Assam bans molasses following hooch tragedy which killed 165 people

GUWAHATI: With spurious liquor killing 165 people in two districts of Jorhat and Golaghat in Assam, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has ordered ban on molasses in the state.

Molasses is an important component in making "sulai", an intoxicating drink widely consumed in the tea garden areas of Assam.

Chairing a high level meeting in the aftermath of the state’s gravest hooch tragedy, Sonowal asked State Chief Secretary Alak Kumar to ban molasses in the state.


Sonowal also asked Chief Secretary to direct the Deputy Commissioners to generate awareness in all the tea gardens and their periphery areas by conducting awareness meetings so that people can be made aware of the evils of consuming sulai. The meeting also decided to extend government help for looking after all children who lost their parent or parents in hooch tragedy under Juvenile Justice Act.