Celebrations turned sour: Death toll from toxic liquor rises to 55 in TM Khan

Police officials lay blame on each other, DSP accused of aiding suspect escape

HYDERABAD:

The death toll from consumption of toxic liquor has reportedly increased to 55 in Tando Muhammad (TM) Khan district where 29 people killed by the poisoned drink were laid to rest on Wednesday.

The police have, however, confirmed 45 deaths so far, besides 32 other people who are under treatment in the hospitals. On Tuesday, a total of 122 people fell victim to the tainted liquor allegedly sold by Ali Nawaz Panhwar, the prime suspect in the FIR who has yet to be arrested.

According to TM Khan deputy commissioner Agha Abdul Raheem, the post-mortem of 22 deceased persons has been done while the families of the remaining victims refused the autopsy.



A majority of the victims belonged to the Hindu community and were gearing up to celebrate the festival of Holi on Wednesday. Their celebrations turned sour, however, when more than a 100 people suffered fatal repercussions of illicit moonshine.

The police and excise authorities claimed to have started a province-wide crackdown against the sale of moonshine liquor. "We have decided to wipe out the business of katchi sharab [moonshine]," said Sindh Excise Minister Gianchand Essrani at a press conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The operation will be carried out jointly by the police and excise departments, he added. Responding to a query about forming judicial commission to probe the TM Khan incident, Essrani said he supports the idea but stopped short of recommending a commission.

The minister held the society equally responsible for the deaths because the spurious liquor is prepared and sold openly in the neighbourhoods. He announced Rs200,000 compensation, on behalf of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, for each of the deceased person.

The TM Khan police have lodged an FIR nominating Panhwar, Crime Investigation Agency in-charge sub-inspector Ghulam Shabbir Dalwani, Shafi Dalwani, Hakim Halepoto, Shaukat Ali, Abdul Rehman and three others. They have been booked under sections 337 and 316 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which are punishable with a maximum of 25 years imprisonment.



Underscoring the inadequate punishment for the crime that involves death, the minister said he will soon call a consultative meeting with the stakeholders for an amendment in the law.

At a separate press conference, Sindh IG AD Khwaja said, "Let met concede the police are also part of the problem". But, like Essrani, he also blamed the society and the people who drink moonshine liquor. "We will close four liquor dens but a fifth one will be opened somewhere," he said urging the people to play their part.

Police 'collusion'

The suspended SSP of TM Khan, Nasim Ara, has alleged that DSP Khalid Rustamani helped the liquor seller escape after deaths caused by moonshine began to be reported on Monday night. She had sent a police team to arrest him but the DSP ordered the team to come back. The police sources claim that a call data record of the cellphone conversation between Rustamani and Panhwar, the prime suspect, is also available.

Panhwar is said to be a local leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party but the party now dissociates itself with him. Meanwhile, IG Khwaja also defended the DSP as a 'reputedly upright officer'. "He was posted there just two days ago on the recommendation of Hyderabad DIG ... doesn't appeal to logic that he will conspire against her [SSP Ara]," Khwaja said in a text message to The Express Tribune.

Poisonous alcohol kills 40 ahead of Holi

Khwaja did go on to accuse Ara for being responsible for the incident. "I spoke to TM Khan deputy commissioner and a local MPA. They all believe she is at fault."

Rustamani was transferred from TM Khan in 2015 because Ara had reportedly complained about his alleged connections with criminal elements. Despite her objection Khwaja, who also hails from TM Khan district, posted Rustamani in the district again soon after taking charge as the provincial police chief.

In a petition on illegal occupation of a 20-acre school land in Badin district, the Sindh High Court ordered in December 2014, the DSP and his brother, Inspector Salahuddin Rustamani, to hand over the land back to the school. The two brothers submitted in writing that the ground had remained in their possession and had promised to hand it back to the school.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2016.