Hooch: Two dead, 13 hospitalized after consuming spurious liquor in Ganjam |
Berhampur: Two persons out of more than 20 who fell ill after consuming spurious country liquor in Ganjam district on Monday have died since Tuesday night.
Lok Nath Behera (34) and Jura Behera (60) of Jena Sahi in Chikiti died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here on Wednesday and Tuesday night, respectively.
Excise minister Prithiviraj Harichandan directed transfer of excise superintendent (Berhampur), Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi, following the hooch tragedy.
Hospital superintendent Suchitra Dash said the deceased were being treated in the ICU since Monday night and had pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Thirteen more people, who consumed spurious liquor, are being treated at the hospital, with one admitted in the ICU in critical condition.
Following the deaths, family members of the victims and others staged a road blockade at Chikiti demanding compensation. The blockade was lifted following police intervention. On Monday, over 20 people from Jenasahi, Moundpur and Karabalua fell ill after consuming country liquor from an illegal vendor. They were initially admitted to the community health centre in Chikiti before being referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital later that night.
Police and excise personnel have conducted joint raids in nearby areas to crack down on illegal production of country liquor. Eight individuals have been arrested so far, including Surendra Mallick of Khemunda, who is believed to be a key figure in the manufacturing of hooch, police said. Mallick’s wife, Saraswati, and his associate, Srihari Mallick, were among those arrested.
SP (Berhampur) Sarthak Sadangi said Mallick produced country liquor in the forest and supplied it to the nearby areas. An alert has been issued to all police stations to take steps to prevent any hooch-related incident.
During separate raids by the excise department, large quantities of molasses were destroyed, and over 300 litres of country liquor seized. The raids are going on in various locations.
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A 60-year-old man from Jenapur died at MKCG Medical College after consuming suspected spurious liquor. Twenty people fell ill after drinking country-made liquor from an illegal vendor. Police and excise officials conducted joint raids, arresting six people and destroying raw materials used in illegal liquor production.
Villagers in Chikiti, Ganjam, had opposed illicit liquor sales since 2021, even appealing to the authorities. Their pleas were ignored, leading to two deaths and several illnesses after consuming spurious liquor. The excise department detained suspects, but illicit sales continue throughout the district, prompting demands for a complete liquor prohibition.
