Assam: Four killed while cleaning tank in illicit liquor-making unit

Four people died after inhaling a gas emanating from a tank used for brewing illicit liquor, which they were cleaning, in Assam's Tinsukia district on August 10. 

The deceased included the 70-year-old owner of the liquor-making unit and his son. The incident took place at Tipuk under Talap police station when the four entered the tank for periodic cleaning. 

"The large tank was utilised for melting treated jaggery, a key step in the production of country liquor," an official said. 

He said it is suspected that some noxious gas inside the tank led to their suffocation and subsequent death, but the actual reason will be known after the post-mortem examination report is available. 

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The deceased were identified as unit owner Ramprasad Rai, his 40-year-old son Patgiri and two labourers - Jagdish Gwala (40) and Pukla Kisan (38). 

"Ramprasad Rai has long been involved in the production of illicit alcohol and used to operate secretly in the region. Despite repeated dismantling of his illegal distillery by the police and excise department, he managed to resurface every time," the official said. 

A detailed and thorough police investigation is on to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the death of the four people, he added.