Hooch death toll in Bihar rises to 35; Opposition blames government for liquor ban failures

Ten more people have died after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Bihar's Siwan and Saran districts, raising the death toll to 35, officials said on Friday. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for the Saran range, Nilesh Kumar, confirmed the casualties, with Siwan accounting for 28 deaths and Saran for seven. "In Siwan’s Maghar and Auriya panchayats, 28 people have died after consuming suspected spurious liquor. Another seven people from Ibrahimpur in Saran district, under Mashrakh police station’s jurisdiction, have also succumbed to the suspected hooch," Kumar told PTI.

The incident has ignited a political storm, with opposition leaders questioning the effectiveness of the liquor ban introduced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government over eight years ago. Locals in the affected areas claim the deaths were caused by illicit alcohol consumption.

Police sources, speaking anonymously, revealed that over 25 more victims are currently fighting for their lives in hospitals across Siwan, Saran, and Patna. Post-mortem examinations are being conducted, and the exact cause of death will be confirmed once the autopsy reports are in. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the deceased or those receiving treatment.

The state's Director General of Police, Alok Raj, stated that two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been formed to probe the tragedy. One team will focus on identifying the criminal networks involved, while the other, set up by the Department of Prohibition, will analyze recent hooch-related incidents and develop an action plan. So far, 15 people have been arrested in connection with the deaths. Three local chowkidars have been suspended, and show-cause notices have been issued to five police officers.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a thorough investigation and directed the DGP to closely monitor the situation. Kumar emphasized that strict action must be taken against those responsible. Additionally, the Department of Prohibition and Excise Secretary, along with the state's ADG (Prohibition), have been tasked with visiting the affected areas to further investigate.

The opposition has been vocal about the tragedy, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accusing the government of corruption and failure in enforcing the liquor ban. "This is mass murder due to institutional corruption. The black market for illegal liquor is flourishing, and over 300 people have died because of it," Yadav posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Bihar BJP Chief Dilip Jaiswal echoed concerns but maintained that the liquor ban must remain in place, claiming it has reduced crimes, particularly against women. He assured the public that all those responsible for the tragedy would be brought to justice soon. The incident has reopened debates about the ban’s effectiveness, as critics argue it has led to a rise in black-market liquor and avoidable deaths. However, the state government remains committed to enforcing the ban.