Botad: The death toll due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Gujarat’s Botad district has gone up to 28, officials said on Tuesday, July 26.
The liquor was made from the highly poisonous methyl alcohol, Gujarat Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia told reporters in Gandhinagar. Three First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against 14 people on charge of murder and other offences, and most of them have been detained, he said.
Of the 28 that have died, 22 belonged to various villages in Botad district while six were from neighbouring Ahmedabad district, Bhatia said.
Besides, more than 45 people are currently admitted to hospitals in Bhavnagar, Botad and Ahmedabad, he said.
“A forensic analysis has established that the deceased consumed methyl alcohol. We have booked 14 people on charge of murder and other offences and already detained most of the accused,” Bhatia said.
The matter came to light early Monday morning when some people living in Rojid village of Barvala taluka and other surrounding villages were referred to government hospitals in Barvala and Botad towns after their condition started deteriorating.
Inspector General of Police (Bhavnagar range) Ashok Kumar Yadav had said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a deputy superintendent of police-rank officer will be formed for a probe into the incident and to nab bootleggers who sold the spurious liquor.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Ahmedabad crime branch have also joined the investigation.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is on a visit to Gujarat where the Assembly polls are due later this year, on Monday alleged that illegal liquor is being sold in large quantities in Gujarat where prohibition is in place.
He alleged that people selling illicit liquor are enjoying political protection and demanded a probe into the “trail” of money generated by selling booze.
Kejriwal on Tuesday, July 26 said he will visit a hospital in Bhavnagar where some of those who consumed the spurious liquor were admitted.
(PTI)