15 Dead, Several Critical After Consuming Spurious Liquor in Amritsar’s Majitha
At least 15 people have died and six others remain in critical condition after consuming spurious liquor in Majitha area of Punjab’s Amritsar district, officials confirmed.
Amritsar (Rural) SSP Maninder Singh confirmed the casualties and said swift action was taken after reports of fatalities started coming in around 9:30 pm on Monday night.
“We received information about people dying after consuming illicit liquor. We immediately arrested four suspects, including the main supplier, Prabhjeet Singh,” SSP Singh told India Today.
Upon interrogation, Prabhjeet Singh revealed the identity of the kingpin, Sahab Singh, who was also taken into custody. Police are now probing the source of the illegal liquor.
“Raids are ongoing across Majitha and surrounding villages. We are identifying others who may have consumed the liquor to prevent more deaths,” the SSP said, adding that two FIRs have been registered under stringent laws including Section 105 of the BNS and Section 61A of the Excise Act.
The fake liquor incident has reportedly impacted residents of five villages in the Majitha area.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney confirmed a door-to-door medical campaign is underway. “We are not waiting for symptoms. Anyone who consumed liquor is being brought in for treatment to avoid more casualties,” she said.
She added that the Punjab government is actively monitoring the situation and has ensured all necessary medical and administrative assistance is being provided.
“We are committed to ensuring that the death toll does not increase further. The suppliers have been arrested and investigations are ongoing,” Sawhney said.
Incidents involving spurious liquor have plagued Punjab repeatedly in recent years, often resulting in high casualties. The government has previously vowed stringent action, yet illegal manufacturing continues in pockets of the state.
Majitha, a rural area close to the Punjab-Pakistan border, has seen cases of illicit liquor trade before, with authorities blaming loosely regulated local production and weak supply chain surveillance.
The Punjab Police have intensified their crackdown on the bootlegging network, with a focus on identifying the manufacturers behind the toxic brew. Authorities are also tracing supply chains and verifying whether the accused sourced the chemicals from registered vendors.
