Aligarh hooch tragedy: Death toll climbs to 11, police arrests 10 people involved in trade of illicit liquor

A large number of vehicles owned by persons involved in the illicit liquor trade have also been seized. Police parties are checking roadside eateries to ensure that no illicit liquor is sold through such outlets.

Aligarh: The toll in the Aligarh hooch tragedy climbed to 36 on Monday with 11 more deaths being confirmed by the district authorities amid apprehension that it may rise further. Viscera samples of 35 other people, who are suspected to have died after consuming spurious liquor, have been sent for examination to confirm the cause of death, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Bhanu Pratap Kalyani said. Meanwhile, 10 persons allegedly involved directly and indirectly in the trade of illicit liquor were arrested on Monday as raids continued for the third successive day all over the district. Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani told the media that with Monday's arrests, the total number of persons arrested since Friday has reached 30. This includes 11 persons who had been booked on Friday. Of the 12 persons who had been named in three different reports on Friday, now only one person is still eluding the police. Questioning of those arrested is also going on which could lead to more arrests.