Amritsar liquor tragedy: Key accused, two Ludhiana traders among 11 arrested

The Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested 11 persons in connection with the Amritsar spurious liquor tragedy, including the prime accused and suppliers of methanol — a chemical used for manufacturing country liquor.

Two Ludhiana-based traders are among those arrested, while one person was nabbed by the Patiala police after they seized a truck taking the toxic chemical from Delhi to Amritsar.

The government has suspended Majitha Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amolak Singh and area SHO Avtar Singh for “gross negligence in discharging their official duties”.

A departmental probe has also been initiated against them, said DGP Gaurav Yadav. At least 21 persons died after consuming spurious liquor in Amritsar’s Majitha.

The prime suspect in the case has been identified as Sahib Singh, a resident of Amritsar. The others held include Pankaj Kumar, alias Sahil, and Arvind Kumar, owner of Sahil Chemicals at Sukh Enclave in Ludhiana.

The distributors of the spurious liquor were identified as Prabhjit Singh and Kulbir Singh, who were nabbed along with sellers Ninder Kaur, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh, Arun, alias Kala, and Sikander Singh, alias Pappu.

Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh said Prabhjit Singh had received methanol from Sahib Singh, who further named the Ludhiana-based chemical firm.

“During the examination of Sahib Singh’s mobile phone, the police learnt about another consignment of methanol ordered by him from a Delhi-based firm,” said DIG (Border Range) Satinder Singh.

He said the information was shared with the Patiala police and the Excise Department. The officer said more arrests were likely to be made soon.

Two separate cases have been registered at Majitha and Kathunangal police stations on charges of murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Provisions of the Excise Act have also been added to the FIR.

Meanwhile, the Patiala police seized over 600 litres of methanol, which was meant to be used for manufacturing spurious liquor in and around Amritsar.

Acting on a tip-off from Amritsar, the Patiala police and the Excise Department confiscated the methanol from a truck near Banur.

“The truck was taking the chemical to Amritsar. It was bought from an industrial unit in Delhi’s Transport Nagar,” said SSP Varun Sharma, adding that one person travelling in the vehicle was arrested by them. He was identified as Navdeep Singh, a resident of Amritsar’s Jandiala Guru.