Twelve people have died after allegedly drinking spurious liquor in the Majitha area of Amritsar, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The tragedy unfolded across three villages — Bhangali Kalan, Marrari Kalan, and Threawal — and several others remain in critical condition. The death toll could rise.
Police acted quickly, arresting six people within seven hours, including Prabhjit Singh, the main supplier, and Sahib Singh, believed to be the kingpin behind the illegal liquor network. Sahib Singh was arrested from Rajasansi, and four others who distributed the liquor to local villages were also taken into custody.
The victims from Marrari Kalan village include Major Singh (Modu), Paramjit Singh (Pamma), Sarbjit Singh (Shabba), and Tasveer Singh (Sikandar Singh). From Threawal, the deceased are Joginder Singh (Manna), Karnail Singh (Mahant), and Jeeta (Siti). From Bhangali Kalan, the victims include Balbir Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and Romanjit Singh (Romi).
Majitha SHO Aabtaab Singh said the victims consumed the liquor on Sunday evening. Some died by Monday morning, and their families performed last rites without informing authorities. The police received information later that evening and launched an investigation.
Teams have now extended the probe beyond Punjab’s borders to track down companies suspected of supplying the fake liquor.
Following the incident, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Shakshi Sawhney, along with senior police officials, visited Marrari Kalan to assess the situation and support the affected families.
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are likely as authorities widen the crackdown on the illegal liquor trade.
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