Educational institutions remain shut in Gujarat to condemn hooch tragedy

Ahmedabad, July 10 (ANI): Schools and colleges remained closed in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Friday as a mark of protest over the death of around 105 people due to consumption of spurious liquor.

Cases of people dying after consuming spurious liquor were reported on Monday and by Thursday (around105 deaths were reported.

Consumption and sale of liquor is officially banned in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, schools and colleges remained closed for the day on Friday. The call for shutdown of educational institutions was given by the students association National Students Union of India (NSUI) and Youth Congress to protest against the alleged lackadaisical role of police and state administration to nab the culprits.

Authorities deployed security personnel outside educational institutions to avoid any kind of mischief.

The students union demanded that the government should go to the root cause of the entire problem and find out from where this spurious liquor is distilled and sourced to various outlets, usually in slum areas.

"The way more than 100 people have died because of hooch tragedy in Gandhi's Gujarat is really shameful on the part of the state government. Police is supporting the bootleggers because of which poor people are suffering,' said said Manish Doshi, General Secretary, Youth Congress.

"It's been three days since the tragedy took place and the government has done nothing. So taking the matter into consideration and taking social and political responsibility, the Youth Congress and NSUI have called for the bandh so that such incidences is not repeated again," he added.

Illicit liquor, also known as grog or hooch, is a flourishing beverage in India, particularly in states like Gujarat where prohibition is in force.

The illicit liquor is much cheaper as compared to the licensed drinks, which cannot be afforded by most of the people from the poorer sections of society.

In May 2008, at least 180 people had died in Southern Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states due to drinking spurious liquor, considered as one of India's worst bootlegging tragedies. (ANI)