Chandigarh, May 13 (UNI) At least 14 persons have died after consuming spurious liquor in villages of Majithia are of Amritsar in Punjab since Monday night.
The police claimed to have taken swift action and arrested nine persons, including the kingpin of the racket.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to families of victims even as Opposition leaders attacked the Aam Aadmi Party government for its failure to act decisively against gangs engaged in manufacturing illicit liquor.
Amritsar district Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni said the incident occurred on Monday, involving individuals from Bhangali, Thariyawal, and Murari Kalan villages.
She said people reported the matter to the police after the number of deaths rose on Monday night. She said the reason for the deaths is reported to be poisonous liquor consumption.
Sahni said the condition of six people admitted to a hospital for treatment is critical. Police and administration teams are present on the spot, she added.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday said nine people, including the kingpin, have been arrested
for the liquor tragedy.
Yadav took to X saying that an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of BNS and Excise
Act. A DSP Subdivision Majitha and SHO Majitha have been suspended for negligence of duty.
The DGP said that methanol was procured online and was used for manufacturing spurious liquor. An investigation is underway to uncover the modus operandi and bring all involved to justice.
Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal were among leaders who expressed grief over the tragedy and claimed that culprits would not be spared.
However, the opposition Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP leaders criticised the government. Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that the guilty must be identified and given exemplary punishment after being tried in a fast-track court.
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, reacting to the tragedy, demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to families of the victims. Majithia also alleged that the government was trying to shield "the real culprit" and claimed that he would soon expose the full details.
BJP's Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar also alleged that the government was shielding the culprits. He also pinned the blame on "flawed" policies of the state government.
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