The bitter truth about hooch

Survivors of the illicit liquor tragedy in West Bengal have complained about loss of vision while doctors have expressed fears that a large number of those hospitalised after the incident could be permanently blinded by a chemical suspected to have been in the brew. "The retina of a majority of the people who have survived has been badly damaged. The liquor must be containing some lethal amount of chemical that has caused this blindness," said the superintendent at one government hospital. Priyo Guin, a survivor, gave credence to the doubts. "I took the liquor around 2 in the afternoon yesterday. Suddenly there was a bout of stomach pain, followed by vomiting, chest pain and severe body ache. Though after medication the symptoms have reduced, I cannot properly see," he said yesterday. A batch of home-brewed liquor believed to have been laced with the highly toxic chemical methanol has so far claimed at least 143 lives in a tragedy that is not uncommon in the state. A six-member forensic team has collected samples of the spurious liquor for tests. The state health department has cancelled the holidays of all doctors and para-medical staff to cope with the situation on a war footing. A manhunt has been launched to nab prime suspect Khora Badshah, a known bootlegger who operates from Magrahat. The lure of easy money has led to the mushrooming of illicit distilleries even as the administration and politicians turn a blind eye until a tragedy strikes, top former police officials say. The government's keenness to earn revenue through sale of liquor coupled with "all-pervasive corruption" are two reasons for such tragedies. "The sale of liquor is a big source of revenue and the government is always keen on giving out licences that opens up avenues for trade in such liquor. The licence holders often set up distilleries for spurious liquor as it is very rewarding," Amiya Samanta, former director general (intelligence) of West Bengal police, said. He also blamed corruption for the growing spurious liquor trade. "The fuel behind the trade is the all-pervasive corruption. The excise department, the police as well as the politicians turn a blind eye until there is a big tragedy like this. The action taken on such occasions is mere eyewash. The problem can be tackled only if there is a strong will of the government. Until then such tragedies will keep recurring," added Samanta. Another former director general of police, B.P. Saha, blamed the liquor trader-politician nexus for the menace and called for a ban on drinking in rural areas. "The menace continues to grow because of the political patronage enjoyed by the manufacturers. These people are a big source of funds for politicians and they use these connections to get away even after killing hundreds." Retired director general of police of West Bengal Police, Bhupinder Singh, also blamed the excise department's "inefficiency" and corrupt politicians for the repeated tragedies. "It is the job of the excise department to check this peril, but unfortunately they most of the times fail to take the desired steps. Moreover, the manufacturers often enjoy political patronage which allows them to continue the trade no matter how many lives are lost because of their products," he said.