Patna, April 3 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has questioned the effectiveness of the prohibition policy after several people died in a fresh hooch tragedy in the East Champaran district.

According to reports, at least four people have died after consuming suspected poisonous liquor, while six others have reportedly lost their eyesight, and several more are undergoing treatment after consuming spurious liquor.

The incident took place in Balganga village under the Turkauliya police station limits in East Champaran district after several villagers consumed spurious liquor on Wednesday evening.

Taking to social media, Tejashwi Yadav termed the incident “deeply tragic” and alleged that it exposes serious flaws in the liquor prohibition law implemented by the NDA government.

He described the policy as a cash cow for a corrupt system. “The deaths of four people, the loss of eyesight of six others, and the critical condition of several individuals highlight the failure of the prohibition law. This is not the first such incident,” he said.

Citing available data, Yadav claimed that more than 1,300 people have lost their lives due to spurious liquor in Bihar since the implementation of prohibition in April 2016.

He further alleged that the actual number could be significantly higher, with many cases going unreported.

He also accused sections of the ruling alliance, officials, and the alleged liquor mafia of benefiting from the current system. “The objective of prohibition has been derailed. Illegal liquor is being manufactured and sold openly, and in some cases even delivered to doorsteps, while the common people are paying with their lives,” he alleged.

The remarks have intensified the political debate over Bihar’s prohibition policy, which has been under scrutiny following repeated incidents of hooch tragedies across the state.

The police have initiated strict action on this issue. Superintendent of Police Swarn Prabhat has suspended Turkauliya Police Station’s Station House Officer (SHO), Umashankar Manjhi, with immediate effect on charges of negligence.

Earlier, a village watchman (chowkidar) had also been suspended in connection with the case.

–IANS

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