Guj introduces Bill to amend prohibition law

In the wake of the hooch tragedy claiming 127 lives, the Gujarat government introduced a Bill aimed at amending the existing prohibition law in the Assembly session on Wednesday. The new provisions incorporated in the amendment Bill also include death penalty to criminals.

“The present government has taken the most prompt action by inserting a new provision which imposes penalty up to death on criminals indulging in such act leading to death of people. Penalty would not be less than 7 years in such offences,” the state government said in a statement.

The amended law is aimed at strictly dealing with manufacturers, transport, stockiests, sellers and processors of illicit liquor. Apart from death penalty, the Bill provides for life imprisonment and punitive action, including imprisonment, against errant officers.