In shocking news, at least 15 people lost their lives allegedly after consuming poisonous liquor in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh. Of the 18 people admitted to various hospitals, the condition of three was critical. The deceased and the hospitalised people hail from Manpur Prithwi, Pahwali, and Chherna villages under Bagchini and Sumaoli police station limits of Morena district.
As many as 18 other men, who too had consumed the same spurious liquor, were hospitalised in Morena and Gwalior. The deceased are aged between 25 and 55 and come from economically weaker sections.
According to the police, the liquor was locally made and sourced. The people who had consumed it started vomiting late in the night, after which they were rushed to a hospital. However, 10 people died while on way to the hospital, one died at the hospital in Morena.
The relatives of the dead created a ruckus at the Morena district hospital where the postmortem of the dead was being conducted.
“The relatives are demanding to take the bodies by a tractor while the administration is insisting that they take the bodies by ambulance,” police said.
Hundreds of people held a protest against local police outside Morena district hospital over the death of 15 people.
According to villagers who reached the Morena district hospital early Tuesday morning, locally made liquor is easily available in the area and is sold in connivance with the excise department and police officials.
“They talk about taking action when such tragedies occur but why can’t they stop the sale? Officers of the excise and police department are actively involved,” an angry villager at Morena district hospital said.
Home Minister Narottam Mishra said the deaths caused by drinking spurious liquor in Morena on Monday evening was extremely sad and painful. Following the incident, the police station in-charge concerned was suspended.
IG Chambal Range, Manoj Sharma told India Today TV that residents of two villages under the Bagchini police station, began reporting at hospitals complaining of ill health on Monday. By Tuesday morning, 11 people had died and another half a dozen were undergoing treatment at Gwalior.
Investigations into the matter suggested that one of the victims had told the police that one Mukesh Kirar, who is a liquor supply agent, had given him a case of quarters of liquor that contained a white liquid. The fatalities have been reported from among those who consumed the liquor from this case.
The IG said that investigations are underway whether the liquor was manufactured locally or whether it had been purchased from a liquor shop.
Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the poisonous alcohol incident that occurred in Morena is extremely sad and unfortunate. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. Stringent action will be taken against those who are found guilty. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the District Excise Officer, Morena has been suspended with immediate effect for prima facie negligence in supervision in the incident.
