Suspected hooch tragedy: Surat SP, IG shunted out

Gujarat government today transferred Inspector General of Surat Range Narsimha Komar and Superintendent of Police Mayursinh Chavda, in the wake of suspected hooch tragedy in Surat district which has claimed 16 lives.
IG Komar was transferred to Jamnagar as IG of Marine Task Force, relieving Nirja Gotru Rao (IG, Coastal Security) from this additional charge, a notification by Gujarat Home Department said.
Komar has been replaced by 1991 batch IPS officer Shamsher Singh, currently serving as Additional Director with State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) here.
Chavda, who was appointed as Surat SP only a few months back, was shunted to State Intelligence Bureau (IB) in Gandhinagar as SP.

SP Ahmedabad district Nirlipt Rai was given the charge of Surat SP.
Senior IPS officer Keshav Kumar, who has returned to the state after his long stint with the CBI, has been appointed in place of Singh as Special Director, ACB.

As per the notification, all the officials have been directed to take charge of their respective office by tomorrow morning.
The government has not officially termed the incident as a hooch tragedy and instead have termed it as "unnatural deaths".
The death of 16 persons, attributed to hooch, were reported mainly from Valeri village in Palsana taluka.
Meanwhile, 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.

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is used in making country-made liquor.