21 Dead After Drinking Spurious Liquor In Gujarat

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) have also joined the investigation

Botad, Gujarat: On Tuesday, 26 July 2022, Officials said, the number of deaths due to the consumption of illicit or toxic liquor in Gujarat's Botad district has gone up to 21.

The police control room in Botad district confirmed that 16 people from the district have died so far. Five people from Dhandhuka taluka of neighbouring Ahmedabad district have also died during treatment.

Around 30 people are still undergoing treatment at various government hospitals in Bhavnagar, Botad, Barvala and Dhandhuka, officials told news agency Press Trust of India.

Gujarat Director General of Police Ashish Bhatia earlier said the police have detained three persons from Botad district who were allegedly involved in manufacturing and selling the spurious country-made liquor.

The matter gained attention on Monday morning when some people in Rojid village of Barvala taluka and other surrounding villages were referred to government hospitals after their condition started deteriorating.

Inspector General of Police Ashok Kumar Yadav had said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a deputy superintendent of police-rank officer will be informed for a probe into the incident and to nab bootleggers who sold the spurious liquor.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Ahmedabad crime branch have also joined the investigation.

Many Indian states like Gujarat, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland had banned the sales of alcohol.

In contrast, in some states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi and Kerala, the respective state government controlled the sale of alcohol.

As lockdown led to the closure of bars and restaurants, thus gave rise to illegal liquor trade practices. In 2020, India lost three people every two days to illegally distilled liquor.

Moreover, 947 people died from the consumption of illicit liquor, which included 52 women and 895 men.