10 more die after 'consuming illicit liquor' in Bihar, toll rises to 35
Patna (PTI): Ten more people died after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Bihar's Siwan and Saran districts, taking the toll in the hooch tragedy to 35, an official said on Friday.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Saran range, Nilesh Kumar said on Friday that while Siwan accounted for 28 fatalities, seven deaths have been reported from Saran.
"As many as 28 people in Maghar and Auriya panchayats in Siwan district have so far died after consuming suspected illicit liquor. Seven people in Ibrahimpur area under the jurisdiction of Mashrakh police station in Saran district also died after consuming suspected spurious liquor", the DIG told PTI on Friday.
The suspected hooch tragedy has triggered a political blame game with opposition parties questioning the efficacy of the ban on sale and consumption of liquor, imposed by the Nitish Kumar government more than eight years ago. Locals in both districts claimed that people lost their lives after "consuming illicit liquor".
On the condition of anonymity local police officials claimed that more than 25 people from both districts are still battling for their lives at different hospitals in Siwan, Saran and Patna districts.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examinations and the exact cause of the incident can only be known after receiving the autopsy reports, the DIG said. Officials have so far not disclosed the identity of the deceased and those under treatment.
Director General of Police Alok Raj on Thursday told PTI Video, "Two special investigating teams have also been set up in the aftermath of the incident. The one set up at the local level will be looking into the criminality involved in the latest episode. Another SIT has been set up by the Department of Prohibition in Patna which will carry out a comprehensive study of all such incidents that have taken place in the recent past, based upon which a plan of action will be drawn out".
Around 15 people have been arrested so far by the police in connection with incidents in both districts. The administrations of both districts have suspended three chowkidars of Maghar, Auriya and Ibrahimpur areas following the incident. Another senior police officer said show cause notices have been issued to at least five police personnel.
On Thursday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inquired about the progress of the investigation into the suspected hooch deaths in Siwan and Saran. The CM directed the DGP to personally monitor the situation and ensure that "strict action is taken against those involved in the crime".
The CM also directed Department of Prohibition and Excise Secretary Vinod Singh Gunjiyal and the Bihar Police ADG (Prohibition) to personally visit the areas where the incident took place and thoroughly investigate the matter.
Commenting on the incident, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, on Friday in a post on X wrote, "Bihar CM Nitish Kumar should be blamed for the latest hooch deaths in the state. It's a mass murder.…. Liquor ban is an example of Nitish Kumar-led government's institutional corruption. If liquor ban has been implemented then it is the government's responsibility to implement it efficiently.
"But it’s not happening…. liquor ban is super flop in Bihar today. Due to the unholy nexus between ruling politicians-police and liquor mafia, a black market of illegal liquor, worth more than Rs 30,000 crore has flourished in Bihar... According to state government records, number of people who died due to consumption of spurious liquor is more than 300. Who is their killer ?"
Reacting to the incident, Bihar BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal told reporters on Friday that all those behind the incident will be nabbed very soon.
"The incident is very tragic…all those who are behind the incident will be nabbed very soon. The NDA government in the state is committed to enforce the liquor ban effectively in the state. Till the time liquor was sold in Bihar, a lot of crimes were reported taking place, especially against women.
"Those who are seeking removal of liquor ban in the state, have nexus with the liquor mafia ... We (our government) can't think of generating revenue and earning money after lifting the liquor ban as it is being demanded by a section of leaders... ", Jaiswal said.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
