M A I N   N E W S

6 die after consuming spirit
Chander Parkash
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 25
At least six persons have died, five of one locality, since last night allegedly after consuming “spirit” supplied to them by a local person identified as Ladoo from his premises located near police station sadar and police station, CIA staff, in this town.

Unconfirmed reports said two more persons have died due to the same reason in Chandsar Basti and Sanjay Basti, the localities mostly inhabited by poor people.

Surjeet Kaur, wife of Partap Singh, who died after consuming spirit this afternoon, pointed out that first her husband complained that his eyesight had gone. Then he started vomiting and when he was taken to the nearby medical practitioner, he was declared dead.

Surjeet Kaur said Ladoo used to sell spirit to the people of this locality. She lamented now there was no one to feed her and her five daughters.

When a police party led by Inspector Des Raj, SHO, city police station, raided the premises of Ladoo, two bottles of liquor was seized from him. Ladoo allegedly confessed that liquor was being supplied to him by a Head Constable, Iqbal Singh, who is posted in the CIA police station. Ladoo has been taken into custody,

Though the deaths took place in the morning, the police swung into action only late in the evening. Most of the bodies had been cremated by the time they started investigating the matter.

Mr Gurtej Singh, General Assistant to Deputy Commissioner, reached Mohalla Khitka, where five persons have died.

Senior Congress functionaries, including Mr Sewak Ram Bhola, Mr Pardeep Kumar and Mr Amritpal Goyal, also visited the aggrieved families.

Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, who also reached the spot, said that deaths had taken place due to consumption of liquor. He added that matter was being investigated.

Most of the victims were daily wage workers and rickshaw pullers.

Ladoo used to sell spirit at the rate of Rs 40 per bottle.

Civil Hospital sources said that only one person came to the Emergency Wing for treatment and it seemed that he had collapsed due to consumption of a large quantity of liquor.

Mr Tirlochan Singh, Municipal Councillor, said that those who had died after consuming the spirit included Veer Singh, Partap Singh, Amir Singh Chinna, Channi and Kehar Singh.