Indian police have arrested 25 people on suspicion of selling “spurious” alcohol that has left at least 69 dead in Punjab.
A state government statement said six police officers and seven other government officials have been suspended for failure to prevent the sale of the tainted liquor.
A magistrate has started a probe into the deaths reported in the districts Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Batala in northern Punjab state.
Police officer Roshan Lal said 69 deaths have been confirmed but local media reports put the number at 86.
Dinkar Gupta, police chief for the state, said the first five deaths were reported on Wednesday night in two villages in Amritsar district.
Over the past three days, another 48 deaths were reported in the three districts, Mr Lal told the Associated Press.
Mr Gupta said those arrested used to supply the tainted alcohol to roadside eateries, from where it was sold to travellers and villagers.
