Amid politics that started after death of six persons who allegedly died after consuming illicit liquor in provisional state capital Dehradun, the police arrested Gaurav, the bootlegger who is accused of supplying the country liquor that took six lives. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun, Arun Mohan Joshi told media persons on Saturday that Gaurav, a resident of Patharia Peer area of the city was arrested by a team of police from Ganesh temple Kurbura on Saturday. He said that on the basis of the interrogation from Gaurav, the police have also rounded up some suspects in the case. On a stern note, the SSP said that the police would take action on every individual who is found to be involved in the tragedy. He added that the police action would not get affected by the background of the culprits. The SSP claimed that the Inspector in-charge of Kotwali police station and in-charge of police post, Dhara chowki were suspended so that the investigation remains unaffected. 

It is worth mentioning here that one of the survivors of the hooch tragedy had informed the police that they had purchased the country liquor from Gaurav. In the interrogation Gaurav said that he either purchases the liquor from the government shop or gets it from one Raju alias Raja Negi and sell it on profit.

He also revealed that he in past had purchased liquor from Ajay Sonkar alias Ghonchu. Incidentally Ghonchu is a former Councillor and at present associated with a political party.

Meanwhile the shops of the liquor in Dehradun remained closed for second day on Saturday.

Hooch tragedy- Excise dept circumspect on death cause

The post mortem of the dead in the Hooch tragedy has found no clear reason behind the death of the victims of the Hooch tragedy. The excise department and other officials are treading cautiously on the probable cause of the death in the tragedy and are now waiting for the viscera report of the victims to ascertain the cause of death. The additional commissioner excise, Ajay Kumar Pandey told The Pioneer the department has taken samples from different shops of the city. He said that the chances of the sale of contaminated liquor from shops are very bleak. Pandey claimed that the victims were said to be suffering from fever and this angle is also needed to be investigated.

He said that the department has suspended excise inspector of the area, Sujat Hussain and inspector enforcement Manohar Singh Patiyal in the case. He hinted that some more heads may roll in the case.