GUJARAT (INDIA): DEATH PENALTY INTRODUCED FOR TOXIC ALCOHOL

The illegal manufacture and sale of toxic alcohol in the western Indian state of Gujarat will now be punishable by death.
The governor of the state, Kamala Beniwal, has given her assent to the new law after keeping it on hold for more than two years.
Gujarat has witnessed many incidents of people dying after consuming poison alcohol.
The government says the law will deter those involved in the illegal trade.
Gujarat is the only state in India where alcohol is totally prohibited by law.
The state legislative assembly passed the new stringent bill after scores of people died in one incident in 2009. But the governor refused to sign it into law.
Correspondents say she wanted the provision of the death penalty to be dropped from the bill, but the state government did not agree.
It was then referred to the central government for "legal opinion", and the governor gave her approval only after getting the nod from Delhi.
The law will also allow the authorities to impound and auction vehicles used for transporting contraband.