Bihar: Death Toll Rises to 41 in Hooch Incidents

Patna: After Gopalganj and West Champaran, more people have lost lives after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Bihar's Samastipur district on Saturday.

The latest death toll includes four people who died in Samastipur, three in Gopalganj and two in West Champaran. The overall toll in the state has increased to 41, with more than half a dozen people still battling for their lives in various hospitals.

As per reports, four people, including one Indian Army Jawan and one Border Security Force jawan, died in Rupauli panchayat under Patori police station in Samastipur after consuming illicit liquor. District police officials have confirmed the recovery of empty liquor bottles from the site where victims had consumed illegal alcohol.

The police, who have described the deaths as "mysterious" and "suspected", await the post-mortem reports before reaching a conclusion. However, the families of the hooch victims claimed that they died after consuming illicit liquor.

This is the fifth such incident in the last 45 days. The incidents have exposed the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's failure to check and control the illicit liquor trade. According to reports, illicit liquor has claimed 95 lives since January. Despite Kumar declaring Bihar a dry state in 2016, country-made and foreign liquor are readily available.

In Gopalganj, 20 people have died after consuming illicit liquor. The district administration has confirmed the death of 13 people since Wednesday after their post-mortem. But seven people, who died after consuming illicit liquor, were cremated by their families in a hurry fearing police action.

In West Champaran, 17 people have died. The district administration has confirmed the death of 13 people while four people were cremated silently by their families. West Champaran district magistrate Kundan Kumar said that a medical team is probing the deaths.

Embarrassed by one after another hooch tragedy in the last four days, the state government dismissed police personnel. Police headquarters in various districts have confirmed action against ten police personnel, including the police station officer-in-charge of three police stations where the incident took place.

Police have so far arrested 18 people for their alleged involvement in the illicit liquor trade.

Opposition Mahagathbandhan leaders blamed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for these deaths and called the much-hyped total prohibition a big failure.

"Prohibition is only on paper; the reality is different. Liquor is easily available and in demand. Powerful liquor traders are selling liquor, and people are openly drinking and dying," RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said.

A CPI (ML) leader said the local police hardly act against the powerful liquor manufacturers and traders despite repeated complaints."

"The police and other officials are minting money by taking bribes and allowing the manufacture and trade of liquor," he further alleged.

Ironically, Nitish Kumar has repeatedly reiterated stringent action against bootleggers and directed the state's top police officers to identify persons engaged in selling and consuming liquor.