AMN
The death toll due to consumption of spurious liquor in Mumbai’s Malad suburbs has gone up to 84 while around 36 others still continue to battle for life in Mumbai’s various hospitals. The death toll is likely to rise, as a few of these patients remain critical.
According to Mumbai Police, most of these victims include auto rickshaw drivers, rag pickers and scrap collectors. All the affected had consumed a concoction being sold in plastic bags at Laxmi Nagar slums in suburban Malad on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria has informed that 8 policemen including the in charge of Malwani Police Station, senior Police Inspector Prakash Patil have been suspended for dereliction of duty.
Meanwhile, the three persons arrested in this case were remanded police custody till 26th of this month by a local court Friday.
All were booked under sections 304, punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder section 328, causing hurt by means of poison and 34 acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. The accused have been identified as Raju Langda, Donald Patel and Gautam Harte. Police further informed that the search for other three suspects is still going on.
The Malwani police has formed six teams to verify the number of people affected by the hooch and also to collect evidence in the case. The police have sealed the room where the liquor was being sold and the house it was stored in. Police added that the accused Langda has been selling liquor in the area for past 15 years. A previous case of selling liquor illegally was registered against him nearly 10 years ago.