MP Govt Forms Inquiry Commission Under Retired Judge To Probe Sagar Hooch Tragedy That Claimed 16 Lives

State Bureau, Naidunia, Bhopal | The Madhya Pradesh government on Saturday constituted a judicial inquiry commission into the deaths in the hooch tragedy in the Banda tehsil area of Sagar district. At least 16 people were killed after consuming spurious liquor in Sagar.

The General Administration Department, by issuing a notification in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette, appointed a one-member inquiry commission headed by retired High Court Justice Vishnu Singh Chauhan. The state government constituted the Commission by exercising the powers conferred under Section 3 of the State Government Inquiry Commissions Act, 1952.

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These Points Likely To Be Investigated:

The Commission will investigate the incidents of spurious liquor-related deaths and illnesses in the Banda region. It will primarily:

- A factual determination will be made by examining the cause, nature and circumstances surrounding the incident.

- The status of discharge of assigned responsibilities by the excise officers, police and other responsible officers and employees of the concerned area will be investigated.

- Necessary measures for effective control and monitoring will be recommended to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

The state government has said, in the notification, that keeping in view the nature of the investigation and other circumstances of the case, the inquiry commission will have to complete the investigation and submit its report to the state government within three months from the date of publication of the notification in the Madhya Pradesh Gazette.

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Main Accused In Hooch Tragedy Held After Encounter

Police action is underway following the deaths caused by toxic liquor in the Banda area. Police arrested several suspects, while some remain at large. One of the main accused was arrested early Friday after an encounter with police in Sagar. Ravi Lakhera (45) sustained a bullet injury to his leg, while two of his accomplices, who were travelling with him on a motorcycle, managed to flee.

(With PTI inptus)