Methanol sourced from online platforms: Cops

The arrest of 10 individuals, including kingpin identified as Sahib Singh, in connection with the death of 21 people who consumed spurious alcohol in Majitha has revealed the modus operandi of the accused, who used to source methanol in bulk from various places, including Ludhiana and Delhi, via online platforms, a top police officer said on Tuesday.

- Surjit Singh and Karam Prakash

AMRITSAR/PATIALA: The arrest of 10 individuals, including kingpin identified as Sahib Singh, in connection with the death of 21 people who consumed spurious alcohol in Majitha has revealed the modus operandi of the accused, who used to source methanol in bulk from various places, including Ludhiana and Delhi, via online platforms, a top police officer said on Tuesday.

Punjab Police and excise officials on Tuesday seized 600 litres of methanol suspected to be connected to the spurious liquor tragedy in Amritsar. The seized methanol is suspected to have direct links to the Amritsar incident, said Patiala senior superintendent of police Varun Sharma.

Police officials informed that methyl alcohol or methanol, popularly known as wood spirit, is used in making spurious liquor instead of extra neutral alcohol (ENA).

Methanol is a light, colourless organic chemical compound which is poisonous when ingested and is illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, which is the normal consumable alcohol.