The toll in the hooch tragedy in Lucknow and Unnao districts on Wednesday climbed to 38 with the death of seven more persons even as the state Excise Commissioner was removed in connection with the incident and a statewide crackdown launched by police against sale of spurious liquor.
"As many as 38 persons have died since Monday, which include 32 in Lucknow and six in Unnao," IG (Law and Order) A Satish Ganesh said. He said that as a part of the drive 7,076 places were raided across the state during which 51,813 litres illicit liquor was recovered and 1,954 persons were nabbed. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, with the portfolio of Excise department, directed the removal of all employees and officers of the department posted against the provisions of the transfer policy.
