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Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, May 21
Taking a stern view of continued hooch deaths in Kanpur during the last few days, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath government has arrested two grandsons of a former Samajwadi party minister after filing criminal cases against the former minister Ramswarup Gaur, his grandsons and nine others for producing and selling spurious liquor.
A magisterial probe has also been ordered into the incident.
The police have already arrested both the grandsons - member of Kanpur Zila Panchayat, Neeraj Singh and Vinay Singh and a salesman of the company.
According to Kanpur Dehat District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Singh the former minister and his grandsons were allegedly engaged in the production and selling of spurious liquor which was allegedly sold through government shops.
During the last three days, almost a dozen people have died due to consumption of spurious liquor in Kanpur.
On Sunday, some people who had consumed spurious alcohol bought from government shops were found dead in their houses in Kanpur. Kanpur SP (rural) Pradyuman Singh said on Monday that according to the relatives of the victims all of them had consumed liquor bought from a government liquor shop.
SSP Kanpur Akhilesh Kumar said that a police complaint had been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Excise Act against the license holder of the liquor shop, Shyam Balak.
Deaths have been reported in the hooch tragedy from Maghaipurwa and Bhanwarpur villages of Kanpur Dehat.
The CM has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma visited Kanpur’s Ursula Hospital to meet six people who are hospitalised there after consuming the illicit liquor.
In a statement from Gorakhpur CM Yogi assured strict action against those responsible for selling spurious liquor. He said that a former SP MLA was allegedly involved in the racket.
The regional excise inspector has already been suspended and liquor samples have been sent to a Lucknow laboratory for testing.
According to SSP Kumar in the wake of the incident a massive operation has been launched against hooch manufacturers, traders and suppliers.
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