Majitha, Punjab: A tragic incident of mass poisoning due to illicit liquor consumption in five villages under the Majitha block of Amritsar district has claimed 14 lives, with six others hospitalised, Punjab Police said on Tuesday.
Authorities confirmed that the main accused, identified as Prabhjeet Singh, has been arrested, along with four others involved in the distribution of the spurious alcohol.
Door-to-Door Medical Checks Underway
Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the administration responded swiftly to reports that people from five villages had taken critically ill after consuming liquor on the night of May 12.
“We rushed medical teams to the area. Our teams are going door-to-door, taking even asymptomatic individuals to the hospital for precautionary treatment. So far, 14 people have died,” said DC Sawhney.
“The government is providing all necessary support to ensure there are no more casualties. We have arrested the main suppliers and an investigation is ongoing,” she added.
Arrests and FIRs
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh said that initial reports of deaths came in around 9:30 PM on May 12. Police launched immediate raids and arrested Prabhjeet Singh, the alleged main distributor. He led the police to the kingpin, identified as Sahib Singh alias Sarai, who was also taken into custody.
The other arrested individuals include:
- Kulbir Singh alias Jaggu (brother of Prabhjeet Singh)
- Gurjant Singh
- Ninder Kaur
Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 61A of the Excise Act. Authorities confirmed that stringent legal action is underway.
“We will bust the entire network. Our teams are already raiding suspected locations. The Punjab government has issued strict instructions to deal with those supplying or manufacturing spurious liquor with an iron hand,” said SSP Maninder Singh.
Network Probe Underway
The illicit liquor is believed to have been manufactured locally and distributed through underground networks. The civil administration and police are conducting door-to-door searches to identify more affected individuals and prevent further deaths.
SSP Singh emphasized that the focus now is not only prosecution, but also prevention and community safety.
“This took place across five villages, and all efforts are being made to locate and treat anyone who might have consumed the tainted liquor,” he said.
Community Reactions and Government Response
The tragedy has caused widespread outrage and fear in the affected villages. Locals have urged stricter enforcement of liquor laws and action against illegal distilleries.
The Punjab Government has promised full support to victims’ families and announced a crackdown on all unlicensed liquor activities across the state.