Tragic incident: Tainted liquor kills 13 wedding guests in Jhelum

The police have lodged a case against four suspects under sections 322, 337

JHELUM: At least 13 guests at a wedding banquet died on Friday after consuming tainted liquor in a suburban area of Punjab’s Jhelum district.

The liquor was served during a wedding ceremony held on Thursday night in the impoverished Christian Colony, according to an official.

Some of the victims were later identified as Pervaiz Masih, Asif alias Lalu, Imran George alias Mani, Pervaiz alias Peeju, Zeeshan, Dr Akram, Emmanuel Masih and Kashif. Upon completion of medico-legal formalities,  the bodies of the victims were handed over to their families.

The police have lodged a case against four suspects – Imran, John, Samran and Amir – under sections 322, 337 and are carrying out raids to arrest them. However, a source said no one was arrested so far as the wine-sellers had the support of some police officials.

Meanwhile, Jhelum’s District Police Officer (DPO) Hasan Asad Alwi has taken notice of the incident and ordered action against all those involved in the illegal sale of liquor.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2016.