GUWAHATI, Feb 22 - Two assistant inspectors of Excise have been placed under suspension with immediate effect and a high-level inquiry team has been rushed to Golaghat following the hooch tragedy that claimed several lives in a tea garden area adjacent to the district headquarters town.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, while expressing concern over the death of people, has instituted a one-person inquiry team headed by Upper Assam Division Commissioner Julie Sonowal.
Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya told The Assam Tribune that a separate four-member probe team headed by additional commissioner Sanjib Medhi has been sent to Golaghat and asked to submit a report within three days.
�The incident is really very unfortunate. But what we have come to know so far is that there is no manufacturing unit inside the garden. It is not clear from where the liquor came,� the minister said, adding that he spoke to the deputy commissioner who had visited the garden. Suklabaidya said an anti-liquor campaign was recently conducted by the Excise Department in association with the district administration at the Halmira TE and its adjoining villages. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has asked minister Topon Kr Gogoi, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and MLA Mrinal Saikia to rush to the spot.