Odisha Govt Likely To Order High-Level Probe Into Hooch Deaths In Bhadrak

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is likely to order a high-level probe into the death of five persons after they allegedly consumed spurious liquor at Nimei Sahi village in Bhadrak district on Monday night.

Briefing the media here on Tuesday, Principal Secretary, Excise, Nikunja Bihari Dhal said he has sent the Excise commissioner to the village where the incident had taken place.

“As decided, a joint probe into the incident will be conducted by the Revenue department, the Health department and the police. After the preliminary investigation, we will recommend the state government to conduct a high-level probe,” he added.

Dhal said the matter has been taken very seriously since the incident took place during the election. “As per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), all liquor shops should remain closed 48 hours before the election. We will check the seal of the liquor bottles to find out from where they were brought,” he said, adding that appropriate action will be taken if the guilty are identified during the preliminary investigation.