Gujarat hooch tragedy: Four cops suspended

Ahmedabad/Anand, July 12 (PTI) Four police officials from
Mahemdabad in Kheda district, from where the spurious brew was
brought to Ahmedabad, were suspended, as no fresh death was
recorded due to the hooch tragedy Sunday, police said here in
the western state of Gujarat.

Sub-inspectors B R Chauhan, B R Patni, assistant SI Jetha
Chauhan and constable Kanti Rathod were suspended by the
district Superintendent of Police Himanshu Shukla, a day after
it came to light that the spurious brew was manufactured in
Mahemdabad, they said.

Earlier, state government had suspended two DySps ranked
officials and four policemen of Ahmedabad, under whose
jurisdiction maximum deaths due to hooch took place. More than
120 people have died in the tragedy so far.

Chauhan was posted in Vatvadi village where the spurious
brew was allegedly manufactured and supplied to city by one
Vinod Chauhan alias Dagri, who is absconding.

According to the city crime branch, Vinod had allegedly
supplied over 1,100 litres of illicit liquor to Harishankar
Kahar and Dadu Charra who distributed it in different parts of
the city.

Both Dadu and Vinod have been previously booked under
PASA (Prevention of Anti-Social Activities) and Prohibition
Acts, they said.

Kahar and three of his associates have been arrested and
are being interrogated to get information on Charra and Vinod.

Police are also probing if the deadly chemical, which
caused the deaths, was used by Vinod or if it was added to the
liquor before its distribution in Ahmedabad.

Over 200 people are still undergoing treatment at various
hospitals in the city.

Meanwhile, the state police sprung into action following
the incident, termed as one of the worst in Gujarat's history,
continuing its crackdown on liquor dens.

According to state DGP S S Khandwawala, so far 7,613
persons engaged in liquor bootlegging have been rounded up by
the police.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday held a high
level review meeting with top state officials to take stock of
the situation.

Moreover, Minister of State for Home Amit Shah met
Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma and apprised him of the tragedy
and subsequent action taken by the government. PTI PB
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