Few answers in Majitha where hooch took 27 men, as life goes on
Two months have passed since the devastating hooch tragedy in Majitha, where 27 hardworking men lost their lives after consuming toxic liquor. The initial shock and grief have given way to a sense of normalcy, as the memory of the departed gradually fades and life seemingly moves on.
The government has fulfilled its promises, providing Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased and taking strict action against the accused, who remain in jail. However, as the spotlight shifts to newer tragedies and news, the Majitha incident is slowly being forgotten.
The question remains: has enough been done to prevent such tragedies in the future? Will the families of the victims find justice, or will the memories of their loved ones be reduced to a mere footnote in history? As life returns to normal, it’s essential to reflect on the circumstances that led to this tragedy and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
In the scorching heat of Punjab’s villages, where sweat-drenched laborers toil day and night, a desperate quest for a good night’s sleep has led many down a deadly path. The verse of Naxalite-Dalit poet Lal Singh Dil echoes in their minds: “What’s the point, my friend, if you don’t even get enough alcohol to relish your meal?" For many, this is not about indulgence but survival – a fleeting escape from the gruelling labour that defines their lives.
The recent tragedy in Majitha, where 27 hardworking men lost their lives after consuming toxic liquor, is a grim reminder of the risks these labourers take. In 2020, a similar incident claimed the lives of 121 men — 92 in Tarn Taran, 15 in Amritsar and 14 in Gurdaspur. These men weren’t chronic alcoholics; medically, they would be defined as functional drinkers, working tirelessly by day and spending a portion of their hard-earned wages on liquor to find solace in sleep.
When asked why they don’t buy from government-authorised ‘thekas’, the answer is unanimous: it’s too expensive. “The bottle from the theka costs at least Rs 350, and there are chances that it may be adulterated," said a resident of Thriewal village, which had recently lost four lives to ‘daru’. The cheaper alternative, a pouch of liquor (made from ethanol), is readily available for just Rs 30 to Rs 50, but at what cost?
In a world where time is scarce, the convenience of a ‘lifafa’ (pouch of alcohol) is hard to resist. “Making daru from jaggery is a time-consuming process that requires two to three weeks. In the fast-paced world now, ‘lifafa’ is more convenient," explained an elderly man. The women, however, are increasingly concerned about the risks their men take. “At least they would stay alive," said a woman in the neighborhood, referring to the safer option of buying from ‘theka’, despite its higher cost.
The tragedy has left many questioning the trade-off between a good night’s sleep and the risk of death. As the women of these villages plead with their men to opt for the safer, more expensive liquor, one thing is clear: the pursuit of a fleeting escape should not cost them their lives. The question remains: how long will this deadly cycle continue, and what will it take to break it?
At the entrance of the street that leads to the house of Karnail Singh in Thriewal, who also died after drinking the poisonous alcohol, three men are keenly listening to a speech by CM Bhagwant Mann regarding his action against SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Majithia happens to be the former MLA from the constituency of which Thriewal is a part. Presently, his wife is the MLA. A sister-in-law of Ninder Kaur, who was arrested for selling toxic alcohol, boasts, “Our family has 32 votes, and we all go together." While blaming local politics for Ninder Kaur’s arrest, she questions, “Has the sale of ‘golis’ stopped? Our family was made the scapegoat. In the next election, we’ll see which side we need to stand on."
The boastful sister-in-law is not wrong, as the people accused in the 2020 Tarn Taran hooch tragedy are now part of the Aam Aadmi Party. Rashpal Singh, the prime accused in the incident, has since become Shallu Shah Ramzan Qadri.
As the patron of the ‘dera’ he has set up in Dhotian village of Tarn Taran, he assumed the role of its head, adopting the suffixes Shah Ramzan Qadri, commonly associated with Sufi sects. His nickname is Shallu.
Other ‘Majaurs’ of similar deras also change their names to appeal to their clientele, a practice that seems to be effective in building a connection with their followers. The Dera helps him maintain relevance in local politics, providing a platform for influence and connection with the community.
Since their infamy, these men have only risen to power. Rashpal’s brother Gurpal (Gurpal Shah Ramzan Qadri), named as a co-accused in the case, has since been elected panchayat member. Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was earlier last week scheduled to attend the mela organised at the ‘dera’. His PA attended the event on his behalf and later people were told that the minister could not attend as a cabinet meeting had come up.
Amritsar