In the rural heartland of Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, at least seven people have died and 30 others remain hospitalized after consuming spurious liquor during a family gathering in Kharakadi village. The incident unfolded on August 18, escalating rapidly over the following days as the death toll climbed. Police have detained 12 suspects linked to the distribution of counterfeit liquor, which was sold under the guise of a well-known Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand. An FIR has been filed against 21 individuals, marking a significant escalation in the crackdown on illegal alcohol trade. The tragic event took place at a farm gathering in the Ghogha taluka, where a group reportedly consumed the harmful substance. According to Bhavnagar range inspector general of police R.V. Asari, the liquor was sourced from Madhya Pradesh, with authorities recovering approximately 90 percent of the illegal stock involved in the smuggling operation. Forensic teams have collected samples from the suspected adulteration site in Ambliwadi, Vartej, to determine the exact composition of the toxic mixture. This latest tragedy echoes previous incidents that have shaken the state. In July 2022, Bhavnagar and its neighboring town Botad became the epicenter of a deadly hooch crisis, resulting in the deaths of 42 people. At that time, bootleggers were found to have mixed industrial methyl alcohol with stolen liquor, selling it at a low price to daily wage workers unable to afford legal alcohol. Forensic analysis confirmed that the victims had ingested methanol, leading to widespread condemnation and calls for stricter regulation. The state’s prohibition policies, established since 1960 and reinforced by a 2017 legal amendment, have long been a cornerstone of Gujarat’s social policy. However, critics argue these measures have inadvertently fueled the very problem they aim to prevent. By banning the production, sale, and possession of alcohol, the law has driven the market underground, creating fertile ground for illegal operations. Bootleggers now smuggle liquor and raw alcohol from states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Daman, while local producers mix dangerous substances such as industrial methanol to dilute their products and increase profit margins. The demand for cheap alcohol persists among the working class, who often lack both the means and legal access to branded liquor. This economic reality sustains a thriving black market, with reports indicating that over 250,000 people have been arrested under the Prohibition Act in the past 19 months alone. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) further underscores the magnitude of the issue, showing that Gujarat consistently leads the nation in cases related to prohibition and liquor laws, with over 310,000 cases registered in 2022, a sharp rise from the previous year. Political figures, including former Congress leader and Bhavnagar ex-MP Shaktisinh Gohil, have raised concerns about the handling of the first death in the current incident. He claimed that the body was sent to Ujjain without a post-mortem, raising questions about transparency and accountability. Some victims reportedly suffered permanent eye damage, highlighting the severe consequences of consuming substandard liquor. As investigations continue, the focus remains on dismantling the networks responsible for distributing hazardous substances. With the State Monitoring Cell taking charge of the probe, authorities are determined to trace the origins of the tainted product and hold perpetrators accountable. Yet, the recurring nature of these tragedies underscores the urgent need for systemic reform, ensuring that the prohibition model does not perpetuate harm rather than curb it. The challenge lies not just in enforcing existing laws but in addressing the root causes that sustain this illicit industry.
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