Six die after drinking moonshine

LUCKNOW - Six people were killed and 18 others fell ill Friday after allegedly drinking moonshine in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district, police said.

“We have arrested six people who were involved in selling of spurious liquor in different villages of the district,” Additional Superintendent of Police Shripath Mishra told IANS on telephone from Mirzapur, some 300 km from Lucknow.

“An extensive drive to nab others involved in the illegal trade is being carried out in assistance with the officials of excise department and district administration,” he added.

According to the police, of the 18 people who are being treated at a hospital, the condition of six is said to be critical.

A few days back, nine people had died after consuming spurious liquor in Allahabad.