Hyderabad:
Police have arrested 12 persons, including three women, in connection with the death of 19 tribals who had consumed contaminated liquor on December 31 in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
Investigations showed the deceased as well as those who underwent treatment in various hospitals had consumed liquor(arrack) laced with methanol mixture.
They had purchased it from vendors in Poratanagar, Kanimerla, Naguluruland Annara Pet tandas (hamlet)of Mylavaram and Reddygudem mandals, Krishna district Superintendent of Police P V S Ramakrishna said in a release here today.
One Azmeera Raghu had prepared 50 litres of mixture using methanol and water and sold it to local vendors on December 29, Ramakrishna said.
Since December 30 evening, vendors started selling the methanol water mixture along with arrack. Depending on the quantity consumed, some villagers developed symptoms on the morning of December 31 while others later in the afternoon, the SP said adding consumption of methanol water mixture along with arrack caused the death of 19 persons while several others fell sick.
The visceral contents in respect of the deceased were sent to Forensic Scientific Laboratory and the report confirmed the presence of methanol in the bodies.
Police arrested Azmeera Raghu and based on his confession made nine more arrests besides seizing a methanol tin that was procured from Vijayawada, Ramakrishna said.