Hooch cry in deaths

Five persons died in Mahestala on Tuesday, allegedly after consuming spurious liquor.
State finance and excise minister Asim Dasgupta, however, said only two persons had died and denied that hooch was the cause.
Following “unconfirmed” reports attributing the deaths to hooch, the minister said he had asked the excise department to conduct a probe and submit a report, possibly by Wednesday.
The deaths sparked protests, with a mob pulling down several illicit liquor dens and setting some ablaze. Local CPM MLA Mursalin Mollah said all five died after consuming spurious liquor.People started taking ill from Sunday morning and most of them were admitted to Vidyasagar Hospital. Six people have died so far,” said Ranibala Mondol, councillor of ward number 12 of Maheshtala Municipality. The six who succumbed are — Ajit Patwari, Sadhu, Bhola Das, Gautam Sardar, Ajit Sarkar and Amar Singh. The councillor said the police were not doing enough to end the menace.