2 die after consuming hooch in Mirzapur

Varanasi: Two persons died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Nevadhiya village under Dehat Kotwali limits in Mirzapur district on Sunday night.
“After the incident came to light on Monday morning, massive raids were carried out and an illegal hooch manufacturing unit was also unearthed with the arrest of its operator,” said ADG Varanasi zone Brij Bhushan.
After taking stock of situation in Nevadhiya village, divisional commissioner Mirzapur, Yogeshwar Ram Mishra said on the basis of initial investigation, local outpost in-charge and beat constable have been suspended while district magistrate Mirzapur has also ordered a magisterial probe into the matter. Officials were also asked to check the role of excise department in this episode.
According to Mirzapur police, Dehat Kotwali was alerted about the deaths of Mahesh Nishad (35) and Chhedi Nishad (55) of Nevadhiya village on Sunday night after consuming spurious liquor on Saturday evening. This news of alleged hooch killing brought the officials on their toes, as apart from Dehat Kotwali cops and circle officer Sadar, many senior officers including commissioner, DM Pravin Kumar Lakshkar and SP Ajay Kumar Singh also reached the spot.
During initial investigation of police, the family members of killed persons including Ramchandra Mallah said both of them had consumed liquor on Saturday evening after which they fell ill. Following deterioration in their health condition on Sunday morning, they were rushed to the hospital but they died during the treatment.
ADG said after getting these details, police lodged an FIR in this connection and sent the bodies for postmortem. After the incident, police carried out massive raids during which an illegal hooch manufacturing unit was found operating at the place of one Gopinath Mishra, who has old history sheet with Mirzapur police. After it was found that hooch manufacturing continued at this unit, cops seized all the articles and arrested Mishra.
As the hooch was manufactured by the same person, who had old criminal history with local police, including cases of his involvement in trade of hooch in the past, the local outpost in-charge Shyam Narain Singh and beat constable Manjay Kumar were suspended, said ADG.
After taking stock of the spot, the commissioner said magisterial probe has already been ordered following suspension of two cops while postmortem examination was conducted by a panel of senior doctors. He said that postmortem report will clear whether the deaths had been caused due to consumption of hooch or not. The role of the excise department officials in this episode was also being probed.
In view of tension gripping the area, heavy police force was deployed in Nevadhiya.