Majitha hooch tragedy: Death by negligence

THE hooch tragedy in Punjab’s Majitha block, which has claimed at least 16 lives and left several others battling for survival, is a grim reminder that the lessons from past disasters remain unlearned. The echoes of the 2020 liquor deaths that claimed 121 lives in Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur still haunt Punjab, and yet, the state finds itself again in the grip of a lethal liquor racket. This is not just a case of criminal greed; it is also an indictment of systemic failure. The suspension of the DSP and SHO of Majitha for gross negligence is a small step. But such routine scapegoating masks a deeper rot — an unholy nexus between law enforcement and the illicit liquor trade. How else can one explain the unchecked movement of toxic ethanol, reportedly bought online and diluted into deadly brews, making its way through villages unnoticed?

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s strong words — “These are not deaths, but murders” — must translate into institutional action. Arresting bootleggers is necessary, but insufficient. A comprehensive crackdown on the networks supplying methanol and distributing illicit liquor is essential. Simultaneously, enforcement mechanisms must be reformed and made accountable. Regular audits, community vigilance and intelligence-driven policing are not options — they are imperatives. This tragedy also calls for a public health response. Victims of spurious liquor are often the poorest and most vulnerable. Awareness campaigns, community outreach and accessible addiction rehabilitation programmes are crucial to reducing demand for unsafe, unregulated liquor.

Above all, political will must override short-term optics. The hooch trade thrives not only on poverty and addiction but on protection from those in power. Unless that nexus is broken and accountability enforced at the top, Majitha will not be the last of Punjab’s liquor-linked tragedies.

Editorials