The death toll in a suspected hooch tragedy rose to four on Friday after three more people died allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor in Bihar’s dry East Champaran district, officials said.
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At least six others are undergoing treatment at a government hospital, while seven people have been discharged after initial treatment, they said.
The incident took place in Turkauliya and Raghunathpur areas of Motihari on Thursday (April 2).
East Champaran District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal said, “The death toll has now risen to four. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. The exact cause of death can be known only after the report.” The DM said 12 people, including the village chowkidar, have been arrested in connection with the incident, while the SHO of Turkauliya police station has been suspended with immediate effect.
SP Swarn Prabhat said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to probe the incident.
A case of murder was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by the family members of the deceased, police said.
Initial investigations indicated that the first victim had consumed illegal liquor in the Raghunathpur area, police sources said.
“Police have identified the liquor supplier and he will be nabbed soon. A team of district police and the Anti-Liquor Task Force (ALTF) are conducting searches in Parsauni, Mushhari Tola and Turkaulia. A high-level inquiry has also been ordered into the incident,” Prabhat said on Thursday (April).
On 5 April 2016, the Nitish Kumar government imposed a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar.
Reacting to the incident, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly and RJD National Working President Tejashwi Yadav said the incident once again exposed the “failure” of the NDA government’s prohibition policy and its serious flaws.
In a post on X, Mr. Yadav wrote, “Such an incident has not happened for the first time in the state. As per available data, more than 1,300 people have died in Bihar since April 2016 due to consumption of spurious liquor.”
He said, “This is only an official figure, the exact number is much higher than this…several people have also lost their sight. This law has become a profitable venture for some leaders of the ruling BJP-JD(U), corrupt officials…and the liquor mafia who are thriving under their protection. Fake liquor is openly manufactured, sold in abundance with the police undercover. The state.”
Published – 03 Apr 2026 15:07 IST
