PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haldwani
Two persons including a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader died and one is seriously ill after consuming liquor mixed with a toxic chemical on Thursday night in Khatima area of Udham Singh Nagar district.
According to official sources, the Khatima police received information at about 10 PM on Thursday about a person dying and two falling seriously ill after consuming liquor. The police reached the site and ascertained that the persons were transported to the hospital. According to sources, BJP leader and social activist Dillu Rana was declared dead by doctors while advocates Malkeet Singh Rana and Pravesh Rana were referred to a higher centre considering where Malkeet died during treatment. It is being reported that the trio consumed alcohol and mixed a transparent liquid with the drink. They may have thought it to be water but the liquid apparently turned out to be a toxic chemical which affected the trio after one drink.
Shrawan Kumar, who transported them to the hospital said that Dillu Rana started vomiting soon after consuming the liquor, after which all the three were taken to the hospital. The police collected empty liquor bottles, a plastic bottle containing the suspicious chemical and samples of the vomit for forensic examination. The bottle containing the chemical was reported to be carrying a strong smell. The police said that the seized items have been sent for forensic examination while a detailed investigation is also being carried out in the case.
