Chandigarh, August 3:
Describing hooch tragedy unfortunate, Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary today said that Punjab Police is very much capable to crack down the entire case. She said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has already ordered the suspension of seven excise officials and six policemen with immediate effect and initiated an inquiry against them besides giving strict orders to state police to bring the guilty to justice.
Mrs. Chaudhary said that the state government has also directed the police to launch statewide crackdown on spurious liquor manufacturing units that may be operating in the state and so far conducted more than 100 raids throughout the state. On the demand of CBI probe by Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs. Chaudhary said that this demand was nothing but a political gimmick and Punjab Police have great repute to solve a number of cases of similar nature. She informed that the state government has taken necessary steps to curb such mafias in the state.
Extending condolences to the families of the deceased, she said that the government has announced Rs.2 lakh compensation each to the families of the deceased. Pointing out that strict action was being taken against all those found guilty in any case of illicit brewing and smuggling, she said that moreover 13 officials from the Police and Excise & Taxation departments had been suspended for negligence. A magisterial inquiry commission had been set up with the mandate to submit its report within a month. She also made it clear that anybody found involved in this menace would not be spared
