In the recent case of Deputy Superintendent of Police (Majitha) Amolak Singh and Station House Officer Majitha Avtar Singh have been suspended for "negligence resulting in the fatal incident," and departmental inquiries ordered against them, state police chief Gaurav Yadav said.
At least 21 people, mostly daily wagers, died, and 10 others were hospitalized after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Punjab’s Amritsar district, police said Tuesday, adding that 10 people, including the alleged kingpin, have been arrested.
The poisonous chemical
DGP Yadav added that early investigation indicated that methanol had been used to make the poisonous liquor. Sahib Singh bought the methanol online. Those who supplied methanol have been found to be Pankaj Kumar, alias Sahil, and Arvind Kumar, the proprietors of Sahil Chemicals in Ludhiana," he said.
A chemical substance, methanol (CH3OH), is toxic when swallowed and is illicitly mixed into alcoholic drinks as a less expensive replacement for ethanol, which is the usual consumable alcohol.
The accused held under arrest include another distributor, Kulbir Singh, and local vendors Ninder Kaur, Sahib Singh, Gurjant Singh, Arun alias Kala, and Sikander Singh alias Pappu.
Maninder Singh mentioned that Prabhjeet Singh had procured methanol in a 50-liter jerry from Sahib Singh. The same was supplied by Sahil Chemicals. Prabhjit watered it down and retailed it to people in packets of two liters. "We are tracing and confiscating every packet," SSP added.
The SSP added that the investigation also disclosed that another shipment of methanol, on order by Sahib Singh from a Delhi-based company, is also on the move. Excise and police officers have been sent to intercept and seize the shipment when it reaches there, SSP added, mentioning 600 liters of methanol have been seized in a joint effort by Patiala Police and the Excise Department on inputs from Amritsar Rural Police.
Yadav revealed two FIRs have been independently registered at Amritsar Rural's Majitha and Kathunangal police stations under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as appropriate sections of the Excise Act and the SC/ST Act.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney explained that the victims were largely daily wagers.
He also verified the suspension of DSP Amolak Singh and SHO Avtar Singh. "They have been suspended on charges of gross negligence in performing their official duties, which led to the fatal accident. Departmental investigations have been launched," he said.
Victims identified
The victims were identified by the police as Major Singh, Paramjit Singh, Tasbeer Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Sarabjeet Singh, Romy, Ganju Ram, Karnail Singh, Ajit Singh, Joginder Singh, Iqbal Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Robanjit Singh, Balbir Singh, Raja, Amarpal Singh, Kaka, Gagan, Satpal Singh, Joginder Singh, and Mukhtar Singh.