The first list of 14 people identified among the 28 killed so far by consuming thee spurious liquor in a cluster of villages in Botad taluka of Bhavnagar district has come up. There are more than 75 persons hospitalised in the connection with the unfortunate incident.
The first list mentions the names of all 14 men, whereas it is learnt that there are several women victims also. The victims belong to the lower economic and social strata of the society hailing from Rojid, Chandarwa, Akru, Aniyali and Uchdi villages. The names are as under.
- (1) Vashrambhai Shantibhai Parmar ( Rojid)
- (2) Dhanshyambhai Velshibhai (Rojid)
- (3) Baldevbhai Harjibhai Makwana (Aniyali)
- (4) Himmatbhai Maganbhai Vadadaria (Aniyali)
- (5) Rameshbhai Maganbhai Vadadaria (Aniyali)
- (6) Kishanbhai Mavjibhai Chawda (Akru)
- (7) Bhaveshbhai Mavjibhai Chavda ( Akru)
- (8) Pravinbhai Babubhai Kunwariya (Akru)
- (9) Arvindbhai Nanjibhai Sitapara (Chandarwa)
- (10) Irshadbhai Fakirbhai Qureshi (Chandarwa)
- (11) Jayantibhai Chekhlia (Uchdi)
- (12) Gagjibhai Mohanbhai Chekhlia (Uchdi)
- (13) Bhupat Zinga ( Raujid )
- (14) Dinesh Vahan Viram
The hooch tragedy has brought a great deal of embarassment to the police and the political leadership in the state which is going to poll in less than 6 months’ time. The opposition, especially, AAP is going to make hue and cry.
There is already some attempt has been started to rephrase the tragedy as a chemical tragedy instead of a hooch tragedy, thus trying to deflect the intensity of the issue. It would be indeed an eyewash to blame it on chemical, a liquor tragedy in “Gandhi’s Gujarat” and officially a ” Dry State”.
It s also pertinent to note that the panchayat had written a written complaint about the rising menace of illicit liquor in the village and pleaded that the steps be taken. However, it fell on the deaf ears of the system which resulted in the tragedy today.
