Chhattisgarh to rein in illegal liquor trade

RAIPUR - In the wake of a hooch tragedy that claimed four lives in Chhattisgarh Friday, the state government Sunday asked district officials to curb the illegal liquor business.

“Expressing shock over the tragedy, Chief Minister Raman Singh has directed district collectors, superintendent of police and excise officials in all 18 districts to come hard on illegal liquor businessmen,” sources at the chief minister’s secretariat told IANS.

Four people, including a woman, died in a slum pocket in the state’s Janjgir-Champa district, some 160 km north of capital Raipur, Friday after they consumed spurious liquor provided by a local man.

The incident created wide resentment among local population against the alleged failure of authorities to contain illegal liquor trade.