Angul: An excise flying squad from Cuttack, as part of its probe into the death of two women allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor, raided various liquor manufacturing units here Saturday.
Taking serious note of the incident, the state excise secretary directed the flying squad from Cuttack to conduct a probe and submit a report.
The Angul sub-collector also reached the spot and conducted a separate probe. Two women, Bimala Naik and Budhuni Naik, working in a poultry farm in this district died Wednesday allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor. Both the teams examined the circumstantial evidence and questioned the co-workers of the deceased women about the incident.
The co-workers claimed the women had consumed liquor the previous night and were found dead in the morning.
However, it is alleged that a section of excise officials in the district is trying to cover up the incident.
The district excise department has refused to admit that it was a case of spurious liquor consumption. The excise officials have claimed that the women died of cold as they were sleeping under the open sky at night.
However, the doctor who conducted the post-mortem, said there was presence of excessive liquor in the intestines of the deceased women with little food deposits. The post-mortem report has been sent to a forensic laboratory and the actual reason behind their deaths will be ascertained once a report from the latter is available.
When contacted, excise superintendent Suresh Chandra Nayak failed to come straight on the mystery surrounding the death of the women. He said the women died during sleep while raids are being conducted at the liquor manufacturing units. The excise department has registered over 86 cases in October after it raided various liquor units and seized raw and fermented brew from the dens.
It is alleged that illegal liquor sale is rampant in the district as the raids conducted in past were mere eye-wash. Three persons had died consuming spurious liquor in the district in the past while many recovered after undergoing treatment over a long period.
It is learnt that once the raids stop the illegal liquor units again resume their business. Lack of stringent action has emboldened the liquor traders to carry out their business with impunity, according to sources.
PNN
