Rautahat, February 9:

Two persons who were taken ill after consuming spurious liquor last week have lost their

eyesight.

According to sources at India’s Raxaul-based Dunker Hospital, Bhoj Raj Yadhav and Gudar Ram Mahara of Gigadia VDC-5 lost their eyesight in the course of treatment.

A local, Panilal Ram, said seven people have been killed and and twenty taken ill so far after consuming the hooch.

Earlier, Fudi Chand Ram and Ram Dev Ram of Birta-5 in Akad Pakad had lost their eyesight.

Sikandar Shah of Gamharia Birta, who was arrested on the charge of selling the hooch, confessed that he had mixed spirit with a liquor produced by Baba Distillery.

Though the local administration shut the distillery after the incident, it is learnt to

have been producing liquor in the night. Locals have accused the administration of protecting the distillery.

Ghana Nanda Bhatta, Superintendent of Police at Rautahat District Police Office,

however, said Baba Distillery was closed, adding that the rumour of it still producing the

liquor was intended to disrupt the police investigation into the case.