The death toll in the hooch tragedy today climbed to 33 and more than two dozen people were battling for life after consuming spurious liquor in Etah and Farrukhabad districts even as the authorities launched a crackdown on bootlegging arresting 1,621 people across Uttar Pradesh.
Twenty-nine people have died in Etah district and four in neighbouring Farrukhabad, officials said, adding 21 deaths had occurred till yesterday and eight more died overnight in Etah.
Sub-divisional Magistrate of Kayamganj in Farukhabad Ajit Kumar said four persons have died in the district after consuming hooch.
Senior police officers in Lucknow said 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.
An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each will be given to the families of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the condition of over two dozen people admitted to various hospitals in Etah and Saifai was stated to be serious.
DGP Javeed Ahmed 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.
Agra IGP Durgacharan Misra said Sripal has been slapped with charges under the stringent National Security Act and is being interrogated about location of the liquor producing units.
Raids are being conducted within Aliganj police circle on the basis of information about location of the factories. Circle officer of Police (Aliganj) D S Garbyal said raids were conducted at 15 locations and four factories were unearthed.
Meanwhile, a team of BJP leaders, including five MPs, an MLA and general secretary, today met the families of the deceased.
BJP MPs Ram Shankar Katheria, Rajvir Singh, Devendra Singh, Mukesh Rajput, Ashok Doharey, MLA Jagan Prasad Garg and party General Secretary Pankaj Singh met the families of the victims in Aliganj town even as locals protested and accused the police of being hand-in-glove with the accused.
BJP 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.
(REOPENS MDS10)
Consumerfed later issued a press release clarifying that it would not deliver liquor via courier or postal department at the doorsteps of consumers.
What Chairman Mehboob said was that there would be special counters at liquor outlets for those who do booking in advance via email or phone, Consumerfed Managing Director M Ramanunni said.
It is being done to avoid long queues at Consumerfed outlets during festival seasons, he said.
The clarification was issued after some media reports suggested that Consumerfed has decided to deliver liquor at the doorsteps of the consumers, Consumerfed added.
