Suman said all the deaths were reported from the Lauriya police station area. Locals blamed the deaths on the consumption of spurious liquor, but the SP asserted that the reason behind at least two fatalities was not hooch.

Investigation Details

One had been hit by a tractor, while another had suffered a paralytic attack, he said. “The first death took place on January 15 though we came to know about the episode only today. The cause of the remaining five deaths was unclear as all seven bodies were cremated before the police were informed. We have set up an investigation team to find out the cause of the deaths,” Suman told a source on Sunday. West Champaran’s Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) Sumit Kumar said it is difficult to ascertain the cause of the deaths as the bodies were cremated.

Inquiry Team's Mandate

“The investigation team was directed to submit its report within 24 hours,” he told a source. The team will also ascertain the identity of those who died in the last three-four days in Lauriya, he added. A family member of one of the deceased said, “My brother Pradeep consumed liquor with his friend Manish. Both died.” The sale and consumption of alcohol was banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April 2016.

(Except for the headline, nothing has been changed by All India News Network in the PTI copy.)