38 Dead From Spurious Liquor In Punjab, CM Amarinder Singh Orders High-Level Probe; 8 Arrested So Far

Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the suspected toxic liquor deaths. The Punjab police have arrested 8 people in connection with the deaths.

Photo/PTI

New Delhi:  Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered a high-level probe after thirty-two people died in Punjab's three districts allegedly after drinking spurious liquor. The deaths took place in Punjab's Amritsar, Batala, and Tarn Taran districts since Wednesday night, an official statement said as mentioned by PTI. The senior Congress leader later tweeted that the guilty will not be spared. Eight accused have been arrested in the case.

I have ordered a magisterial enquiry into suspected spurious liquor deaths in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran. Commissioner, Jalandhar Division will conduct the enquiry and coordinate with concerned SSPs and other officers. Anyone found guilty will not be spared.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) July 31, 2020

The death toll increased to 38 by Friday night. While 13 people died in Tarn Taran, 11 died in Amritsar and eight in Batala. Eight people have been arrested so far in connection with the deaths. The police have arrested Balwinder Kaur, a resident of Muchhal village, under Section 304 of the IPC (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and under provisions of the Excise Act, said the DGP. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said the first five fatalities were reported from Mucchal and Tangra villages in Amritsar's Tarsikka on the night of July 29. On Friday, five people died in Batala, taking the death toll in the city to seven, said Gupta, adding that four fatalities were reported from Tarn Taran. Singh has the directed police to launch a search operation to crack down on any illegal liquor manufacturing unit operating in Punjab. The inquiry will be conducted by the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner along with the Punjab Joint Excise and Taxation Commissioner and the SP (Investigation) in the concerned districts. Dinkar Gupta said a huge quantity of toxic liquor, drums, storage cans, etc have been recovered from the accused and the same has been sent for chemical analysis to check for constituents of the illegal liquor, a government statement said, adding, more arrests are likely.