Motihari (Bihar), April 3 The death toll in the suspected hooch tragedy rose to four on Friday after three more persons died allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor in dry East Champaran district of Bihar, officials said.
At least six others are undergoing treatment at a government hospital, while seven people have been discharged after initial treatment, they said.
The incident took place in the Turkauliya and Raghunathpur areas of Motihari on Thursday.
East Champaran District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal said, "The death toll has now mounted to four. Bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. The exact cause of death can only be known after the report."
He added that 12 people, including a village watchman, have been arrested in connection with the incident, while the SHO of the Turkauliya police station has been suspended with immediate effect.
SP Swarn Prabhat said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the incident.
A murder case has been registered based on a complaint filed by the family members of the deceased, police said.
Initial investigations suggested that the first victim had consumed illicit liquor in Raghunathpur area, police sources said.
"Police have identified the liquor supplier, and he will soon be apprehended. A team of the district police and the Anti-Liquor Task Force (ALTF) are conducting searches in Parsauni, Mushhari Tola and Turkaulia. A high-level inquiry has also been ordered into the incident," Prabhat had said on Thursday.
The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government imposed a total ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in the state on April 5, 2016.
