RDC To Probe Chikiti Hooch Tragedy: Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan

Bhubaneswar, Aug 22: State Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan Thursday said that the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) will probe the Chikiti Hooch Tragedy in Ganjam district.

"The Chikiti Hooch Tragedy will be probed by the RDC. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will pass the order soon and report will come within two months," said Harichandan while giving update on the issue.

Harichandan also said that raids are conducted across the state. "So far, 217 illicit country liquer factories have been identified. Police have arrested 117 people in connection with illegal trading of country liquor," informed Harichandan, who is also the Minister of Law & Works.

Speaking about the government's plans regarding the illegal factories, Harichandan said that all those liquor factories will be bulldozed and the Excise department has already passed the directive.

"There will be no more illegal liquor factories in the state," said Harchandan, adding, "Illegal liquor network will be closed permanently within a year."

Earlier, Berhampur Excise Superintendent Pradip Panigrahi has been suspended after a couple of deaths in Chikiti, allegedly due to the consumption of spurious country liquor.

Similarly, the Excise Inspector Ramesh Chandra Mohanty and Sub Inspector Prasanna Kumar Dhali have been handed transfer orders.

Notably, eight people have been arrested in the spurious liquor case. Around 7,274 litres of illegal liquor, including 385 litres from Ganjam, have been reportedly seized and 72 people have been arrested as of Tuesday evening in various parts of the state.

The excise department said that crackdowns will be intensified in the coming days and strict action will be taken against those involved in the illegal liquor trade.