Kolkata: State Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday visited Shantipur in Nadia and handed over compensations of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each to those who are critically ill and undergoing treatment at Shantipur State General Hospital.
Incidentally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a gathering at Kalna in East Burdwan, said: "Some people had consumed spurious liquor and died. The family members were not responsible. We have already announced financial assistance for the family members of the victims. There is a need to spread awareness among people against the consumption of spurious liquor."
She also added: "I have instructed all the excise department officers and the police in the districts to crack down on the spurious liquor dens. This must be dealt with strongly."
While visiting the affected area of Nadia, Chatterjee talked to the family members of those who died after consuming the spurious liquor. It may be mentioned here that twelve persons have died so far in the tragedy, which occurred at Nrishinghapur-Chowdhuripara within Santipur police station area. The minister visited the hospital and talked to the patients undergoing treatment there.
Chatterjee said: "Some poor people died after consuming spurious liquor. There is a lack of awareness among the people. The state government had announced compensations for the families of the victims following the incident, as instructed by the Chief Minister. I was here as a representative of the government to hand over the cheques of compensation".
He also reminded that the state government is beside the family members of the deceased and will also bear the treatment costs of those who have fallen ill.
One of the main accused in this incident, Ganesh Haldar, has been arrested from his house at Nrishinghapur by the joint forces of CID and district police on Thursday night. Police have so far arrested six persons for their alleged involvement in the incident.
During the course of investigation, police came to know how the accused used to fetch spurious liquor along the river by boats from a neighbouring district. Police have started a detailed probe to know how the whole business was being operated.
Following the incident, police in various districts have started raids to seize spurious liquor. Birbhum police seized around 80 litres of spurious liquor, while conducting raids at five different places in Dubrajpur on Thursday night.
The state government had earlier ordered a CID probe into the death of the twelve victims. As many as 11 excise officials, namely the Shantipur officer-in-charge (excise), his immediate predecessor, the deputy excise collector of Ranaghat range and eight excise constables, were suspended immediately after the incident.