Diamond Harbour (WB), Jan 16: Noor Islam Fakir alias Khonda Badshah, the prime accused in West Bengal's worst-ever hooch tragedy that claimed 172 lives, today surrendered before a court here, police said.
Hunted by CID for about a month after the incident at Sangrampur in South 24-Parganas district on December 13, Khonda Badshah (48) surrendered before the sub-divisional court this morning.
Earlier on December 24, CID sleuths arrested the prime accused's first wife Shakeela Bibi and their close associates Bakreswar Mondal alias Bakkar and Chhotu from Bidyadharpara in Canning area of the same district.
Khonda Badshah's second wife Angoora Bibi, also an accused, is still absconding.
The victims of the hooch tragedy were mostly masons, small farmers, labourers and hawkers.
They started throwing up and collapsing after they consumed the illicit liquor from its dens near Sangrampur Railway Station.
