UP: Spurious liquor claims 2 more lives, toll climbs to 39

The toll in the spurious liquor tragedy in Uttar Pradesh today rose to 39 with two more deaths being reported from Etah district.
Thirty-three deaths have been reported in Etah and six in Farrukhabad, a Home Department spokesman said here.
Of the 94 people admitted to a Saifai hospital, 93 have been discharged and only one was undergoing treatment, he added.
After the tragedy, which triggered a political slugfest and prompted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to issue notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP, the authorities launched a crackdown on bootlegging arresting 1,621 people across the state.

The main accused, Sripal Lodh, is among those arrested and 11 officials of the Excise Department and police have been suspended in connection with the tragedy.
The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each to the families of the deceased.

DGP Javeed Ahmed had issued strict directives to officials to carry out a drive against manufacture and sale of illicit liquor. Under this drive, 1,621 people were arrested and 1,585 cases lodged all over the state.
As many as 36,121 liters of illicit liquor and seven vehicles were seized while 197 illegal liquor producing units were destroyed under the drive, police said.

NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP, seeking reports in the matter within four weeks.
Opposition BSP supremo Mayawati has accused the Uttar Pradesh government of going soft on the officials responsible for the death of people after consumption of spurious liquor in Etah and Farrukhabad districts.
"The liquor tragedy is a fallout of dismal criminal negligence and failure of the Samajwadi Party government," she had yesterday said in a statement.
Expressing grave concern over the loss of lives, Mayawati said it is because of the rampant 'jungleraj' that such incidents are taking place in the state.

Earlier, a team of BJP leaders, including five MPs, an MLA and general secretary, had met the families of the deceased.
BJP had demanded that the compensation amount be enhanced to Rs 10 lakh and sought dismissal of the Samajwadi Party government. "There is no law and order in the state and criminal elements are having a field day," BJP alleged.