Twelve individuals have died after ingesting counterfeit liquor in Majitha, Amritsar.

Twelve individuals have tragically lost their lives after reportedly consuming counterfeit liquor in the Majitha area of Amritsar, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday. In a swift response, law enforcement arrested six suspects, including the primary supplier and alleged mastermind behind the illicit operation, within just seven hours of the incident. The victims comprised three young men from both Bhangali and Marrari Kalan villages, along with two from Threawal village. Authorities have expressed concern that the death toll could increase, given that several other individuals remain in critical condition. The local police have launched an investigation to trace the origins of the tainted liquor. Among the deceased are Major Singh (also known as Modu), Paramjit Singh (Pamma), Sarbjit Singh (Shabba), and Tasveer Singh (Sikandar Singh) from Marrari Kalan; Joginder Singh (Manna), Karnail Singh (Mahant), and Jeeta (Siti) from Threawal; as well as Balbir Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and Romanjit Singh (Romi) from Bhangali Kalan. According to Majitha Station House Officer Aabtaab Singh, initial findings indicate that all victims consumed liquor from a single source on Sunday evening, with some succumbing to their fate by Monday morning. Alarmingly, locals cremated several of the deceased without notifying the authorities, prompting police to initiate an investigation only after receiving reports of the liquor-related deaths later that evening. Among those arrested is Prabhjit Singh, the main supplier in the region, while Sahib Singh, identified as the kingpin of the liquor distribution network, was apprehended in Rajasansi. Additionally, four other individuals who procured liquor from the kingpin and distributed it to nearby villages have also been taken into custody. In light of the situation, police teams have expanded their search beyond state lines to track down firms suspected of supplying the counterfeit liquor. Following this tragic event, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Shakshi Sawhney, along with police officials, visited the village of Marrari Kalan to assess the situation firsthand.