Patna: The death toll in East Champaran district after consuming suspected spurious liquor rose to 26 on Monday.
Five SHOs have been suspended on charges of negligence and disciplinary action has been initiated against 11 other police personnel.
So far 80 people allegedly involved in the illegal trade of liquor have been arrested.
SP Kantesh Kumar Mishra told Dynamite News on Monday, “After the death of four more people in the last ten hours, the total death toll has risen to 26. Following the incident, five SHOs of the concerned police stations have been suspended for dereliction of duty.
The suspended SHOs are of Turkaulia, Harsiddhi, Sugauli, Raghunathpur and Paharpur Police Stations, Mishra added.
The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government had imposed a complete ban on the sale and consumption of liquor since 5 April 2016.
The District Police has recovered 370 liters of country liquor and 50 liters of raw spirit during searches at more than 600 places in different parts of the concerned police stations on Saturday and Sunday. 1150 liters of semi-manufactured liquor was destroyed.
