Excise officials laxity behind liquor deaths

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BARIPADA: The death of seven persons allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor in the tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district h..

BARIPADA: The death of seven persons allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor in the tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district has raised questions on the functioning of excise officials in the region.
Though as per the Bihar Orissa Excise Act, illegal possession and sale of liquor is banned in the State, the trade is flourishing in this part of the State.Even as the district administration and the excise

officials have denied consumption of spurious liquor theory behind the deaths, locals alleged that they all had died after consuming liquor from a particular hotel in their area during Raja.

Sources said adulterated liquor is being procured from Balasore, Bhadrak and neighbouring districts. Before being tested, the liquor floods the rural markets in Kaptipada, Udala, Sarat, Betnoti, Jasipur, Thakurmunda, Rairangpur and other tribal pockets of the district.

The local excise officials have, however, denied the allegations. Excise Superintendent Soumendra Das said five persons, including a woman, had been arrested in the last two days in Kaptipada area and 35 litres of liquor seized from their possession.

ADM Anjan Kumar Manik said the deceased belong to different places and had not purchased liquor from the same shop. While one was suffering from TB, another was an asthmatic. Similarly others were suffering from lung disorders as they were alcoholics, he added.