Two salesmen of wine shop in police net, outlet sealed

A day after the death of three persons allegedly after consuming liquor in the city, the Ludhiana police after registering a case on the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, multiple people engaged in criminal act with a shared intention and under the Excise Act, arrested two salesmen of the wine shop.

The suspects were identified as Onkar Singh of Chamba, HP, and Sushil Kumar, a native of Kangra, HP. As many as 422 quarters of Raspberry brand were also seized by the police.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma told The Tribune that after registering a case and arresting the two salesmen, further investigation was launched by the police in the case.

“From the recovered bottles, samples were also sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Mohali, and even viscera samples were also sent for examination to inquire about the exact cause of death. Once the reports of the samples arrive, the police will initiate further legal proceedings in the case. Guilty will not be spared,” the CP said.

Sharma informed that questioning of the nabbed salesmen was on to gather any clue and if the role of any other person comes to light, action would be taken.

As per information, the Excise Department sealed the wine shop located in Sanyas Nagar and separate investigation was also being conducted by the department.

Notably on the night of May 21, Rinku, Mangoo and Debi had lost their lives after consuming liquor. Initially one person had brought dead to the Civil Hospital and later, two more succumbed during the treatment.

Senior BJP leader Amarjit Singh Tikka while terming the deaths due to liquor as a serious matter demanded a judicial probe. He demanded that the probe should be time-bound and guilty should not be spared.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Gurdev Sharma Debi visited the house of the three deceased and handed over cheques amounting to Rs 3 lakh (one lakh each to victims’ families) to the deceased’s kin. Debi demanded that the state government should also give compensation to them.

Ludhiana