Surat: Members of the Sakhi Mandal, a women's group in Gujarat's Surat district, destroyed liquor dens. They burnt all material and spurious liquor kept in drums launching their drive against liquor barons on Saturday. The drive followed the death of over 122 persons in a hooch tragedy in Ahmedabad. "We heard about the liquor tragedy in Ahmedabad. We then decided to take up this drive to break down all these liquor dens. We are ready to face all consequences as we have a strong force of the women community," Meena Patel, a member of Sakhi Mandal. Manjula Patel, another member of the group, alleged that the cops and bootleggers are hand-in-gloves because of which these dens still survive in the state. "We have caught these bootleggers many a times, but our strength is of no force in front of them. They have threatened us and also have tried to attack us with weapons. We have complained to the police.But they only give us assurance and do not take actions," Manjula said. Meanwhile, the toll in Ahmedabad hooch tragedy has risen to 122 after nine more deaths were reported. The police said that now 122 people have died and 227 were admitted to various city hospitals. The city is witnessing deaths from spurious liquor since last five days. The Crime Branch, of the Gujarat Police is investigating the case. The investigation has revealed that the spurious liquor was supplied from Mahemdabad town in Kheda district. Though the Police have identified one Vinod Chauhan alias Dagri as the main supplier of the killer brew, the Congress Party is alleging that a BJP councilor from Ahmedabad was the key supplier of poisonous alcohol.
-July 11, 2009