Five more persons dead in Bihar hooch tragedy, toll 13

"The toll in the hooch tragedy has risen to 13 in the past 24 hours and the casualties may go up as a search is being made in the village and adjoining localities to find other victims," Deputy Inspector General of Police, Shahabad range, Ajitabh Kumar said.

Those who died bought illicit liquor pouches from nearby Ara railway station two days ago, the DIG said.

Eight FIRs have been registered and 13 people, including a man who sold the hooch, were arrested, Kumar said.

A large quantity of pouches containing spurious liquor were seized from unauthorised shops, the DIG said.

Yesterday, a team comprising the sub-divisional officer, sub-divisional police officer and assistant excise commissioner investigated the deaths.

Meanwhile, charging the district administration with collusion with the liquor mafia, the CPI(M-L) Liberation took out a protest march in the town led by former party legislator Arun Kumar.