In the aftermath of a tragic incident involving the consumption of spurious liquor in Punjab’s Majitha block, six individuals have been arrested in connection with the case that has claimed 14 lives and left six others hospitalised. The incident spans five villages under the Majitha block in Amritsar district, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Border Range, Satinder Singh, described the situation as “deeply unfortunate,” adding, “So far, six people have been arrested, including the kingpin and local distributors involved in the supply chain.”
Providing further details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritsar (Rural), Maninder Singh, said that four local suppliers were arrested on Monday. Their interrogation led to the capture of Prabhjeet Singh, who played a central role in the distribution of the illicit liquor.
“During questioning, Prabhjeet Singh revealed that he had procured 50 litres of methanol from Sahib Singh—the main supplier. He then diluted it to manufacture approximately 120 litres of spurious liquor, which was distributed through four local sellers,” said SSP Singh.
Legal proceedings have been initiated under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 61A of the Excise Act against all six accused. “We are pursuing this case with the utmost seriousness and are committed to dismantling the entire network responsible for this tragedy,” the SSP added.
Meanwhile, the civil administration and police are conducting door-to-door surveys in the affected villages to identify individuals who may have consumed the adulterated liquor and to ensure they receive prompt medical treatment.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said, “We received alarming reports from five villages late last night. Many individuals were in critical condition after consuming the liquor. Our medical teams responded swiftly and are still going house to house to check for symptoms and provide immediate care.”
Efforts are ongoing to prevent further casualties, and the administration has assured full support to the affected families. Two FIRs have been registered in the case, and raids are being conducted to uncover further links in the illicit liquor distribution chain.
(With ANI inputs)