Suspected hooch tragedy: 3-member probe panel submits report

A three-member committee formed by Gujarat Government to probe the suspected hooch tragedy, which claimed 16 lives in Surat district, today submitted its report to the state Home Department.
The probe panel is being headed by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP- Police Reforms) V M Pargi. Two other members of the committee are Director of Prohibition and Excise B K Kumar and Deputy Director of Gandhinagar-based Forensic Science Laboratory M S Dahiya.
"As mandated by the state government while forming this committee on September 10, we completed our probe in three days and submitted the report to the Home Department today. The report carries our observations about the suspected hooch tragedy in Surat," Pargi told reporters after submitting the report today.

Pargi, however, refused to divulge details about the contents of the report.
"The report has been prepared after meeting officials, doctors, forensic experts, patients, family members of victims as well as villagers. It is Gujarat government's prerogative to share the conclusions mentioned in the report," said Pargi, adding that the report also carries recommendations to prevent such tragedies in future.
The government has not officially called the incident as a hooch tragedy and instead termed it as "unnatural deaths".
The death of 16 persons, attributed to hooch, were reported mainly from Vareli and nearby Haripura village in Palsana taluka of Surat during last one week.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had yesterday held a video conference with senior police officials on the issue and had announced handing over the probe related to the use of methanol to Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).