In late July and early August 2020, at least 100 people died after drinking illegally-made toxic alcohol in Punjab, India.[1] Hundreds of raids were conducted in the three affected districts - Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran - along with several other places in and around the Rajpura and Shambhu border in Punjab. Forty people were arrested in relation to the incident.[2] Seven excise officials, six policemen were also suspended over the incident.[3]
Poisioning
In late July and early August 2020, 80 deaths[4] were reported in Tarn Taran district alone, followed by 12 from Amritsar and 11 from Gurdaspur's Batala in Punjab, India due to toxic alcohol poisoning.[1] The first deaths were reported in Amritsar district's Muchhal village on the night of 29 July 2020.[3] By 31 July 2020, the Punjab state had reported 39 deaths.[1] By 3 August, the death toll from poisoning linked to toxic liquor rose to 105.[4]
The number of dead reached 121 on 7 August, which included 92 from Tarn Taran district, 15 from in Amritsar district and 14 from Gurdaspur district.[5]
Response
On 30 July 2020, Punjab's Chief Minister Amarinder Singh gave an inquiry order into the deaths stating that "anyone found guilty will not be spared".[4][6] The Punjab government also announced a Rs 2 lakh (Template:INRConvert) compensation for each of the families of the deceased.[1] The Punjab government suspended seven excise officials and six police officials.[3]
By 1 August, police undertook more than a hundred raids, confiscated supplies of the suspected liquor and made twenty-five arrests.[6][3] By 3 August, the number of arrests made in the case went up to forty - twenty-one from Tarn Taran, ten from Amritsar rural and nine from Batala in 563 raids conducted in the three districts.[7] 54 were arrested by 7 August.[8]
Investigation
The initial investigation revealed that the liquor contained methanol.[4] A Ludhiana-based paint store owner, allegedly responsible for the toxic liquor deaths revealed that he supplied the three drums of methanol, which were used to make the illegal methanol-based alcohol.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Death toll in Punjab hooch tragedy rises to 86; 7 excise officials, six cops suspended. hindustantimes.com.
- ↑ Punjab hooch tragedy: 86 dead, 25 arrested so far, Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for victims. indiatoday.in.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 86 Dead From Punjab Toxic Liquor, 7 Excise Officials, 6 Cops Suspended. ndtv.com.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 India bootleg alcohol death toll crosses 100, dozens arrested. Al Jazeera(3 Aug 2020).
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedTimesofIndia - ↑ 6.0 6.1 India toxic alcohol: Dozens die in Punjab poisoning. BBC(1 August 2020).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Man Who Sold Methanol That Led To 111 Alcohol Deaths In Punjab Arrested. NDTV(August 4, 2020).
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedThe Hindu
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