Methanol in Spurious Liquor Leads to 20 Deaths in Punjab's Sangrur, Police Say

In a tragic incident in Punjab's Sangrur district, the consumption of spurious liquor has resulted in the death of 20 individuals. The police have confirmed that the illicit alcohol contained methanol, a substance known for its lethal effects when ingested. This revelation came to light following an intensive investigation into the matter, which has seen eight arrests out of ten identified suspects.

The Sangrur hooch tragedy has deeply affected the communities within Gujran, Tibbi Ravidaspura, and Dhandoli Khurd villages, located in Dirba and Sunam blocks. The death toll rose to 20 after six more victims succumbed during medical treatment. Currently, eleven individuals are receiving care at Patiala's Rajindra Hospital, with an additional six being treated at the Civil Hospital in Sangrur.

In response to this calamity, a special investigation team (SIT) was established, led by Additional Director General of Police Gurinder Singh Dhillon. During a press briefing, ADGP Dhillon disclosed that three First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed in connection to this incident. Among those arrested are two alleged masterminds, Harmanpreet Singh and Gurlal Singh, both of whom have prior criminal records.

Investigations have uncovered that the accused procured methanol from a factory in Noida for the production of the lethal liquor. Harmanpreet Singh was identified as preparing the counterfeit alcohol at his residence, packaging it in bottles with fake labels of a brand named "Shahi" written in Hindi. The operation also involved the use of a home printer for label production and a bottle cap installation machine sourced from Ludhiana.

ADGP Dhillon highlighted that the accused targeted laborers by selling the spurious liquor at half its original price. The standard price of Rs 280 per bottle was slashed to Rs 140, making it an affordable yet fatal option for daily wage earners. To further investigate the incident's underlying motives, police have added Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and invoked section 61-A of the Excise Act, which carries severe penalties including life imprisonment or death.

The SIT is determined to conduct a thorough investigation from all angles to ensure justice is served. As part of their efforts, they have appealed to residents in affected and nearby villages to avoid purchasing liquor from unauthorized sources. The team comprises Deputy Inspector General Patiala Range Harcharan Bhullar, Senior Superintendent of Police Sangrur Sartaj Chahal, and Additional Commissioner Excise Naresh Dubey.

Among those arrested are Soma Kaur, Rahul alias Sanju, Pardeep Singh alias Babi from Chauwas in Cheema; Gurlal Singh from village Ubhawal in Sangrur; Harmanpreet Singh from village Taipur in Patiala; Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh from village Rogla; and Manpreet Singh alias Mani and Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukhi from village Gujjran in Dirba. The SIT's comprehensive probe aims to uncover all linkages related to this case and swiftly bring it to a logical conclusion.