Aurangabad deaths due to hooch: FSL report

PATNA: Contrary to the claims of Aurangabad administration, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) found ethyl alcohol and Lorazepam in the viscera of Vijay Dom and Shiv Kumar Soni, who had died in May after a party at the residence of mukhiya candidate Shalini Devi. The district administration had claimed that the two were victims of food poisoning.

According to the FSL report, a copy of which is with the TOI, Lorazepam, which is a sedative and psychotropic drug, was also found in their blood samples. The FSL investigation also found ethyl alcohol in the blood samples of Raj Kumar Gupta, Vijay Ram, Pramod Ram, Hazari Ram and Durga Ram. Gupta has lost his eyesight.

Vijay and Shiv died on May 3 in Obra village under the same police station in Aurangabad district after consuming liquor, along with the five others, at Shalini’s residence.

Obra police station SHO Harendra Kumar said the house of Shalini, who lost the panchayat elections, was sealed and she along with her husband Deepu Kumar alias Deepak were sent to jail.

The SHO also said no compensation was given to the affected families yet, adding that the process of confiscating the couple’s property had been initiated. Obra block development officer Kumar Shailendra also confirmed that no compensation was granted to the next of kin of the deceased or affected people yet.

Replying to a query, Aurangabad SP Babu Ram said the victims were served cold drinks at Shalini’s house on May 1 and they did not know the drinks were adulterated with intoxicants. So, none of them had been arrested.

DM Kanwal Tanuj said he would have to check the records before confirming whether compensation was granted to the affected families or not.
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