Assets of liquor smugglers will be confiscated, says OP Soni

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 5

After CM Capt Amarinder Singh offered condolences to the families of those killed in the illicit liquor tragedy, Cabinet minister OP Soni and Lok Sabha members Jasbir Singh Dimpa, Gurjit Singh Aujla, MLAs Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, Raj Kumar Chabewal, Sukhwinder Singh Danny along with Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira reached Muchhal on Tuesday evening to meet the families of the victims.

Expressing solidarity with the families, Soni said justice would be served. “You will be given justice, no matter which party or faction the culprits belong to. Those responsible will be held accountable and will not be spared. The properties and assets of smugglers and those found guilty will also be confiscated,” Soni said. He said the police were working round the clock to nab the remaining culprits.

“Total 37 persons were arrested by the police from various places in the past two days and investigation is in full swing. Departmental investigation has also been started against the suspended police and civil officials involved in the crime.”

He announced a financial aid of Rs10,000 from District Red Cross Society for the victim’s families. “The DC has been given the responsibility to disperse the amount among the families, so that they do not have to starve or suffer in the need of bare necessities,” he said. The district administration officials have been directed to give benefits including elderly pension, widow pension, and dependent ration cards schemes as fast as possible for the members of the victims’ families.

Meanwhile, MPs Gurjeet Aujla and Jasbir Singh Dimpa also offered their condolences to the families of the deceased. Dimpa said he would raise the issue of including the chemical used in making the spurious liquor under the NDPS Act and demand for its ban. Rejecting any need for CBI inquiry in the matter, Dimpa said the Punjab Police were working diligently to nab the culprits. “Total 37 people have been arrested so far, five kingpins of illicit liquor mafia have also been identified and nabbed,” he said.

Gurjit Singh Aujla said the unfortunate loss of 117 lives due to illicit liquor consumption cannot be compensated. “But to ensure that their families continue to earn a livelihood will be just,” he said.