UP govt to bring stringent law to tackle deaths from illicit liquor

The Uttar Pradesh government will bring a stringent law to prevent deaths from the consumption of poisonous alcohol in the state, under which life imprisonment and fine upto Rs 10 lakh will be imposed on the guilty.

UP Excise Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Wednesday said, "To stop poisonous alcohol in UP, which is responsible for a lot of deaths, a new section has been introduced, under which life imprisonment and fine upto Rs. 10 lakh will be imposed on those who found guilty, if people die due to the consumption of illicit liquor."

"The provisions of capital punishment are also there. It has been passed as an ordinance and in the next session it will be passed as a law in the Assembly," he added.

In July 2016, at least 26 people died after consuming illicit liquor in Aliganj area of Etah in Uttar Pradesh.

Following the incident, a state-wide crackdown was carried against production and sale of illicit liquor in the state.

The teams had recovered huge quantity of illicit liquor and its raw material from various places including Bareilly, Kushinagar, Bijnore, Allahabad, Sonbhadra, Etah, Mau and Kanpur Dehat.

Police had arrested several persons in the matter.

The main accused in the hooch tragedy, Sripal, was arrested from Nayagaon area.

Reports had stated that five government employees, including three from the excise department, have been suspended following the incident.