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New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- New Indian Express
176 deaths in Punjab's hooch tragedies in last five years linked to methanol-based spurious liquor
Leading consultant psychiatrist Dr Rana Ranbir Singh said, 'If you study all the past hooch tragedies in the state, the common link is methanol—a cheap variant for ethanol. This chemical is used in different industries. The question now arises how it is diverted from there to these bootleggers, as it is very dangerous for human consumption, resulting in blindness and then death. The government should make some rules and regulations to monitor its supply to industries to stop its diversion.' 'Methanol is a light, colourless organic chemical compound which is poisonous when ingested by humans and is illegally added to alcoholic beverages,' he said, adding that this kind of spurious liquor is generally bought by daily-wagers as it is quite cheap. In the latest hooch tragedy in the Majithia area of Amritsar district, 23 people have died so far and 10 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming spurious liquor. Last year in March, 20 people died in a similar incident in Sangrur—the home district of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In that case too, methanol-based liquor was manufactured locally. A senior official said all 18 individuals accused in the Sangrur hooch case are now facing trial before the additional sessions judge in a special court. The accused have been charged, and the process of recording their testimonies is ongoing. A probe committee of officers was set up following the incident, which studied the reasons behind the thriving illegal liquor business in the state and recommended the creation of a separate wing in the Punjab Police to curb the manufacture and sale of illicit liquor. In August 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown when liquor vends were closed, a hooch tragedy struck the Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Batala districts, killing over 135 people. It was one of the worst such incidents in the country and shook the then Congress-led government under Capt Amarinder Singh. The then DGP Dinkar Gupta proposed the introduction of a stringent law—the Punjab Control of Organised Crime Act (PCOCA)—to deal with such cases, but the proposal was later put on the backburner.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Won't add to country's challenges': Punjab farmers skip plan to block rail tracks amid India-Pakistan tensions
DEVIDASPURA: In a display of restraint and patriotism, farmers, labourers and women under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee , Punjab, opted for a peaceful sit-in on a nearby ground instead of disrupting rail traffic in Devidaspur, keeping in view the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The protest was announced by state president Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra and general secretary Rana Ranbir Singh. It was initially planned as a rail blockade to oppose the Punjab government's policies and the alleged forceful land acquisition for the Bharatmala Project. "The decision to avoid rail disruption came as the nation grapples with heightened security concerns following Operation Sindoor and the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor," said farmer leader Sarvan Singh Pandher, adding that they are fighting for their rights, but they will not add to the country's challenges at this critical time. Emphasising the farmers' commitment to national interest, another farmer leader, Jarmanjit Singh Bandala, said that the protesters gathered at Devidaspura on May 6 night to condemn the Punjab government, which they accuse of transforming the state into a "police state." He alleged, "For years, the govt has acted on the Centre's orders, deploying police to forcibly acquire land while subjecting resisting farmers, labourers, and women to arrests, lathi charges, and abuse. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10 Mysterious Photos That Cannot Be Explained True Edition Undo " Addressing the gathering, Pandher talked about the recent incidents, including alleged police crackdowns on farmer protests at Shambhu and other borders on March 19-20, and the high-handed response to a planned gherao of the Shambhu police station. "The police arrested our people from various districts, using brute force to crush our democratic rights," he alleged. He claimed a brief scuffle with police ensued, but the protesters halted near the tracks, clarifying they had no intention of blocking trains prematurely. In a significant move, they chose to relocate to a nearby ground, ensuring no disruption to rail services. The farmer leaders also warned, saying, "The govt's use of police to suppress farmer organisations and harass their families must stop. If this continues, we will launch large-scale protests to end this oppression."
