Spurious liquor: Death Toll Crosses 100, effigy of Parimal burnt; Congress demands resignation

February 23: The dance of death after consuming spurious liquor in Assam’s Golaghat and Jorhat districts in increasing in every hour. The death toll in the hooch tragedy has crossed 100, with the latest estimates putting the number at 117 dead and above 130 others still hospitalised. As per hospital sources, many of them are on ventilator support and the death toll is expected to rise in the next few hours.

Meanwhile Chhatra Mukti Sangram Samiti on Saturday burnt the effigy of Assam Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidy in Amguri of Sivasagar district while staging protest over the hooch tragedy. Slogans were also raised against the the state excise department and BJP. Protest was also staged by the All Adivasi Students’ Union at Behali in Biswanath district.

Police is of the view that instead of ethyl alcohol, poisonous methyl alcohol, which is commonly available was used in the liquor. In this connection, two excise officials of Salmara area Deputy inspector Porag Saikia and constable Guluk Hazarika were suspended.

The Assam government has ordered investigations into two separate incidents in Golaghat and Jorhat districts. Sarbananda Sonowal announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of those who died after consuming spurious liquor and Rs 50,000 each to those who are undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday has demanded the resignation of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya. The party also demanded compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.