Jan Suraj Party leader Prashant Kishor described the Bihar hooch tragedy as “sad” and criticized the state’s liquor ban as ineffective, claiming it exists solely on paper and in political discourse. The death toll from spurious liquor consumption in Sivan and Saran has now reached 25.
Kishor stated that for the past three years, he has consistently argued that the liquor ban is not properly enforced in Bihar and is only mentioned in official documents and speeches by politicians. He referred to the recent incident as unfortunate, noting that over 70 individuals died in Chhapra 1.5 years ago, and highlighted that no district in Bihar is free from deaths caused by toxic alcohol, with many cases going unreported. He accused corrupt leaders and mafias of profiting from the situation and criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his lack of response, as he has not visited the affected areas.
In response to the tragedy, the DGP announced the arrest of 12 individuals. Saran Superintendent of Police Kumar Ashish indicated that the substance involved appears to be industrial spirit, and investigations into its supply chain are currently underway. He also mentioned that local police officers have been suspended and questioned, with the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter. In the last 24 hours alone, police conducted 250 raids and seized 1,650 litres of alcohol.
Saran District Magistrate Aman Samir stated that families of the deceased must support the liquor ban to receive compensation, which amounts to Rs 4 lakh, contingent upon satisfactory post-mortem reports. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a high-level review and directed officials from the Prohibition, Excise, and Registration Department to gather information and thoroughly investigate the incident.