Bihar hooch tragedy toll rises to 28

The opposition BJP alleged that the Bihar government is hiding the total number of deaths in the hooch tragedy

The Bihar hooch tragedy toll climbed to 28 with two more deaths reported, a top Saran district official said.

Saran District Magistrate Rajesh Meena told PTI, "The suspected hooch death has increased to 28 (till Thursday night) in the district".

The DM said that action has also been initiated against officials concerned.

"We have also conducted intensive raids across the district in the last 48 hours and nabbed 126 hooch traders. More than 4,000 litres of illicit liquor have also been seized," he told reporters on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar, had declined to divulge whether the arrested persons included those directly involved in the latest hooch case, saying that "the matter is still under investigation and disclosing much at this stage could hamper the probe".

"For speedy investigation, an SIT consisting of 31 police officials, headed by an additional SP and including three deputy SPs, has also been set up", the district magistrate had said.

The DM and the SP also appealed to the people to come forward "with any relevant information they might have, without any fear of reprisal". Sale and consumption of alcohol was completely banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government in April, 2016.