Four Champaran hooch survivors lose eyesight

Deorwa/Telpur/Manguraha (West Champaran): Beyond the 16 suspicious deaths, the hooch tragedy afflicting about half a dozen villages in this Deoraj region of West Champaran over the past week has not spared even survivors. At least four who escaped death after admittedly consuming illicit liquor have lost their eyesight.

They are Ijhar Alam of Telpur, Mumtaz Mian from Deorwa and Sukhal Mian and Noor Alam Khan of Manguraha.

Sitting on a charpoy, his wife Soni Khatoon holding his hand, Ijhar Alam, a 40-year-old mutton seller and father of six, stared wide-eyed in a dingy room at his Telpur home. “I do not normally drink,” he opened in an exculpatory low tone, his voice soon betraying deep anguish. “That day, I went and ‘taniye pee leni Ram Briksh ke gharey’ (drank a little at Ram Briksh’s place),” he cups his palm to emphasise how ‘little’ alcohol he had imbibed.

“After coming home, I suffered cramps in my tummy and got medicines. But, it didn’t help. I lost consciousness and when I gained sense, I could not see anything,” Ijhar said. “I took him for treatment (in a private clinic),” Soni, still clutching her husand’s hand, says. This reporter waves his palm hoping that the victim is not blinded. But it is not a blur. “I cannot see any movement,” he answers in pain.

Ijhar was referred to the Government Medical College (GMCH) at Bettiah by a private doctor. “He was admitted but left ‘against medical advice’,” GMCH superintendent Dr Pramod K Tiwary said. A cursory look at his admission slip showed a mention of abdominal pain and vomiting. Pathological reports mentioned ‘Grade 1 fatty liver’.

A little ahead at Deorwa village, Lal Bibi -- the widow of last week’s hooch victim Bikau Mian, too, recalled her husband losing vision before his ‘inteqal’ (death) on Friday. “Hooch is openly sold here and my husband had come home after drinking. He soon fell ill,” she recalled.

“My husband had come home after drinking and he had lost his vision,” Saiful Nesa, the widow of Jhulpan Mian, another hooch victim from Deorwa, told TOI.

“Apart from hooch joints, people gather in a village orchard here to smoke weed, drink and gamble,” Sabina Khatoon, former panchayat samiti member, said. “Bahu-beti ka chalna muskil kar diya hai nasheri-juariyon ne (gamblers and drunks have made it difficult for women to pass by). How is this possible without the police knowing?,” she said.

Sabina then mentions Mumtaz Mian, admitted in a nursing home at Bettiah. It was on Mumtaz’s cousin Bhola’s admissions about consuming liquor that the police lodged a case in the hooch tragedy leading to action against the hooch mafia network and errant cops. “After gaining consciousness, Mumtaz has had no vision,” Sabina said. “The patient was discharged this morning,” Dr Anjani Kumar said, adding that Mumtaz had been under police custody.

A few kilometres further, TOI learnt of two more hooch survivors having lost their eyesight at Manguraha. Sukhal Mian (55) was able to come out with assistance, his wife Halima sobbing behind him. “I had gone to Hardia (neighbouring village) and had a glass (of hooch) at Lakshman’s (hooch peddler) place. I had only one glass for Rs50. ‘Laukal band ho gayil (my eyesight was gone),” Sukhal said, undecided whether it is the hooch or god’s wrath. “Daaru se bhayil ki Allah aankh le lelan,” he said. A medical team from Ramnagar PHC arrives. Dr Aishwariya Chaubey, a GP, speaks to Sukhal. “He needs to see an ophthalmologist,” the physician advised Sukhal.

Noor Alam Khan, another hooch survivor from Manguraha, who too lost his vision, left for specialised treatment at Parwanipur in Nepal on Sunday. “He too had drunk liquor at Hardia and we were about to go to Ramnagar together to see a doctor. But, Noor decided to go to Nepal instead. His in-laws live at Jaganathpur (near Birgunj),” Sukhal said. Parwanipur in Nepal is famous for eye treatment.

By late evening, Mumtaz’s folks got worried for he had not reached home though discharged from the clinic early morning. “He was taken by the police and locked in the Bettiah Town PS the whole day,” Ranjan, a family friend and lawyer told TOI late Sunday evening. “After much persuasion, Mumtaz is now being taken to the GMCH. He has lost his eyesight,” the lawyer said.