UP: Hooch claims three lives in Ayodhya and Farrukhabad

AYODHYA/KANPUR/PRAYAGRAJ: Spurious liquor claimed two lives at Gosainganj area of Ayodhya and one in Farrukhabad late Wednesday even as the Pratapgarh hooch tragedy toll rose to six, with two others dying on Thursday. At least six others are battling for life at the district hospital in Ayodhya after attending a booze party hosted by a former pradhan, who is again in the fray for panchayat elections, said Ayodhya SSP Shailesh Pandey.
The former pradhan, Rajnath Verma, had thrown a Holi party for residents of Trilokpuri village in the garb of seeking votes, said police. As the party progressed through the night, several villagers began vomiting, lost consciousness and even suffered partial blindness after consuming hooch. Verma is on the run and police have constituted a team to nab him. While Virendra Verma, 32, and Dharmendra Verma, 30, died in hospital early Thursday, six others — Jayaram, Kalpu, Musai, Ghurahu Prasad, Rajesh Prajapati and Ram Shubhavan Verma — are in a critical condition. Motilal Verma, father of the deceased, Dharmendra Verma, has demanded action against the former village pradhan, Rajnath, and has lodged a police complaint.
In Farrukhabad, a 70-year-old man, Maharaj Singh, died and his brother, Jhabbu Singh, 50, is battling for life after consuming hooch at a Holi party in Majra Nagla Khara village of late Wednesday. Many villagers who attended the party complained of uneasiness, vomiting, and blurred vision, said police. “It’s not clear if Singh died after having hooch or due to excessive drinking. The autopsy report is awaited,” said, circle officer Kaimganj, Rajveer Singh Gaur.
At Katariya village in Pratapgarh, 100km from Ayodhya, the toll in the hooch tragedy toll rose to six with two more dying on Thursday. So far, five persons, including key accused Dabbu Singh, have been arrested.