25 cops suspended for illicit liquor tragedy in eastern Indian state

Indian authorities Friday suspended at one go 25 policemen in Bihar, a dry state in eastern India, three days after 17 people died there after drinking toxic illicit liquor bought from bootleggers.

"Not only 25 cops have been suspended for failing to stop the production and sale of illicit liquor, but six people were also arrested in connection with the deaths that took place in the town of Gopalganj, 160 kms from state capital Patna, Tuesday," a senior police official said.

Local TV channels reported that the death toll may go up as a few victims are still struggling for their lives at a hospital in the town in serious condition.

Quoting family members of some of the victims, the reports said that they had complained of uneasiness and breathlessness, followed by stomach pain and vomiting, after consuming illicit liquor on Tuesday evening.

The incident has exposed that despite total prohibition on liquor consumption in Bihar since April 5 this year, which was Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's poll promise, alcohol is still available in the black market and sale of spurious liquor has also not stopped.

"I know that incidents like this will happen, but it doesn't mean that we will lift the ban. I know the liquor lobby is active, it's time to overcome obstacles," Kumar told the media Wednesday. Endit