Top 5 news at 1pm on Aug 17: Hooch tragedy in Bihar; 4 naxals killed in encounter and more

Thirteen people have died under mysterious circumstances in Gopalganj, Bihar on Tuesday. While the local people suspect consumption of spurious liquor as the cause of the tragedy, police has denied any connection to illicit liquor. Four Naxals, including a ‘commander-rank’ woman cadre, were today gunned down while a jawan was injured in an encounter between security personnel and the ultras in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. More than 25 lakh people are expected to attend the final rites of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), in Sarangpur on Wednesday afternoon. Here are the top 5 stories of the hour. 

1. Bihar hooch tragedy: 13 die in Gopalganj despite ban on liquor

Thirteen people have died under mysterious circumstances in Gopalganj, Bihar on Tuesday. While the local people suspect consumption of spurious liquor as the cause of the tragedy, police has denied any connection to illicit liquor. Over 50 bottles of liquor were seized after family members alleged that the deaths were connected to the consumption of spurious liquor. One liquor trader had also been arrested. However, after further inspection, Bihar police ruled out the possibility of the involvement of spurious liquor.

2. Chhattisgarh: 4 naxals, including a woman gunned down in encounter in Dantewada

Four Naxals, including a ‘commander-rank’ woman cadre, were today gunned down while a jawan was injured in an encounter between security personnel and the ultras in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district. The skirmish took place in the wee hours in the restive Dabba-Kunna hills when the joint team of CRPF, District Reserve Group and STF was out on an anti-Maoist operation, according to Dantewada Superintendent of Police Kamlochan Kashyap.

3. Sarangpur: 25 lakh devotees to attend last rites of BAPS head Pramukh Swami Maharaj

More than 25 lakh people are expected to attend the final rites of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), in Sarangpur on Wednesday afternoon. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had passed away on Saturday at the age of 94 due to old-age illnesses, leading to an outpouring of grief among his followers across the globe. According to BAPS authorities, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s mortal remains would be consigned to flames in the premises of Sarangpur Mandir at 3:00 pm on Wednesday. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had himself selected the spot for his final rites.

4. NCP MLA denies slapping official after video goes viral

A video purportedly showing NCP MLA from Karjat, Suresh Lad allegedly slapping a deputy collector in Maharashtra’s Raigad district has gone viral on social media, even as the legislator denied having assaulted the official. The Nationalist Congress Party MLA was caught on camera allegedly slapping Deputy Collector (land acquisition) Abhay Kargutkar, reportedly after a disagreement over compensation to farmers for land acquisition.

5. Dawood Ibrahim may attend nephew's wedding in Mumbai via Skype

Dawood Ibrahim's nephew Alishah Parkar will tie the knot in the megapolis on Wednesday even as the Mumbai Police and other security agencies are going to keep a close watch on the event, which is likely to be attended by the mob boss via Skype. Alishah, son of Dawood's late sister Hasina Parkar, will marry Aisha Nagani, daughter of a city-based businessman at a hotel here. Police sources said Dawood is likely to attend the function via 'Skype'.