Patiala, May 13: Patiala police recovered over 600 litres of methanol suspected to be used in the production of spurious liquor, preventing what officials say could have been another deadly tragedy.
Acting on a specific intelligence input, police teams conducted a targeted raid while the chemical was being transported towards Amritsar. The raid was led by Senior Superintendent of Police Varun Sharma, who confirmed that preliminary investigations link the chemical consignment to individuals previously arrested in the Majitha hooch tragedy, which claimed 16 lives in Amritsar earlier this month.
“This seizure likely saved many innocent lives,” said SSP Sharma. “We have strong reason to believe that this methanol was ordered by the same group responsible for the Majitha incident.”
The operation was carried out jointly by police units from Banur and Rajpura, areas that have long been notorious for chemical smuggling. Methanol is often diverted by truck drivers and dhaba owners, then repurposed into illicit liquor sold in black markets.
SP (Investigation) Gurbans Singh Bains said the police acted swiftly after receiving detailed information about the suspicious transport. “The methanol seized could have been enough to produce hundreds of litres of illegal hooch,” he said.
Police have arrested one individual, and further raids are underway. Authorities are now investigating the supply chain and potential involvement of organized networks in the chemical diversion.
The seizure comes on the heels of the Amritsar spurious liquor tragedy, in which at least 16 people died after consuming toxic hooch, raising serious concerns about the rising use of industrial chemicals in bootleg liquor across Punjab.
Police have reiterated their commitment to intensifying crackdowns on the illegal liquor trade, particularly focusing on chemical sources and transportation routes.
Read more: Majitha DSP, SHO Face Action Over Amritsar Hooch Tragedy
