Bhadrak: Though the Bhadrak hooch tragedy is said to have claimed 10 lives, there has been no agreement among officials on the number of casualties. Surprisingly, 19 days have passed since the tragedy, but the bereaved families have not been provided any assistance.
Reports said Collector Gyanaranjan Das has put the number of casualties at five while CDMO Barish Das said that eight people have died from consuming hooch. He also said that he has mentioned the number in his report
Ten people had reportedly died after drinking spurious liquor. Various quarters are wondering why the district administration has been trying to put the number of victims at five. Surprisingly, the excise department has not made the number of casualties clear.
Meanwhile, Tihidi police have arrested six bootleggers and their aides, but failed to arrest the mastermind. The main accused is said to be affiliated to a particular party.
The BJP has ever since targeted the ruling party for this tragedy. The saffron party was upset over the pace of probe. A BJP delegation had earlier met the collector and the SP seeking immediate arrest of an MLA and his associates.
The BJP leaders had staged a sit-in protest at Pirahat May 14, stating that the Chandbali MLA and his supporters were responsible for hooch deaths in Doulatpur and nearby areas.
The BJP leaders had asserted that on the instructions of the Chandbali MLA over 10 people had distributed spurious liquor to voters in Pirahat and other areas April 29 to influence voting.
After drinking the liquor, 10 people had died while over 100 were admitted to the district headquarters hospital and some private hospitals.
Collector Gyanaranjan Das had said that the exact number of casualties will be known only after reports of liquor samples and viscera of the deceased were available.
Meanwhile, Tihidi police have taken two liquor traders – Krushna Biswal of Soro and Padan Mahakud of Chhatrapada – on remand twice and gleaned some evidence. Krushna was arrested after he surrendered to police May 3.
PNN