Punjab hooch tragedy: Seven excise officials, six cops suspended; death toll now 86

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday ordered the suspension of seven excise officials along with two DSPs and four SHOs of Punjab Police, and inquiry against them in connection with the hooch tragedy, which has so far claimed 86 lives in three districts.
He has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased, most of whom are from Tarn Taran, which accounts for 63 deaths, followed by Amritsar Rural 12 and Gurdaspur (Batala) 11.

"Strict action will be taken against any public servant or others found complicit in the case," said Amarinder, describing the police and excise department failure to check the manufacturing and sale of spurious liquor as shameful. Nobody will be allowed to get away with feeding poison to our people, he added.

The chief minister warned those indulging in spurious liquor business to stop immediately or face grave consequences.
He said he had directed the police to trace the culprits and charge all the people involved in the case, in which he had on Friday ordered a magisterial inquiry by a divisional commissioner.
"Such illegal acts are not acceptable," the chief minister said, asserting that the life of every single Punjabi was precious and he would not let people die to the greed of a few criminals.