GUJARAT-(MaraviPost)-About 42 people have died in Gujarat, India over the past few days in worst case of mass-poisoning by spurious alcohol in Gujarat since 2009, when a similar incident reportedly claimed over 125 lives.
It was a daily ritual for Deepak Vaghela, a 28-year-old farm labourer in Gujarat, a dry state — ending his grueling work day with two ‘potlis (pouches)’ of country liquor, purchased at approximately Rs 20 apiece.
That’s exactly what he did on 23 July. Something, however, was different that evening.
Within hours, Vaghela, a resident of Rojid village, started vomiting. He complained of severe chest pain and blindness, and, by 10.30 pm the following day, had passed away.
He was the sole breadwinner for his family of five — two daughters, his 24-year-old wife, and parents.
Vaghela is one of 42 people who have died in villages around Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar over the past few days in the worst case of mass-poisoning by spurious alcohol in the state since 2009, when a similar incident reportedly claimed over 125 lives.
Much of the brewing is believed to have been concentrated in Chokdi, Barwala district. Police sources said the spurious alcohol made here was being sold at Rs 20/pouch in the villages of Rojid, Polarpur, Bhimnath, Nabhoi, Chandarva and Devgana.
Jattubhai Dodiya, a 52-year-old resident of Chokdi, told ThePrint that, over the preceding 15 days, newly-appointed Barwala Police Sub Inspector (PSI) B.G. Vala had shut down the production of hooch in the village.
With the liquor operations shut, the 20-30 families in Chokdi that rely on the alcohol trade for survival turned to new — more dangerous — means, it is learnt.
Instead of fermenting jaggery, water and yeast for days, and brewing the liquor in barrels near the Narmada Canal, which runs behind the village, these men used a quick fix — mixing methyl alcohol or methanol with water.
Liquor is known to have ethanol, a close cousin of methanol, but the latter is said to pose an “outsized danger” to humans. Consumption of as little as 10 ml of pure methanol may result in permanent loss of vision, and as little as 30 mL may be lethal, depending on its concentration.
Even so, it is reportedly a key ingredient for bootleggers looking to prepare alcohol in a rush.
Vajesang Barad, another Chokdi resident, said the men making liquor were inexperienced in handling the chemical.
“This was the first time that they tried to simply mix a chemical in water and sell it. They got the proportion all wrong which led to the death of so many people,” he added.
In a press release issued by the Gujarat government, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) Gandhinagar found the presence of 98.71-98.99 per cent methanol in the liquor that the victims consumed.
For comparison, for a person weighing 100kg, just 30 ml of a 50 per cent methanol solution would be toxic.
A source in Gujarat Police said “15 people have been arrested in the case so far”, including prime suspect Jayesh Kavadia.
“According to our investigation, an accused working at a chemical packaging company [Kavadia], had allegedly stolen 600 litres of methanol chemical and sold it off as country liquor,” the source, stationed at Barwala, 130 km away from Ahmedabad, said.
The FIRs filed in the Barwala and Ranpur areas of Botad district Monday invoke sections 302 (punishment for murder), 328 (causing hurt by poison) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, as well as the Gujarat prohibition law.
In light of the case, the Gujarat Home Department Thursday transferred the superintendents of police (SPs) of Botad and Ahmedabad districts and suspended six policemen, including two of the rank of deputy superintendents, for alleged dereliction of duty. Vala is among the six policemen.
The case has been handed over to Ahmedabad Crime Branch and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
Earlier this week, Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, also announced a three-member committee headed by Inspector General of Police Subhash Trivedi to probe the incident and submit a report in three days.
ThePrint reached Trivedi by call, but he said the investigation was ongoing and refused to comment.
Calls were also made to B.S. Vala but his phone remained unanswered/switched off throughout the day Thursday and Friday.
Officers at the Barwala Police Station refused to speak on the issue when ThePrint visited.
