At least 11 persons died and several others fell ill and were admitted to the hospital after they consumed spurious liquor from an illegal vendor in South 24 Parganas on Wednesday morning. Police have arrested four persons in this connection.
According to the district administration, the number of deceased, however, stands at five though the locals allege at least 11 deaths have happened due to consumption of spurious liquor. The incident had led to a massive protest by the local villagers who set the hooch den on fire and destroyed the utensils that were used to produce the spurious liquor. People from four adjoining villages including Gholabazar and Shivnagar under Canning police station were worst affected in the incident. After being informed, a huge contingent of police rushed to the spot and took the persons who fell ill to local hospitals. According to the doctors, the condition of some of the victims was stated to be serious.
11 persons were declared dead in the hospital while many others were admitted to the hospital. It was learnt that around 16 persons were seriously ill. Some patients were later shifted to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH) as their condition deteriorated. As soon as the news of the hooch tragedy spread, an irate mob torched the shades where the spurious liquor was being prepared. They also ransacked and damaged the hooch den. Tension prevailed in the area as the mob also set the hooch den on fire.
The local residents staged a demonstration in the area alleging that local police failed to check the hooch dens that have mushroomed in the locality. They alleged that an illegal hooch den was being operated in the area for quite some time. Neither the police nor the local political leaders took any step to stop the illegal liquor den. Despite repeated complaints, no steps were taken to dismantle the illegal hooch den. The local residents alleged that the accused owner of the illegal hooch den, Kebla Gayen, fled from the spot immediately after the incident took place.
The local residents also stormed into the houses of those involved in the illegal business and searched if any jar containing the spurious liquor were kept inside their houses.
After starting an investigation in this connection, the South 24 Parganas police have arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in running the hooch den and dealing in country liquor. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that in a major hooch tragedy around 145 people died after consuming spurious liquor at Sangrampur in South 24 Parganas in December 2011.