Illicit liquor sale banned in City:

Hyderabad, Aug 20 : Taking a serious view on deaths occurred due to consumption of illicit liquor in the City, the District Collector on Thursday issued a ban order on the sale of illicit liquor for seven days.

The Collector asked the staff of the Excise Department to leave no stone unturned to implement a complete ban on illicit liquor sale in the city.

He held a meeting with the officials concerned in this regard on Thursday. The Collector directed district officials to impose the ban strictly.

He has directed the authorities, including officials of the Police and Revenue departments, to keep strict vigil on those violating the ban order and engaging in the sale or manufacture of arrack or illicit liquor.

All such persons should be arrested under the Goonda Act, he said.

It may be recalled that the number of those who have died after consuming illicit liquor in Rajendranagar, Moosapet, Balanagar and Vambay Colony in Mehdipatnam had risen to seven.

Several people who had fallen ill were admitted to various hospitals in the city, including a few in Osmania General Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Revenue and Excise officials conducted raids in different parts of the Capital on Thursday in order to bust the gang selling illicit liquor in the city.