Uttarakhand : CM’s action on Haridwar poisonous liquor scandal: Haridwar DM gave clarification, nine constables including two inspectors of excise department suspended, Doon police alert from the incident

In Laksar of Haridwar, the city of Ganga, alcohol consumed many human lives. When the matter came to light, there was panic from the administration to the government. DM Vinay Shankar Pandey claimed that the consumption of spurious liquor has not been confirmed behind the deaths, but CM Pushkar Singh Dhami’s anger rained on the police and the Excise department. On his instructions, the SO of Pathri and several jawans and 9 others including the Excise Inspector of Luxor were suspended. Surprisingly, the Excise Commissioner (also the Secretary) Harishchandra Semwal has clearly admitted in the suspension order of the personnel that the deaths were not only due to drinking, but also negligence and laxity at the level of the department. There is confusion regarding the number of deaths. It is being counted from 5 to 7. Despite the different statements coming from the side of DM (Haridwar) and Excise Commissioner, prima facie the government has considered the deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor. According to the DM’s report, prima facie, the consumption of spurious liquor has not been seen behind the deaths in Phulgarh and Shivgarh in Laksar.

There is no report of any ill health or death of any other in Govindgarh and Durgagarh due to consumption of alcohol. The postmortem report is awaited. After 70-year-old Birampal of Shivgarh was ill and not consuming alcohol, Amarpal of Phulgarh was assaulted on 9 September itself with other people. A case has been registered for this. Drinking too much alcohol is believed to be behind the deaths of 40-year-old Manoj and 38-year-old Arun of Phulgarh. Now look at the report of the Excise Department itself. The reason for quarantining 9 including the Excise Inspector, he attributed to the drunkenness and negligence and laxity of the personnel of the department. Additional commissioner of the department PS Garbyal went to the spot and made a preliminary inquiry and reported that the death occurred due to drinking alcohol in Phulgarh-Shivgarh (Station-Pathari). It is not clear whether the alcohol was poisonous or not. His report found negligence and serious laxity in the matter.

After summoning reports from everywhere, the CM directed DGP Ashok Kumar and Secretary-Commissioner Harishchandra Semwal to take immediate action. Which immediately came out in the form of Muttali. The Chief Minister gave an ultimatum that strict action would be taken against those found guilty in this incident. He gave a stern warning to the Excise Department that such incidents should not be repeated. Strict action should be taken against whoever is found guilty or negligent for these deaths.

Dehradun Police has been alerted after the death of five people due to drinking spurious liquor in Shivgarh and Phulgarh in Haridwar’s Pathri area. On Saturday night, SSP Dalip Singh Kunwar directed all the officers and station in-charges to mark those selling illegal liquor in their respective police station areas. He said that in the past, illegal liquor of Haryana and Punjab Marka has been recovered by the police in Dehradun district also. There is a possibility of illegal liquor coming from Punjab and Haryana from the border of Kulhal Chowki, Saharanpur, Asharodi, Haridwar and Pauri. Therefore, while checking these routes, keep an eye on illegal liquor.