‘Hooch tragedy’ in capital claims 40 in fortnight

In what is being termed as a “hooch tragedy”, almost 40 people have died in west and southwest Delhi in the last fortnight after reportedly consuming spurious liquor.

The state government asked the Delhi Police to expedite the probe but the police have different takes on the deaths. Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said, “There’s still no evidence connecting the deaths to hooch consumption and post-mortem reports are still awaited.”

DCP (west Delhi) Sharad Aggarwal said, “We suspect at least eight people may have died after consuming country-made liquor.” But, he bizarrely suggested, “these people may have died due to some disease accentuated by liquor consumption.”

Angry residents of Raghubir Nagar, which accounted for 20 deaths in the past three days, ransacked a police booth, blocked roads and raised slogans against the police, alleging a police-bootleggers nexus.
Since Sunday night the police have conducted 30 raids but there have been “no significant recoveries since most bootleggers have gone underground.”

They arrested Seema, a habitual offender, for allegedly selling “tax-evaded illicit liquor.” Samples from some liquor bottles recovered from her were sent for tests.

A senior police official said they are still to talk to eight people from Raghubir Nagar admitted in serious condition to local hospitals after consuming illicit liquor. The victims are mostly migrants who work as rickshaw-pullers or daily wage labourers.

A senior official said, “We suspect a liquor called Shaukeen, sold in authorised government wine shops on the outskirts of Delhi, may have been adulterated by some bootleggers. The same liquor was seized in raids after the deaths in southwest Delhi last week. We are checking where this liquor is manufactured.”

Opposition leader in the Delhi legislative assembly Vijay Kumar Malhotra wants a judicial probe. “The illicit liquor is being sold in connivance with Congress leaders, Delhi police and excise intelligence bureau,” Malhotra said.

Delhi finance minister Dr AK Walia said, “One or two brands of country liquor are being sold with fake labels after methyl alcohol is mixed.”