HYDERABAD: Four more persons died on Thursday reportedly after consuming toxic liquor leading the death toll over the past three days to 20.

Hyderabad DIG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi on Thursday issued warnings to two superintendents of police (SPs) over unchecked production and sale of liquor within their respective jurisdictions, observing that without the connivance of policemen the business could not continue. He asked the SPs to improve their performance.

The toxic liquor produced at various illegal factories and sold in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas claimed the first four lives of consumers on Tuesday and 12 more people had died on Wednesday.

The latest victims were identified as Zulfiqar Ansari and Khurshid Rajput, residents of Latifabad, and Ishaq Masih aka Bagha and Wasim, residents of Machhar Colony.

Several other affected people are under treatment at the Liaquat University Hospital.

Ordering action against the culprits, the DIG held meetings at the police stations concerned and obtained lists of the areas where liquor is being produced and sold in connivance with the excise and taxation department and the area police.

Inquiry ordered

Meanwhile, SP Umer Tufail has been assigned an inquiry into the toxic liquor sale and death of many consumers. He was told to submit is report to the DIG within the next seven days and find out if low-ranking policemen were involved in the functioning of liquor dens. Anyone found guilty would be booked, the DIG said.

The DIG reverted SHOs who had earlier been posted at the Tando Yousuf, Pinyari, Phulelli and Hatri police stations.

He said directives were being issued to seek legal opinion whether murder charges could be framed against sellers of toxic liquor.

A total of 27 suspects have been arrested over the past three days in connection with the liquor deaths while nine liquor dens were claimed to have been ‘destroyed’ by the police in raids carried out in the Bihar Colony, Mallah Goth, Tando Qaiser, Maghan Mori, Channel Mori and Bachao Bund areas.

Petition filed

The Hyderabad sessions judge on Thursday issued notices for Oct 16 to respondent Hyderabad deputy commissioner, DIG and SSP on a petition filed by a lawyer, Sarfaraz Hussain Shah, who has prayed for action against all those responsible for so many deaths in the liquor tragedy.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2014