The Uttar Pradesh government suspended the district development officer (DDO) of Sambhal on charges of gross indiscipline and arbitrary behaviour while three officials were also suspended over the deaths due to spurious liquor in Prayagraj.
An official communiqué released on Saturday confirmed that several charges of indiscipline, including disregarding orders of senior officials, not sending report under Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS), leaving district headquarters sans permission, were prima facie found to be true against Sambhal DDO Ram Sevak and action was initiated against him.
The joint development commissioner of Bareilly division would further investigate the complaints.
The state government also initiated strict action against people involved in supplying spurious liquor in Phulpur town of Prayagraj, where seven people have died while eight others are fighting for their lives in hospital.
Three officials, including two of the Excise department and one police personnel, were suspended while action was also taken against the shop owner.
Additional Chief Secretary (Excise) Sanjay Bhoosreddy said on Saturday that strict criminal action was initiated against all culprits, including the government employees concerned, on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
“Besides, action under criminal laws and under the excise laws is being taken against all concerned, including licensee Shyam Babu Jaiswal of Amaliya village in Phulpur town of Prayagraj for Friday’s tragedy,” Bhoosreddy said.
He added that suspension and departmental action was also taken against District Excise Officer Sandeep Bihari Modwel , Excise Inspector Vijay Pratap Yadav and head constable Suresh Kumar.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the Phulpur hooch tragedy rose to seven on Saturday after another person died in a hospital while the condition of eight others is stated to be critical. They had purchased country-made liquor from a government controlled shop in Amaliya village on Friday morning. Later the shop was sealed and the licensee was detained.
