Gujarat CM Narendra Modi moots death for hooch criminals

Reacting strongly to the criticism by the Opposition Congress, the Gujarat government on Wednesday announced that it would amend the existing Prohibition law in the state, making it stricter by introducing capital punishment for guilty.

In the past two weeks, more than 150 people lost their lives in Gujarat’s worst hooch tragedy.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the government said once the new law came into force, the guilty could be awarded even death punishment for hooch-related crimes. The law would also have provision for one-year imprisonment for police officials responsible for hooch crimes or any serious offence related to Prohibition, the release said.

It said inquiry commissions appointed to investigate 25 such incidents of the recent past, involving more than 350 criminals, failed to bring the desired results.

According to the release, criminals indulging in hooch business leading to deaths of people will get capital punishment. In any case, punishment will not be less than seven years.