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CHANDIGARH: 15 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others are in critical condition after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in five villages of Majitha area in Punjab's Amritsar. The state police have arrested six persons, including the main supplier and the alleged kingpin, in connection with this case. Investigation into the source of spurious liquor is underway.

Those critical have been admitted to the o Amritsar Civil Hospital. Sources said that the death toll is likely to rise.

The deceased include youths from Bhangali, Patalpuri, Marari Kalan, Therewal and Talwandi Ghuman villages. Residents of Bhullar, Tangra and Sandha villages are also said to have consumed illicit liquor, as many began to experience severe symptoms of poisoning.

Police sources said that the liquor distribution network kingpin, Sahib Sin, and the main supply, Prabhjit Singh, have been arrested. Other accused Kulbir Singh, GurjantSinghgh and Ninder Kaur have also been arrested.

Sahib was picked up from the Rajasansi area in Amritsar.

Police teams have now gone out of the state to apprehend firms suspected of supplying the illicit liquor.

Senior Superintendent of Police of Amritsar (Rural) Maninder Singh said that the police received information around 9:30 pm last night that people had started experiencing symptoms of poisoning after consuming spurious liquor, and several succumbed.

Singh said that the police are investigating which firms have supplied the liquor to the accused.

"The suppliers have ordered the chemical online, and then the local suppliers manufacture this illicit liquor and put it into packets and sell it to these daily wagers. Our teams have left for other states to apprehend these suppliers. Two cases have been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Excise Act," he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, Sakshi Sawhne, visited the hospital to take stock of the situation.

"An unfortunate tragedy has happened ithe n the Majaitha area. We got to know yesterday night that in five villages, people have died after taking illicit liquor, and many of them are critical. The medical teams were rushed to the spot, and these teams are still going door-to-door and checking whether people have symptoms or not. We are taking them to the hospital so that we can save them. The government is extending all the help possible," Sawhney said.

Station House Officer of Majitha Police Station Aabtaab Singh said, "In the preliminary investigation, it has come to light that the deceased bought liquor from a single source on Sunday evening. A few of them died yesterday morning, and locals cremated them without informing the police. We received information about the deaths due to liquor in the late evening and initiated an investigation."

A similar hooch tragedy took place five years ago in Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, in which about 130 people died and around a dozen lost their vision after allegedly consuming spurious liquor.

This tragic event has once again raised concerns over the unchecked circulation of spurious liquor in rural parts of the state.