Golabandha Hooch Tragedy;Two official suspended,Probe ordered

Bhubaneswar, Apr 24 (UNI) The Orissa Government today suspended Ganjam District Excise Superintendent and Gopalpur Circle Inspector in the wake of yesterday's hooch tragedy in Golabandh village which claimed nine lives so far.

The two officials were suspended after Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik visited the village along with state Excise Minister Kalandi Behera and Energy Minister S.N.Patra to console the bereaved family members and for an on the spot investigation into the incident The Chief Minister said the Judicial inquiry ordered by the government into the March 19 hooch tragedy in the Ganjam district uner the Commission of Inquiry act would also probe into the Golabandh hooch tragedy.

Meanwhile, official sources said the excise department conducted a series of raids on various liquor vendors in the district and arrested as many as 13 people for their alleged involvement in trading illicit liquor business in the district.

The Chief Minister had already announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10,000 to the next kin of those who died in the liquor tragedy and an equal amount each to the widows of the victims under the Family Benefit Scheme.

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