NEW DELHI, Aug 21 (Xinhua) -- A methanol-laced illegal liquor incident in the western Indian state of Gujarat has killed nine people, with another 39 hospitalized, Indian media reported on the 21st.
The incident occurred in the Bhavnagar district of the state. Residents in several areas died after drinking the spurious liquor; blood samples of the dead tested positive for methanol. Police launched an investigation and identified 21 suspects.
Local police were quoted as saying 13 suspects have been arrested, including a man described as the mastermind. One suspect died after consuming the tainted liquor.
Police said the suspects used ethanol, methanol and other raw materials to manufacture fake liquor at a residential premises, bottling it in counterfeit containers mimicking well-known brands for sale. Police are tracing the sources of the raw materials, bottles, labels and sealing equipment.
Gujarat enforces a prohibition policy, with strict limits on the production, sale and consumption of alcohol, yet fatal counterfeit-liquor incidents occur there from time to time.
Source: Xinhua | Original
