Gujarat hooch tragedy: Probe handed over to 2 SPs, factory owner summoned

• Image Credit: Internet

• Aug 1, 2022 | Sourav Boruah

 Digital Desk: According
to a senior government source, the Gujarat home department has given two
superintendents of police (SPs) control over the first information reports
(FIRs) filed in connection with a hooch disaster that killed 42 lives.

According to the
source, SP Nirlipt Rai of the state monitoring cell has been given control of
the two FIRs filed in the Botad district, while SP Jyoti Pankaj Patel of the
state crime record bureau has been given control of the FIR filed at the
Ahmedabad (rural) police station.

The official, who
spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, "We hope the investigation is
finished soon and that the offenders behind these murders be punished as soon
as possible."

The prohibition
department, where the poison that took more than 40 lives last week was
produced, has also issued a summons to the owner of the chemical facility, he
continued. 15 people have been detained thus far, including one who purchased
the chemicals used in the creation of booze, as well as those who sold it.

The hooch disaster was
discovered on July 25 in the early hours when several residents of Botad's
Rojid hamlet and other nearby villages were sent to public hospitals in the
Barvala region and Botad cities due to deteriorating health problems.

According to police
inquiry, Jayesh aka Raju, a manager at a chemical company's godown in
Ahmedabad's Aslali district, stole 600 litres of methyl alcohol. On July 25, he
allegedly sold it to his Botad-based relative Sanjay for Rs40,000. Later, it
was sold to inexperienced bootleggers, including a lady.

Each of the pouches
containing the chemical cost between Rs 20 and Rs 40. Farmworkers and other
daily wage earners make up the majority of the deceased, or safai kamdaars.

According to a state
government release, the Gujarat Home Department has established a three-person
committee lead by senior Indian Police Service officer Subhash Trivedi to
undertake a thorough investigation into the incident and provide a report
within three days.

Director of
Prohibition and Excise MA Gandhi and Director of c HP Sanghvi are the other two members of the committee.

The
government official predicts that the committee's findings will be delivered to
the home department in about a day.

In relation
to the deaths brought on by the hooch disaster, the department reassigned the
district superintendents of police for Botad and Ahmedabad on Thursday and
suspended six additional officers.

Following
the hooch disaster, the police launched a statewide operation against
bootleggers last week. In only 48 hours, they arrested more than 2,500 suspects
and seized almost Rs1.5 million worth of illegal alcohol.