Hooch Tragedy: Toll mounts to 37, NHRC seeks report

The toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Uttar Pradesh today climbed to 37 with four more deaths reported even as the NHRC took suo moto cognisance of the matter and issued notices to the state government seeking a reply in four weeks.
Two deaths each were reported in Etah and Farrukhabad, IG, (law and order) Hariom Sharma said here, adding the toll in Etah now has reached 31, while in neighbouring Farrukhabad it is six.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the deaths, the NHRC observed the suspension of public servants pointed towards negligence on the part of the official machinery resulting in the tragedy.

It issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police seeking reports in the matter within four weeks.
The main accused Sripal Lodh has already been arrested and 11 officials from excise department and police have been suspended.
The government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each deceased.

Over two dozen people were admitted in various hospitals in Etah and Saifai and their condition was stated to be serious.
Meanwhile to check manufacture and sale of illicit liquor, DGP Javeed Ahmed has issued strict directives to the officials in the districts to conduct a drive against the manufacture and sale of illicit liquor.

The authorities have launched a crackdown on bootlegging and arrested 1,621 people across Uttar Pradesh.
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Meanwhile, BJP MPs Ram Shankar Katheria and Rajvir Singh said they will raise the issue tomorrow in Parliament and stage a dharna there.
"The matter will be raised in Parliament tomorrow. We will also stage a dharna at the Gandhi statue in Parliament," Katheria said.
"People have lost their lives consuming liquor being made illicitly under the patronage of ruling party and the government claims to fulfill its responsibility merely by arresting a salesman and suspending some officials, he said, alleging the real culprits are roaming freely.

A Congress delegation also visited the district and met the victims and their families.
State in-charge of disciplinary committee of the Congress RK Dubey said his party will protest demanding justice and an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the victims.