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News
Bootleg alcohol leaves 29 dead and blinds six
At least 29 people have died and a further six have been blinded after drinking home-brewed alcohol in central India.
The illegal alcohol was bought from a village shop
According to the Times of India news agency, more than 20 became unwell after consuming the liquid and were being treated in hospitals in Etah, Farrukhabad and Safai in the state of Utter Pradesh.
The victims were said to have bought the illegal alcohol from a village shop, paying just 15 rupees (20p) per pouch – six times cheaper than the legal drink.
Though a full investigation is due to take place, preliminary reports reveal it is likely that “excessive” use of methyl alcohol caused the deaths.
The shop owner, Sri Pal, who has been arrested, admitted to selling 180 pouches of the bootleg booze on Friday evening.
According to local media, police are now trying to establish the source of the raw material used to make the alcohol, as well as information about those who helped Pal set up the operation
Following the incident, state authorities suspended six officials – of which four are policemen – for allowing the sale of illegal alcohol in Etah district.