At least 10 people died and 16 were taken seriously ill after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur and its neighbouring Kanpur Dehat district, PTI reported on Sunday. Those who fell ill are being treated at Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital and Ursula Horsman Memorial Hospital in Kanpur.
Chief Minister Adityanath announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the deceased. The regional excise inspector has been suspended, while samples of the liquor have been sent for testing, PTI reported.
The victims had consumed liquor bought from a government liquor shop, their relatives told the police. Kanpur’s Senior Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Kumar said a complaint was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Excise Act. The police have arrested one person and detained four in connection with the case. However, the license holder of the liquor shop, Shyam Balak, is still on the run, PTI reported.
Kumar said an operation against hooch manufacturers, traders and suppliers was carried out in the suburban pockets on Saturday night.
Protestors in Kanpur Dehat placed the bodies on the road on Saturday and demanded arrest of the accused. The bodies were sent for post-mortem after District Magistrate Rakesh Singh assured the protestors of quick action in the case, PTI reported. Singh ordered a magisterial probe into the deaths.
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