Excise Department not responsible for ‘hooch tragedy’: Parimal Suklabaidya

Guwahati, March 4, 2019:

Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya has claimed that people did not die after consuming the products certified by the Excise Department in the hooch tragedy of Assam where 185 people belonging to the districts of Golaghat and Jorhat died after consuming spurious liquor in the state.

Suklabaidya, while speaking to InsideNE, said: “I alone cannot solve the situation as a lot of Departments are involved in it. The Golaghat incident is one of the biggest tragedies in the state, but I would like to clarify that the incident did not take place after consuming any product approved by the Excise Department and we are yet to receive the forensic reports. Methanol has allegedly been used in the spurious liquor, which should set alarm bells ringing. Methanol is a petroleum product, so it is to be seen who procured the methanol and used it. Also, ‘lali gur’ has been used in the product, and that substance is under the ‘Industrial Department.’

Suklabaidya also stated that many inquiries have been started by the Government to catch the culprits responsible. “We have started inquiries and people have been arrested. A DGP level officer is undertaking the inquiry from the police department and a Joint Secretary level inquiry has been started from the Excise Department. Moreover, an inquiry from the Upper Assam Commissioner has also begun. After this, we will also seek a CBI or Judicial inquiry in relation to this case from the Chief Minister,” he said.