East Champaran Hooch Tragedy Claims Sixth Life as Police Uncover Methanol Network
The death toll in the devastating hooch tragedy in East Champaran district has risen to six, following the tragic demise of Lal Kishor Rai, a 45-year-old resident of Hardia village under the Turkauliya police station area. Rai had been undergoing intensive treatment at a private hospital after consuming spurious liquor in Turkauliya, according to police reports.
Police Seize 700 Litres of Methanol in Major Crackdown
In a significant development, Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat announced during a press conference that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) seized approximately 700 litres of spirit from a drain in Salempur village near Piprakothi on Friday. Chemical experts conducted thorough examinations and confirmed the substance to be pure methanol, a highly toxic industrial chemical known for its severe health risks.
SP Swarn Prabhat emphasized the dangers, stating, "Chemical tests revealed that the seized spirit was methanol, which is extremely dangerous for human consumption and can cause blindness or death. Timely action by the SIT helped avert a larger tragedy, as the recovered spirit was allegedly meant for distribution across the district."
Investigation Exposes Illicit Distribution Network
Investigations have uncovered a detailed network of spirit smuggling in the region. The probe revealed that smugglers Kanhaiya and Raza, residents of Piprakothi, were responsible for bringing the consignment. This was subsequently sold to Khalifa and Sunil Sah of Parsauna, who then allegedly passed it on to Naga Rai and Jammu Baitha for distribution in the Parsauna and Balganga areas.
Police have taken swift action, arresting Raza, Jammu Baitha, Naga Rai, and Khalifa in connection with the case. SP Prabhat confirmed, "All the arrested accused have confessed to their involvement. Further investigation is ongoing to identify other members of the network and dismantle this dangerous operation."
The tragedy underscores the critical need for stringent measures against the illegal liquor trade, which continues to pose severe threats to public health and safety in the region.
