Kolkata, Feb 11 - The West Bengal Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Saturday filed a charge sheet against 23 accused in the December 2011 hooch tragedy case which claimed 171 lives in South
24-Parganas district.

"The charge sheet naming 23 people as accused and pressed with charges of various offences, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, has been filed before the court today (Saturday). Of the 23, nine are absconding and yet to be arrested," Deputy Inspector General (Operations) CID K. Jayaraman said.

The 66-page charge sheet with a 1,200-page case diary was submitted before Diamond Harbour's Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Soumen Gupta. Noor Islam Sheikh alias Khora Badshah and his wife N. Bibi have been named the prime accused.

A forensic report of 25 litres of a poisonous chemical that was used to make the brew stronger is still awaited.

At least 171 people -- mostly masons, labourers and hawkers -- died after consuming spurious liquor at shanties near Sangrampur railway station of South 24-Parganas district Dec 13-14 last year.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had after the tragedy announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh payable to the families of each of those who died but the same was stayed by the Calcutta High Court Feb 6. (IANS)