The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued a notice to the Bihar government and state police over several deaths allegedly due to consumption of spurious liquor in various districts of Bihar on April 16.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report, the Rights body has issued notices to the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks.

Expressing serious concern over the reported hooch tragedy, the Commission said the report should include the status of the FIR registered by the police, medical treatment of the victims, who are hospitalized, and compensation if any, granted to the aggrieved families.



The Rights body said it would also like to know about the action taken against the delinquent officers, responsible for the tragedy.

The Commission said, “Going by the contents of the media report, if true, indicates that the State government, prima-facie, is not attentive enough in the implementation of its policy of prohibition of sale and consumption of illicit/spurious liquor implemented in Bihar since April, 2016. The unabated happening of incidents of liquor tragedy of this magnitude is a serious issue causing the violation of rights to life of vulnerable people.”

It may be recalled that in December last year also, several deaths were reported in a hooch tragedy in Bihar, and the Commission sent its own team for an on-the-spot investigation into the matter after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports. That case is already under consideration of the Commission, a statement said.