21 die after drinking spurious liquor in Punjab's Amritsar; 10 held; DSP, SHO suspended

At least 21 people, mostly daily wagers, died and 10 others were hospitalised after allegedly drinking spurious liquor in Punjab’s Amritsar district, officials said on Tuesday.

- STATE TIMES NEWS

Ten people, including the alleged kingpin, were arrested while Deputy Superintendent of Police (Majitha) Amolak Singh and Station House Officer of Majitha police station Avtar Singh were suspended for negligence, police said.

The AAP government drew flak for the tragedy, with the opposition demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The state government said most of the culprits have been arrested and vowed to ensure the strictest punishment for them.

"These are not deaths, these are murders," said Chief Minister Mann, who visited the affected villages and met the families of the victims.

A police probe revealed that methanola chemical used in industrial products was procured in bulk online to prepare the toxic brew.

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.

Two separate cases at police stations Majitha and Kathunangal in Amritsar Rural have been registered under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the Excise Act and the SC/ST Act.

The deaths were reported in Bhangali, Patalpuri, Marari Kalan, Talwandi Khumman, Karnala, Bhangwan and Therewal villages on Monday night, said officials.