Police demand fast-track trial in hooch case

Amritsar, January 14

The Tarn Taran police have requested for fast-track trial in cases registered in connection with the hooch tragedy that killed more than 100 persons, leaving many visually impaired. The courts had started physical hearing of cases after nine months, the police said.

District Police chief Dhruman Nimbale confirmed that at present, the cases were under trial. “We have filed challans in three separate cases registered in Tarn Taran. The Amritsar rural police and the Batala police have also filed challans in the respective courts and cases are under trial,” he said,

“We have appointed a special public prosecutor with the approval of the state government,” said Nimbale. The case should set an example that those involved in illegal liquor trade would not escape the law, he said. The court had sought permission of the Punjab and Haryana HC in this regard, as per the sources.

The police had busted around three modules involved in supplying methanol and extra neutral alcohol in the region, which was further mixed with water to manufacture hooch. The police had arrested around 70 bootleggers at that time. — TNS