Seven die after consuming illicit liquor in Ahmedabad

Seven persons died and five others were hospitalised in critical condition on Tuesday after they consumed alleged illicit liquor in Majoor Gam area here, police said.

The incident has sparked off protests in the area with women taking to the streets demanding government and police to crackdown on all illegal liquor dens in the state.

The incident took place early morning when some people of the Majoor Gam area after consuming spurious liquor started vomiting and complained of stomach ache. They were rushed to city's VS Hospital where first death occurred around 9 am.

Five are still in critical condition out of which two are in LG hospital and the rest are in VS Hospital, they said.

Those who have died include Bhavan Solanki, Kanti Ahir, Arvind Solanki, Manilal Purbia, Valji Valera, Jeshbhai Marvadi and Pradeep Solanki.

"Seven people are dead and five are undergoing treatment," police officials said. Police did a mild lathicharge to control women protesting against the incident in large number in Majoor Gam locality.

"The people whose relatives have died are protesting but the situation is under control," Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Badshah said.

The protesters told Gujarat Assembly's Leader of Opposition, Shaktishin Gohil that they had many times complained against illicit liquor dens in their area to the police. However the police did not take any action, they alleged.

Gohil who visited the Majoor Gam and VS Hospital said that this is a very sad incident. "Women there said that they have many times told police to take action against illegal liquor dens but they did not do it," he said.