| Date | 29 July 2020 |
|---|---|
| Location | Punjab, India |
| Deaths | 121[1] |
| Arrests | 54[2] |
In late July and early August 2020, at least 100 people died after drinking illegally-made toxic alcohol in Punjab, India.[3] 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.[4] Seven excise officials, six policemen were also suspended over the incident.[5]
Poisioning
In late July and early August 2020, 80 deaths[6] 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.[3] The first deaths were reported in Amritsar district's Muchhal village on the night of 29 July 2020.[5] By 31 July 2020, the Punjab state had reported 39 deaths.[3] By 3 August, the death toll from poisoning linked to toxic liquor rose to 105.[6]
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.[1]
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".[6][7] The Punjab government also announced a Rs 2 lakh (₹200,000 (US$2,800)) compensation for each of the families of the deceased.[3] The Punjab government suspended seven excise officials and six police officials.[5]
By 1 August, police undertook more than a hundred raids, confiscated supplies of the suspected liquor and made twenty-five arrests.[7][5] 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.[8] 54 were arrested by 7 August.[2]
Investigation
The initial investigation revealed that the liquor contained methanol.[6] 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.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "None will be spared: Punjab chief minister to hooch victims' families". Times of India. 7 August 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Punjab hooch tragedy: police arrest two key absconders". The Hindu. 7 August 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Death toll in Punjab hooch tragedy rises to 86; 7 excise officials, six cops suspended". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ Chauhan, Satender. "Punjab hooch tragedy: 86 dead, 25 arrested so far, Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for victims". indiatoday.in. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Ghazali, Mohammed. "86 Dead From Punjab Toxic Liquor, 7 Excise Officials, 6 Cops Suspended". ndtv.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "India bootleg alcohol death toll crosses 100, dozens arrested". Al Jazeera. 3 August 2020.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "India toxic alcohol: Dozens die in Punjab poisoning". BBC. 1 August 2020.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Man Who Sold Methanol That Led To 111 Alcohol Deaths In Punjab Arrested". NDTV. 4 August 2020.
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