Life term for 4 in Bengal hooch tragedy that left 172 dead

A court in West Bengal on Friday sentenced four persons to life imprisonment in connection with one of the worst hooch tragedies that left 172 people dead in 2011.

Additional district and sessions judge Partha Sarathi Chakraborty of South 24 Parganas district also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on each of them.

If they fail to pay the fine, the convict would have to undergo an additional imprisonment for six months.

The court on Thursday had found Noor Islam Fakir alias Khora Badshah, the prime accused, and three others -- Dukhi Laskar, Khairul Laskar and Nazmul alias Kola Laskar -- guilty in the case.

The court had acquitted six others for lack of evidence.

In the worst hooch tragedy in the state, 172 people died in December 2011 at Sangrampur in South 24 Parganas district after consuming toxic liquor.

After the quantum of punishment was pronounced, prime accused Khora Badshah expressed no emotion, but the other three broke down.

They later told reporters that they would move the high court.