Lizards, frogs for that ‘extra kick’ is what go into the making of illegally prepared hooch

With liquor prices skyrocketing in Punjab as the government seeks higher revenue, cheap hooch would always remain in demand.

At least 21 people have died in multiple villages in Punjab's Amritsar after allegedly consuming spurious liquor on Tuesday.

The recent deaths highlight corruption and the failure of the government to check the tragedy.

This illegally prepared hooch, with no check on the ingredients, can be available for as low as Rs 50 to 70. As per a former liquor smuggler, typically, ingredients that go into making hooch include lahan (raw material); fruits like fermented orange and jamun; coarse jaggery; yeast extracted from local plants, cheap fruits like wild berries, pears, apricot and peaches; unfiltered or river/pond water; methanol, and sometimes organic waste and even lizards and frogs for that “extra kick”.

At least 21 people, mostly daily wagers, died and 10 others were hospitalised after allegedly drinking spurious liquor in Majitha in Punjab's Amritsar district, officials said on Tuesday.

Ten people, including the alleged kingpin, were arrested while Deputy Superintendent of Police (Majitha) Amolak Singh and Station House Officer of Majitha police station Avtar Singh were suspended for negligence. Besides, two officers of the excise department have also been suspended.

The AAP government drew flak for the tragedy, with the opposition demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The state government said most of the culprits have been arrested and vowed to ensure the strictest punishment for them.

A police probe revealed that methanol-- a chemical used in industrial products -- was procured in bulk online to prepare the toxic brew.

Methanol is a light, colourless organic chemical compound which is poisonous when ingested and is illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, which is the normal consumable alcohol.