New Delhi: The death toll resulting from the suspected consumption of spurious liquor in Punjab's Sangrur district has climbed to 14, with six additional fatalities reported on Friday, officials said. Authorities have confirmed the arrest of two more individuals in connection with the incident, bringing the total number of arrests to six.
Earlier on Thursday, police had recovered ethanol and raw material used for making alcohol. "Fourteen people have died in this incident so far. We have made two fresh arrests in the case. Investigations are on and culprits will not be spared", Deputy Inspector General of Police, Harcharan Singh Bhullar told PTI on Friday.
The sale of spurious liquor, suspected to be a tactic to influence voters ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, has led to loss of lives in Punjab's Sangrur district, said Police. The situation intensified when five individuals lost their lives on Wednesday due to the consumption of the toxic substance, with several others hospitalised.
Tragically, the death toll continued to rise, with three more fatalities reported at Patiala's Rajindra Hospital the following day. By late Thursday night, two additional deaths were recorded, followed by four more on Friday morning, bringing the total casualties to 14, as per PTI.
Officials have noted that the majority of the fatalities occurred in various villages under the Dirba block of Sangrur, with additional deaths reported from Sunam.
Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal Slam Punjab Govt Over Sangrur Hooch Tragedy
Punjab Finance and Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who represents the Dirba assembly constituency where the Gujran village is located, faced criticism from the opposition regarding the deaths in his area. In response, Minister Cheema expressed his condolences on Thursday and affirmed that those accountable for the tragedy would face consequences.
The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal have slammed the AAP government following the Sangrur hooch tragedy. On Thursday, Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla announced the arrest of a fourth individual, identified as Patiala-resident Harmanpreet Singh, in connection with the incident.
Earlier recovery by the police included 200 liters of ethanol, 156 bottles of alcohol, 130 bottles labeled as suspected spurious liquor, 80 unlabeled bottles of spurious liquor, 4,500 empty bottles, and a bottling machine etc.
A case has been registered under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and the Excise Act, with an ongoing investigation into the Sangrur Hooch tragedy. In response to the incident, the district administration has established a five-member committee tasked with conducting a thorough inquiry. Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal announced on Wednesday that the committee has been given 72 hours to submit its findings. A survey was also being conducted in affected villages to find out if anyone else reported symptoms of deterioration in health.
Multiple teams comprising health officials, Anganwadi workers, police, revenue, and rural development officials are currently conducting a comprehensive door-to-door survey in the affected areas. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has condemned the Sangrur hooch tragedy, asserting that it reflects the deteriorating situation not only in Punjab but also in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's home district of Sangrur.
Badal has called for a judicial probe into the incident to ascertain accountability. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa has also criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his failure to fix responsibility for the tragedy and seek the resignation of Harpal Cheema.