Editor's Pick: Hooch tragedy claims several lives in dry Bihar

Six villagers died in a suspected hooch tragedy in Saran district of Bihar – where liquor has been banned since April 5, 2016 – the officials said on Wednesday. However, villagers informed mediapersons that at least 20 people have died. According to family members of victims, they had gone to the Doyila village market under the Ishuapur block in Chhapra and consumed liquor on Monday night. The family members blocked the State Highway near Hanuman chowk in Chhapra, burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the district administration, demanding action against those responsible and compensation for the deaths. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar blamed the Opposition BJP leaders when they raised the issue during the State Assembly proceedings. The Opposition members subsequently walked out of the House. Samrat Chaudhary, the BJP Leader of the party in the State Council, said that Mr. Kumar was responsible for the deaths. Protesting BJP legislators blamed the “nexus between police and illicit liquor traders” for the deaths. “I’ll even appeal to the family members of those who died in the hooch tragedy to file FIRs against Nitish Kumar,” Mr. Choudhary said. Prohibition was Mr. Kumar’s big promise during his campaign for the 2015 Assembly elections in the State when he contested, and eventually won. He delivered on his promise after he won the election, but the problem of spurious liquor has persisted ever since. Over 3.5 lakh people have been arrested and over seven lakh litres of illegal liquor seized after the State government implemented the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here. The Hindu’s Editorials Warning sign: On a fresh India-China faceoff An energy conundrum: On India betting big on solar power The Hindu Daily News Quiz The first trial (uncrewed flight) for Gaganyaan is being planned for the end of 2023 or early 2024. This will be followed by sending a humanoid and then with the crew onboard. What is the humanoid called? Gaganmitra Akashmitra Vyommitra Vaayumitra To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 15 DECEMBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Dear reader, We have now made it easier for you to manage your The Hindu newsletter subscriptions in one place! 1. Visit [The Hindu newsletters page]( 2. Click MANAGE tab and then click LOGIN / SIGN UP 3. If you don’t have an account with The Hindu, please click SIGN UP OR If you already have an account with The Hindu with this email ID, please login using the email ID Hooch tragedy claims several lives in dry Bihar Six villagers died in a [suspected hooch tragedy]( in Saran district of Bihar – where liquor has been banned since April 5, 2016 – the officials said on Wednesday. However, villagers informed mediapersons that at least 20 people have died. According to family members of victims, they had gone to the Doyila village market under the Ishuapur block in Chhapra and consumed liquor on Monday night. The family members blocked the State Highway near Hanuman chowk in Chhapra, burnt tyres and shouted slogans against the district administration, demanding action against those responsible and compensation for the deaths. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar blamed the Opposition BJP leaders when they raised the issue during the State Assembly proceedings. The Opposition members subsequently walked out of the House. Samrat Chaudhary, the BJP Leader of the party in the State Council, said that Mr. Kumar was responsible for the deaths. Protesting BJP legislators blamed the “nexus between police and illicit liquor traders” for the deaths. “I’ll even appeal to the family members of those who died in the hooch tragedy to file FIRs against Nitish Kumar,” Mr. Choudhary said. Prohibition was Mr. Kumar’s big promise during his campaign for the 2015 Assembly elections in the State when he contested, and eventually won. He delivered on his promise after he won the election, but the problem of spurious liquor has persisted ever since. Over 3.5 lakh people have been arrested and over seven lakh litres of illegal liquor seized after the State government implemented the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. [Click here.]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Warning sign: On a fresh India-China faceoff]( [Arrow][An energy conundrum: On India betting big on solar power]( [Â]( The Hindu Daily News Quiz The first trial (uncrewed flight) for Gaganyaan is being planned for the end of 2023 or early 2024. This will be followed by sending a humanoid and then with the crew onboard. What is the humanoid called? - Gaganmitra - Akashmitra - Vyommitra - Vaayumitra To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here](. Interested in daily updates from Tamil Nadu? 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