Bihar hooch tragedy:  Nitish Kumar loses temper in assembly as BJP questions liquor ban policy

• Visibly upset, Nitish Kumar shouted at BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha saying “Arey, tum bol rahe ho… (Oh, you are to speak now…)”
• Imposing a ban on any “edible item or beverage is mental bankruptcy: RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh
• The Congress was also quick to demand review on prohibition.

A stir caused due to hooch deaths in Bihar assembly after BJP questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the liquor ban policy due to which spurious liquor market grew unchecked leading to death of scores of people, including seven persons in the last 24 hours.

Following death of seven persons (so far) in Saran district, leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly, Vijay Kumar Sinha, attacked Kumar holding him responsible for the hooch tragedy. He termed it a result of complete failure of prohibition in the state. The Congress was also quick to demand review on prohibition.

Visibly upset, Nitish shouted at Sinha saying “Arey, tum bol rahe ho… (Oh, you are to speak now…)”.

Former Bihar minister and RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh also opposed the liquor ban. He said imposing a ban on any “edible item or beverage is mental bankruptcy.” “You can’t impose a ban. Through awareness and counselling you should make people understand that consumption of liquor is injurious to health,” ANI quoted Sudhakar Singh as saying.

As many as seven persons have died and many others are undergoing treatment at various hospitals following consumption of poisonous liquid at Masrakh locality of Marhaura sub-division in Bihar’s Saran district late on Tuesday. Family members of the deceased alleged that more than 15 people consumed country-made liquor at Doyla village. Hours after consuming the liquor, they complained of nausea, headache and uneasiness following which their family members admitted them to hospitals.

A few others, who complained of vision loss, have been undergoing treatment at the Masrakh health centre, according to Hindustan Times report. Police said that five persons died on Tuesday while two died on Wednesday morning. The deceased have been identified as Bichendra Rai, Harendra Ram, Ramji Shah, Amit Ranjan Sinha, Sanjay Singh, Kunal Singh and Mukesh Sharma.

The incident triggered massive protest demonstration with villagers blocking the state highway near Hanuman Chowk, burning tyers and demanding compensation to the next kin of the deceased.

The villagers also shouted slogans against the administration and demanded action against those involved in the incident. Some of them alleged that one Uma Singh of Ishuapur has been running an illegal liquor manufacturing unit in the area with the connivance of local police and excise officials.

Saran district magistrate Rajesh Meena said, “I have got reports about the six deaths and investigation is on. We have also talked to the villagers and urged them to report fearlessly about liquor smuggling. No innocent will be harassed. A medical team was rushed to the village.”

-INDIA NEWS STREAM