Golaghat
The excise department has suspended six of its staff after seven people, including a woman, died consuming country made liquor in Barpathar are of Golaghat district in the past 72 hours.
Assistant excise inspector Rudra Gogoi, excise constables Dulu Morang, Golap Regon, Imran Hussain, Rahul Amin and Prasanta Gogoi have been placed under suspension with immediate effect.
On the directions of Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, a special Excise Intelligence Bureau (EIB) team has been rushed to Golaghat for conducting a separate probe. Dhansiri SDO (Civil) Bipul Das is also conducting a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Official sources said the EIB team led by a DSP rank officer has been asked to collect the samples of hooch and conduct tests to ascertain if the liquor was denatured or have decayed due to the presence of food particles.
The Excise Minister has also directed the Golaghat district administration to arrest excise staff if found guilty.
According to official source a suo motu FIR has been registered , without naming any accused. On completion of the inquiry, if any official involved, his name will be mention in the FIR,” .
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the incident, Golaghat Deputy Commissioner Gaurav Bothra directed the excise superintendent to conduct raids at suspected places and book people found guilty under the newly amended Excise Act.
Since Friday night several people of Singimari and adjoining villages under Barpathar police station started falling critically ill after consuming illicit liquor. They were admitted to local government hospital and in the last three days, seven have reportedly died.
Police have detained two persons – one suspected of supplying the hooch and another reportedly selling it from his kiosk near the affected villages.
