Botad: More than dozen people are feared dead after consuming spurious liquor in Gujarat’s Botad district. The death toll can be as high as 18. Five persons from Rojid, 2 each from Chandarva and Devgana, 2 each from Aniyali and Uchdi, 3 fro Akru and 2 others are feared dead. While the Range IG has formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into this tragedy, the State government has moved Anti Terrorist Squad(ATS) officials to supervise the investigation. About 30 persons are under treatment in various hospitals including the one in Bhavnagar in connection with this hooch tragedy.

Police have nabbed two suspects Sanjay and Pintu who had brought 90 liter chemical from Ahmedabad to make hooch. Police men were knocking all doors of the houses in affected villages and asking the persons whether someone had symptoms, so that they can be taken to hospitals in Botad, Barwala, Dhandhuka and Bhavnagar.

Locals meanwhile told media persons that attention was led to local and district police officials a number of times regarding country liquor activities in Rojid village but Police took no action. Once Mamlatdar conducted raid and seized liquor but police never caught any of the liquor sellers. Devipujakvas area in the village has 8-10 country liquor making units. DeshGujarat