Gujarat govt moves bill seeking death penalty for hooch-makers

The government of Gujarat has moved a bill, seeking penal action upto ‘death penalty’ for those convicted in spurious liquor cases. The bill also calls for a punishment upto life imprisonment for bootleggers.

The other proposals in the bill seek punishment of upto 10 years for the makers of illicit liquor, persons responsible for its transportation, those who stock such liquor and those involved in its sale. In no case, the punishment would be less than seven years.

Also, the proposed amendment in the law include the provision that police officers and other officials concerned are liable for punishment for up to one year for negligence in discharging their duties.

The government has taken this decision in the backdrop of recent illicit liquor tragedy in the state that killed 142 poor slum dwellers.

Sources say, the law will be passed within three days.