Hooch toll 31: Judicial probe ordered

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday ordered a judicial probe into the hooch tragedy in Cuttack and Khurda districts, which has so far claimed 31 lives. The probe will be conducted by a retired judge of the High Court. Most of the hooch deaths were reported from Cuttack sadar police limits and Balianta police station limits in Khurda district. Police raided the Eastern India Pharmaceuticals at Rasulgarh area here, which manufactured the spurious digestives punched with alcohol. The deaths reportedly occurred after consumption of the spurious medicine laced with alcohol.At least 30 people succumbed at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, while one died at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. Many are still battling for survival in the hospitals.So far, nine persons, including the owner and manager of the pharmaceuticals, and wife of the liquor vendor, have been arrested. The vendor, Baidhar Bhoi, also died after consuming the brew.The Congress has seized the opportunity and demanded the resignation of Excise Minister A U Singhdeo for his department’s failure to check the flow of spurious liquor. Rejecting the judicial probe ordered by the Chief Minister, the party has also demanded that the incident be inquired by the Lokpal.State Congress president Niranjan Patnaik has sent a four-member team to the villages where most of the deaths were reported. The team __ comprising  PCC vice-president Sibanand Ray, State Mahila Congress chief Bijaylaxmi Sahu and senior leaders Narendra Mishra and Ashok Samal __ has been asked to submit a report. Even though liquor deaths have become regular, the State Government is yet to spell out an action plan to check the spread. After the 1991 Cuttack hooch tragedy in which 134 people died, the last major liquor tragedy was reported from Ganjam district in 2006. It claimed 33 lives in Ganjam and Khurda districts forcing then excise minister Kalindi Charan Behera to resign. While outstilled liquor is sold in 20 districts, country spirit (CS) is sold in 10 districts.