Hooch traders rounded up as Bihar illicit liquor tragedy toll rises

The District Magistrate said that action raids across the district have been conducted and 126 traders involved in selling locally brewed country liquor have been caught.

The Bihar hooch tragedy toll climbed to 28 with two more deaths reported, a top Saran district official said, however, unconfirmed reports claimed up to 50 died by drinking the illicitly brewed liquor.

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 raids across the district have been conducted and 126 traders involved in selling locally brewed country liquor have been caught.

"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.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP on Friday alleged that the government is hiding the total number of deaths in the hooch tragedy.