HP: 7 died after consuming spurious alcohol

Since Wednesday, 7 individuals have died in Sundernagar town of Mandi district after consuming illegal spurious liquor, according to police, who added that four people have been arrested so far in connection with the crime.

Five people died on Wednesday, according to authorities, and two more died the next day — Sita Ram of Khanyor village and Bhagat Ram. Sita Ram died at his home after becoming ill, while Bhagat Ram was being treated at Nerchowk’s Lal Bahadur Shashtri Government Medical College and Hospital (LBSGMC).

On Thursday, three additional persons were taken to the LBSGMC, bringing the total number of people admitted to the hospital to five. One of them has been referred to PGI Chandigarh after being admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla in a severe condition. SDM Dharmesh Kumar said ten cars with public address systems had been deployed in the region to raise awareness and encourage people to seek medical help if symptoms arise.

The state of Himachal Pradesh has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the matter. The SIT will be led by deputy inspector general (DIG, central range) Madhududan, and its members will include SP Kangra Khushal Chand Sharma, SP Mandi Shalini Agnihotri, and SP (Crime) CID Shimla Virendra Kalia.

In the case, Mandi police arrested four persons on Thursday, including a panchayat ex-pradhan and the relatives of a serving pradhan. Jagdish Chand, the ex-pradhan of Salapar panchayat, and Acchar Singh, the father-in-law of the panchayat’s incumbent pradhan, have been identified. Sohan Lal and Pradeep Kumar were named as the other two suspects. Sohan Lal was arrested with 12 bottles of ‘Santra’ brand alcohol. 

Opposition accused BJP

The ruling BJP is being accused by the opposition Congress of hiding the liquor mafia in Sundernagar. The BJP, on the other hand, responded that one of the accused was associated with the Congress.