Azamgarh Poisonous Liquor Tragedy
On 26 February a CPIML team visited Mahul town and nearby villages affected by the Azamgarh spurious liquor tragedy, met the families of the deceased and enquired about the condition of those who have become disabled due to consumption of the poisonous liquor.
The victims and the villagers as saying that such a big incident could have happened only with the connivance of the local administration and the bootleggers. If the government departments and people in the administration had checked the liquor shops and got samplings done, neither would poisonous country liquor be sold on government contract nor would so many families have to lose their loved ones. The incident, which took place on February 20, resulted in about a dozen deaths; many people fell seriously ill and many lost their eyesight and became disabled.
The CPIML has demanded a high level enquiry into the Mahul liquor tragedy, strictest action against the culprits, adequate compensation to the families of the deceased and disabled people and an effective curb on the illegal trade of spurious liquor. If the government fails to fulfil these demands, CPIML will organize a movement for justice for the victims.
The team went to Mahul Kasba, Dakhingawa, Rasulpur, Moti Paar (Imamgarh) and other affected areas and consoled the families of the victims.
Names of the dead in the Mahul spurious liquor Tragedy:
1. Feku Sonkar (34 years), Mahul Kasba.
2. Jhabbu Sonkar (45 years), Mahul Kasba.
3. Ramkaran Bindu (72 years), Mahul Kasba
4. Vikram Bindu (57 years), Rasulpur.
5. Rampreet Yadav (55 years), Dakhingawa.
6. Shamim Qureshi (42 years), Mahul Kasba.
7. Sant Ram (40 years), Moti Pair.
8. Rajaram (60 years), Moti Pair.
9. Achhe Lal (60 years), Moti Pair (Imam Garh) village.
In addition to the nine above, there have been at least three more deaths.
Names of sick and disabled people who have lost their sight:
1. Bankelal (50) Imamgarh, Moti Pair.
2. Nandlal (65) Imamgarh, Moti Pair.
3. Parvati (55), pearl Pair.
4. Nandlal (60), Rasulpur.
5. Rajendra (50), Rasulpur.
6. Radheshyam Chaurasia (45), Dakhingawa.
