Bhopal: 4 persons have died and six are battling for their lives after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district, prompting a stinging rebuke from chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the district police. The CM on Thursday slammed senior police officers of Bhind and the ADG-Chambal range, saying that supply of illicit liquor isn’t possible “without the involvement of local policemen”. Expressing anguish at the deaths, Chouhan said: “This is a very unfortunate incident. I will not spare anyone.”
At a meeting of collectors, commissioners, SPs and IGs, Chouhan said there is zero tolerance in this matter. Such incidents have come one after the other. Those doing it must be crushed, no matter how powerful or influential they might be.” “It’s not possible that all this goes on and the local police station doesn’t know about it. What were you doing? How did the incident take place?” the CM asked the Chambal ADG.
Bhind SP Shailendra Singh Chouhan has suspended seven policemen, including two inspectors, over the incident and set up a special investigation team (SIT), which confiscated large quantities of spurious liquor from a dry well and other hideouts. The alleged kingpin of the illicit liquor supply trade in the region has been arrested.
Among those who died are brothers Manish Jatav and Chhotu. They complained of nausea and were hospitalized, where they died within hours. Another victim, Pappu Jatav, was hospitalized with a stomach ache and died before doctors could send him to a better-equipped hospital. Sources said one more person from the same village died on Tuesday morning. All four had consumed liquor from the same shop. According to sources, police have found that large stocks of liquor were brought to the village ahead of the panchayat elections, which have since been canceled.