Sunday, 11 September 2022 | PNS | HARIDWAR
Locals allege liquor is being distributed by Panchayat election candidates
At least four persons reportedly died in the Phulgarh village in Pathri area of Haridwar district with consumption of hooch being the suspected cause of death. It is being alleged that candidates in the Panchayat election being held in Haridwar district may have provided the liquor. According to the villagers, apart from the four persons who were reported to have died on Saturday, three persons had died earlier in another village. While police have started investigation and checks in the village to ascertain whether the deaths were caused by spurious liquor or excessive drinking, the Pathri police station officer and three constables have been suspended. A special investigation team has also been formed to investigate the case.
Initially as reports spread of four persons dying from consumption of spurious liquor, the Haridwar district magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey denied the allegation. He stated that prima facie the deaths reported on Saturday were not caused by consumption of spurious liquor. As soon as information about the incident was received, senior officials of the district administration and police reached the village and started investigation into the matter. The administration has so far confirmed the deaths of four people. The police have also detained two people in the case.
Phulgarh village residents Manoj, Birampal, Arun and Amarpal died allegedly due to consumption of hooch. It is being stated that Amarpal died at a hospital. The locals have alleged that liquor is being used to woo the voters in the Panchayat elections being held in the district. The villagers allege that due to the large quantities of liquor being provided, many people in the village start drinking alcohol from the morning itself.
Deputy inspector general and senior superintendent of police, Haridwar, Yogendra Singh Rawat also reached the village to check the situation. Talking to media persons he said, “Four deaths in the village at once is a matter of concern. We are sending the bodies for post mortem to ascertain the actual cause of death and to check if spurious liquor or excessive consumption caused the deaths even though it was being said that some of the persons were ailing. It is being said that some Panchayat election candidates are providing liquor. This is a matter of serious concern for democracy. The police are continuing the drive against such illegal supply of liquor. In this police station area itself about two dozen liquor related cases have been booked within a fortnight and similar action is being undertaken by the police across the district,” he said.
