With the death of six more persons, the toll in a suspected case of poisoning linked to the consumption of hooch has reached 18 in Haryana, as per officials on Friday. While 10 casualties occurred in Yamunanagar district, two deaths were reported in the neighbouring Ambala region, reported news agency PTI. Seven people have been arrested in the case.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), have slammed the Manohar Lal Khattar government for its failure to prevent such tragedies, citing a lack of lessons learned from past incidents.
Three more fatalities were reported from Yamunanagar on Friday, according to officials. The incidents have primarily occurred in Mandebari, Panjeto Ka Majra, Phoosgarh, and Saran villages of Yamunanagar.
Police revealed that the two individuals who succumbed in Ambala on Thursday were migrant laborers from Uttar Pradesh. They had consumed the suspected counterfeit liquor, illicitly produced in Ambala district, reported PTI. The duo resided in a rented house in an Ambala village and worked at a local factory. When their health deteriorated, they were admitted to Mullana Medical College, where they passed away on Friday, as confirmed by a police official from Ambala.
Authorities in Ambala said that approximately 200 boxes of counterfeit liquor were manufactured in an abandoned old factory and supplied to some of the arrested suspects in Yamunanagar. They further reported the seizure of 14 empty drums and materials used for producing the illicit liquor at the site.
Additional Superintendent of Police Himadri Kaushik said, "16 people have died in this incident. We have arrested 7 people in connection with this case and are on police remand. We will investigate more about this...we are also going to various villages and requesting people not to consume such liquor."
Ambala police are actively investigating the timeline of the liquor production and identifying those involved in its manufacturing process. Meanwhile, Yamunanagar Police has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to delve into the matter and has already arrested seven individuals. Two others have been apprehended in Ambala for their alleged involvement in the illegal liquor production, as stated by Mullana Station House Officer (SHO) Surender on Thursday. These individuals supplied the liquor to Yamunanagar, he added.