Patna, April 7 Around 1,500 litres of methanol has been recovered from bootleggers in Bihar's East Champaran district, where at least 10 people have died after consuming spurious liquor in the past one week, the police chief said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters, DGP Vinay Kumar said, "All the accused have been arrested. If the bootleggers had been able to mix the methanol with illicit liquor, the damage would have been much greater. The incident is very tragic."
East Champaran district magistrate Saurabh Jorwal confirmed that all the deceased are residents of Turkauliya and Raghunathpur areas of Motihari.
"The death toll has risen to 10, and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. The exact cause of deaths can only be known after the reports arrive," he said.
A murder case has already been registered on the basis of complaints filed by the family members of the deceased, officials said.
The SHO of Turkauliya has already been suspended for dereliction of duty.
Initial investigations suggested that the first victim had consumed illicit liquor in Raghunathpur area, police sources said.
"A team comprising the district police and the Anti-Liquor Task Force (ALTF) is conducting searches in Parsauni, Mushhari Tola, and Turkaulia. A high-level inquiry has already been ordered into the incident," the DM said.
The deaths have led to a political slugfest in the state, where the sale and consumption of alcohol has been banned since 2016.
