Haridwar (Uttarakhand): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the five deaths due to spurious liquor in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district. The SIT headed by ASP Rekha Yadav also comprises of Inspector Prithvi Singh Rawat and Sub-Inspector Manoj Nautiyal.
The development comes a day after four police personnel of Pathri Police Station in the area were suspended on Saturday following the deaths due to spurious liquor. The aforementioned includes Pathri SHO Ravindra Kumar, alongside Constables Rakesh Negi, Sandeep and Pankaj Kumar.
The suspensions came into effect after five deaths were reported from two villages in the district, with locals alleging the hooch to have been distributed by a panchayat poll candidate. While three residents, Raju, Amarpal and Bhola, died in Phoolgarh village, in Shivgarh, two residents identified respectively as Manoj and Kaka passed away.
Read: Another hooch tragedy in Buxar district of Bihar claims six lives
The two Panchayat election candidates, identified as Trilok and Dr Vijendra, and Kshetra Panchayat candidate Sanjay, have been taken into custody and are being interrogated at the moment.
Speaking about the incident, SSP Haridwar Yogendra Yadav said it was being determined whether over-drinking was the cause of these deaths. "There are inputs regarding a panchayat election candidate distributing liquor among villagers. Efforts are on to identify him" Yadav also said.
