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Monday, Jul 13, 2009
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Gujarat hooch tragedy: four cops suspended

— PHOTO: PTI

People of Majurgam launch a signature campaign demanding the resignation of Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah in connection with the hooch tragedy, in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

AHMEDABAD/ANAND: Four policemen from Mahemdabad in Kheda district, from where the spurious brew was brought to Ahmedabad, were suspended on Sunday, the police said.

Sub-inspectors B.R. Chauhan, B.R. Patni, assistant S.I. Jetha Chauhan and constable Kanti Rathod were suspended by the District Superintendent of Police Himanshu Shukla, a day after it came to light that the spurious brew was manufactured in Mahemdabad.

Earlier, the government had suspended two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and four policemen of Ahmedabad, under whose jurisdiction the maximum number of hooch-related deaths took place.

More than 120 people have reportedly lost their lives following the consumption of the killer brew.

S.I. Chauhan was posted at Vatvadi village where the spurious brew was allegedly manufactured and supplied to city by one Vinod Chauhan alias Dagri, who is absconding.

According to the city crime branch, Chauhan had allegedly supplied over 1,100 litres of illicit liquor to Harishankar Kahar and Dadu Charra who distributed it in various parts of the city.

Both Charra and Chauhan had been booked earlier under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), they said.

Kahar and his three associates have been arrested and are being interrogated for information on Charra and Chauhan.

The police are also probing if the deadly chemical, which caused the deaths, was added by Chauhan or if it was added to the liquor before its distribution in Ahmedabad.

Over 200 people are still undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the city.

The State police sprung into action following the incident, termed as one of the worst in Gujarat’s history, continuing its crackdown on liquor dens.

According to DGP S.S. Khandwawala, so far 7,613 people engaged in bootlegging have been rounded up by the police.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi held on Saturday a high-level review meeting with top state officials to take stock of the situation.

Minister of State for Home Amit Shah met Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma and apprised him of the tragedy and subsequent action taken by the government. — PTI

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