The death toll reached 50…
Patna: The Bihar liquor tragedy toll reached 28 with two more deaths reported, a top Saran district official said.
The unconfirmed reports claimed up to 50 died by drinking the illicitly brewed liquor.
Saran District Magistrate Rajesh Meena told news agency PTI, "The suspected toxic liquor death toll has increased to 28 (till Thursday night)".
The DM said that raids across the district have been conducted and 126 traders involved in selling this brewed liquor have been caught.
"We have also conducted intensive raids across the district in the last 48 hours and nabbed 126 traders. More than 4,000 litres of illicit liquor have also been seized till now," he told reporters on Thursday.
Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar, had declined to divulge whether the arrested persons included those directly involved in the latest hooch case, saying that "the matter is still under investigation and disclosing much at this stage could hamper the situation ".
"For speedy investigation, an SIT consisting of 31 police officials, headed by an additional SP and including three deputy SPs, has also been set up", the district magistrate had said.
Meanwhile, On Friday, the opposition BJP alleged that the government is hiding the total number of deaths in the hooch tragedy.
Talking to PTI, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday said, "Spurious liquor sale has been flourishing in Bihar under the protection of police officers and state administration despite prohibition in place. But the CM is silent and he does not take any strict action against the accused."
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