NHRC decides to depute its own team headed by one of it's Members for an on the spot enquiry in the wake of more deaths reported in other districts of Bihar in hooch tragedy

New Delhi: 17th December, 2022

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC ,India in the wake of media reports today about more deaths in the Bihar Hooch tragedy spreading other districts, has decided to depute its own investigation team headed by one of it's Members for an on the spot enquiry.

The Commission is concerned to know as to where and what kind of medical treatment is being provided to these victims. Most of them are from poor families and probably cannot afford costly medical treatment in private hospitals therefore, it becomes extremely necessary on the part of the state government to provide them the best possible medical treatment wherever it is available. The Commission would like to know about the relief and rehabilitation given by the State Government as well as the measures taken or proposed to be taken to dismantle clandestine hooch manufacturing hot spots across the state with a view to completely eradicate this social menace, intermittently happening in the State of Bihar.

This yet another suo moto proceeding in the matter follows after the Commission, taking suo motu cognizance of earlier media reports, carried on 15h December,2022, alleging several deaths in Saran district hooch tragedy, had asked the Government of Bihar, through its Chief Secretary and Director General Police, to submit detailed reports within four weeks into the reported incident affecting several people and families.

The Commission has noted that in April, 2016, the Government of Bihar had banned the sale and consumption of liquor in the state, and therefore, such incidents indicated that it has not been able to stop the sale of illicit and spurious liquor.

The report from the State Government is expected to include the status of: medical treatment to the affected as many have lost eyesight; compensation given to the victims or their families, if any; FIR; and the action against the public servants found negligent in the matter.

According to the media reports, carried today on 17th December, 2022, five were reported dead in Siwan district and one in Begusarai district even as the death toll was rising in Saran district with 65 lives lost so far in the hooch tragedy that struck on 14th December,2022.

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