Spurious liquor kills 6 in Bihar, 12 held in Motihari tragedy

The death toll in the Bihar hooch tragedy climbed to six on Saturday after another person succumbed to spurious liquor in East Champaran district, officials confirmed. The first fatality in the incident was reported on Thursday.

Authorities are investigating the sale of illicit liquor in Turkauliya and Raghunathpur, with arrests made and a special probe underway.

At least 12 people have been arrested in connection with the deaths in the Turkauliya and Raghunathpur areas, said District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal . A murder case has been registered following complaints from the victims’ families. While four people remain hospitalized , seven others have been discharged after treatment.

“The toll has mounted to six, and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem. The exact cause of death will be known only after the reports arrive,” Jorwal told PTI. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Turkauliya police station has been suspended for dereliction of duty, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the incident.

Initial investigations indicate the first victim consumed illicit liquor in Raghunathpur. Police have identified the supplier, and a team comprising the district police and the Anti-Liquor Task Force (ALTF) is conducting searches in Parsauni, Mushhari Tola, and Turkaulia. A high-level inquiry has also been ordered.

The tragedy has reignited political debates in the state, where the sale and consumption of alcohol has been banned since 2016 . Leaders continue to question the enforcement of prohibition laws and call for stricter action against the illicit liquor network that has repeatedly caused loss of life in Bihar.