2000 tins containing Lali Gur (Molasses) recovered in Naharkatia, Godown Sealed

Naharkatia: Based on information, a Police team lead by Namrup DSP Kula Pradip Bhattacharjee and Officer-in-charge Naharkatia PS Bhaskar Saikia in presence of Circle Officer Naharkatia Revenue Circle Bikram Chetry conducted a search at a Grocery shop and the Godown of a well known businessman of Naharkatia namely Prasanna Bharatia and recovered around 2000 tins of suspected Lali Gur (Molasses) from the spot.

The Godown was sealed by the Magistrate. Police later informed the concerned department of the (Food & Safety) for further investigation into the matter.

The incident had shocked the local people of Naharkatia area.

It is to be noted, CM Sarbananda Sonowal had banned the use of country liquor (Sulai) and 'Lali Gur' (Molasses) in the wake of the 'Hooch Tragedy' wherein 185 people lost their lives and more than 60 children were orphaned.

CM Sonowal had also directed all the DCs of every district to ban the sale and consumption of the substance.

However, anyone who wants to use it as fodder for cattle needs to take prior permission from district magistrate or the veterinary department, said excise minister Parimal Suklabaidya after he held a high level review meeting at the circuit house in Golaghat with the officers of excise department of both Golaghat and Jorhat districts earlier in the month of March this year.

The Hooch tragedy in Assam was one of the major incidents which had cost lives of more than hundreds due to officials' negligence.

Short Summary of Hooch Tragedy

Golaghat Police Department filed a charge sheet against all the 41 accused who were arrested after the worst-ever hooch tragedy in the state on February last that took away the lives of more than 150 people.

Golaghat Police later formed a Special Investigative Team (SIT) submitted the charge sheet before the CJM Court Golaghat.

The entire investigation was conducted under Deputy Superintendent of Police, Partha Pratim Saikia.

The charge sheet containing more 1000 pages was filed against all the arrested 41 accused of Golaghat Police Station (Case No 223/19) under section 120B/328/304 of the Indian Penal Code and section 55 of the Assam Excise Act.

The Golaghat CJM court had summoned all the 41 accused to appear before the court on June 11, 2019.

It may also be mentioned that SIT team under Dy SP Partha Pratim Saikia had recorded statements of at least 65 witnesses along with some victims and collected their samples.

Also Read: Assam Hooch Tragedy: 41 charge-sheeted, Police submits report to Golaghat CJM Court today