UP Hooch Tragedy
At least 10 people died in a hooch tragedy in Kanpur after they allegedly consumed spurious liquor. Many others were serious taken ill after intaking the spurious liquor in different villages under the Sachendi police station area here.
SP (rural) Pradyuman Singh had yesterday said that according to the relatives of the victims, all of them had consumed liquor purchased from a government liquor shop.
Kanpur's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Akhilesh Kumar said an FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Excise Act was lodged against Shyam Balak, the license holder of the liquor shop.
Administrative officials and the Excise Department are investigating the matter, he said, adding on Saturday night, a massive operation against hooch manufacturers, traders and suppliers was carried out by the police in the suburban pockets.
Four people have been detained so far, though the main accused Shyam Balak is still absconding, an official said.
SSP Akhilesh Meena and Surendra Singh today visited the Ursula Horsman Memorial (UHM) and Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) hospital to inquire about the well being of the victims of the hooch tragedy admitted there.
The state government has already announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for the seriously ill, while the regional excise inspector was suspended.
