Rights panel seeks report from Panipat, Sonepat SPs

LOGO: HOOCH DEATHS

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, December 19

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) sought a detailed report from the Superintendents of Police of Sonepat and Panipat over the hooch deaths story published in The Tribune on November 6.

Following the complaint of Kulwant Singh Nagra, a Jalandhar-based activist, the HHRC panel sought reports from the SPs of two districts, which is to be submitted within 42 days.

Nagra submitted a complaint to the HHRC chairperson with a news item published in The Tribune on November 6 titled as ‘Hooch Deaths: 12 more die in two districts, toll rises to 42’.

The complainant said more than 120 people died allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in a similar incident reported from Taran Taran and Amritsar districts of Punjab recently. To rein in the unscrupulous element and to curb the social evil, the administration ordered to add Section 302 of the IPC to the FIR, he said.

Nagra said the commission must issue appropriate directions to the concerned authority to add stringent provisions of the law in the FIR and provide adequate compensation to the victims’ kin.

It is pertinent to mention here that 42 people reportedly died in Sonepat and eight in Panipat district after consuming spurious liquor in November.

The police have broken the nexus of the spurious liquor manufacturers and suppliers after the matter came into light. Besides, Home Minister Anil Vij had also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of ADGP (Narcotics) Shrikant Jadhav on November 8 to inquire into the hooch deaths.