ROORKEE: Seven persons in two villages of Haridwar district, Phoolgarh and Shivgarh, died within 48 hours "due to the consumption of spurious liquor" allegedly distributed by local politicians in the run-up to panchayat polls, locals alleged on Saturday.
Nine excise department workers, including the concerned excise inspector, were suspended by the chief minister's office following an initial probe.
"The incident is unfortunate. We have suspended the workers after an initial probe. A high-level investigation has been ordered into the matter. Strict action will be taken against all those who are responsible," CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said.
Autopsies were ordered by the district administration to determine the cause and whether the liquor was poisonous. Two persons were detained for questioning in the matter.
The villages fall under the jurisdiction of Pathri police station. The victims were identified by locals as Phoolgarh's 70-year-old Biram Pal, 38-year-old Arun, 45-year-old Raju, 30-year-old Amar Pal, and 55-year-old Tej Pal, along with Shivgarh's 40-year-old Manoj and 32-year-old Kisan Singh.
State director general of police Ashok Kumar, however, confirmed only five deaths as of now.
The incident went viral on social media on Saturday morning, after which the district administration and police reached the two villages to investigate the matter. Locals said that four among the seven deaths occurred on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. One person died in Shivgarh and three in Phoolgarh, they said. The other three deaths occurred two days earlier, they added.
Villagers said that the area was engulfed in celebration since elections were coming up. "A lot of liquor was being distributed by the candidates. Hours after drinking alcohol, victims started complaining of stomach pain, vomiting, dysentery, and headaches," said a local who did not wish to be named.
"One of my relatives had consumed the liquor being distributed on Friday evening. He kept vomiting at home several hours into the night. Foam started coming out of his mouth. We got scared and took him to the nearest hospital, but he died on the way," said a family member of a victim.
"Liquor is being distributed like water to locals amid the election fever. Everyone wants votes in their favour. Some of it may be poisonous. Hope the administration gets to the bottom of the matter," said Charan Singh, a neighbour of victim Biram Pal.
DGP Kumar said, "One of the victims seems to have been physically assaulted before his death. We have suspended the station house officer of Pathri police station, which covers the two villages. We have also formed a three-member SIT led by ASP Rekha Yadav to probe the case."
