Punjab hooch tragedy: Amarinder promises strict action, raises compensation to Rs 5 lakh

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Tarn Taran, August 7

Terming Punjab’s hooch tragedy as nothing short of ‘katal’ (mass murder), Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday has assured the victims' families, that a case would be registered against those who "knowingly took so many lives for making a quick buck."

During his meet with the victims' families at Taran Taran, the Chief Minister increased the compensation from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh each.

He added that those who survived after consuming the poisonous alcohol but lost their eye-sight would also be given the equal ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh.

Keeping the social distancing factor in consideration, the victim's families were made to sit a distance.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, chief principal secretary Suresh Kumar and Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta, besides MP Khadoor Sahib JS Dimpa and MLA Ramanjit Singh Sikki.

However, several family members later resented, that they could share their point of view before the Chief Minister due to the restriction of getting a close interaction.

Some of them were included to appraise the Chief Minister directly, about how this well-oiled cheap liquor trade prospered in connivance with the police and administrative machinery.

The Chief Minister, during a brief halt near the media gallery, was questioned about the name of a Congress MLA’s PA surfaced in the tragedy, but he whiled it away by saying, "how can one conclude on something before the investigation. We will depute special prosecutors on job to ensure a time-bound fast-track of this tragedy and exemplary punishment to the accused, who so ever they maybe".

Also read: SAD leader Bikramjit Singh Majithia leading protest march over Hooch tragedy detained near Punjab Raj Bhawan

Besides the two special investigation teams, the magisterial probe is with Jalandhar division Commissioner, Raj Kamal Choudhry, meeting with concerned officials.

He had also observed that such a "sorrow upheaval" was unheard of in Punjab, which had happened due to "incompetency and lapses" in monitoring by the police and excise departments—who were directly associated with the subject.

The death toll stood at 121 in Majha region while 92 reported from Taran Taran, followed by 41 in Amritsar and 15 in Batala.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sunil Jakhar also stressed that those who were nabbed were just 'bichhu' (scorpions) whereas the 'magarmuchh' (crocodiles) were still enjoying immunity.

"Those who shelter them must be taken to task and those who were negligent in performing their duties must also be liable to face stern action because it was not 'normal' negligence but 'criminal' negligence", he said.

Nonetheless, doling out incentives for the victims’ families, CM has assured jobs for next of kin according to the age and qualification, houses for those living in kutcha houses, besides putting all of them under government’s regular health and pension schemes. He added that the case would at least be registered under section 302.

Met families of victims of spurious liquor tragedy in Tarn Taran. Have assured that no guilty person will be spared & that we will appoint Spl Public Prosecutors for swift prosecution. Have also announced increase of financial assistance to the families from Rs. 2 lakh to 5 lakh. pic.twitter.com/pjgmvxg3UU

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) August 7, 2020

SAD workers prevented to meet Punjab Chief Minister:

While Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was scheduled to meet the family members of Hooch tragedy victims at Guru Arjan Dev Stadium, the SAD workers led by SAD’s senior leaders, Virsa Singh Valtoha and Harminder Singh Sandhu, faced police's wrath as they tried to approach the venue.

They were held up half a km away from the venue.

Virsa Singh Valtoha claimed that they wanted to meet the CM, demanding to take action against a Congress MLA and his PA whose names were allegedly being pinpointed by the victims’ families, repeatedly, for prospering spurious liquor trade in Pandori Gola area, falling under his constituency.

"We were cane charged by the police, four of our workers injured”, said Valtoha.

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