PTI
CHANDIGARH, May 14: At least 14 people have died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in five villages of Punjab’s Amritsar district, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The tragedy has also left six others hospitalised with serious health complications.
The fatalities were reported from the villages of Bhangali, Patalpuri, Marari Kalan, Therewal, and Talwandi Ghuman.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney confirmed the deaths and said that Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh had visited the affected areas to assess the situation on the ground.
Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the case. The accused have been identified as Prabhjit Singh, believed to be the prime suspect, along with Kulbir Singh, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh, and Ninder Kaur.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Excise Act. Authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the source and distribution network of the illicit liquor.
This incident adds to the growing concern over the prevalence of illicit liquor in parts of the state, which has claimed numerous lives in recent years.
