HYDERABAD, Nov 17: The toll in the poisonous liquor tragedy rose to 19 as three more people died on Wednesday. The latest victims were identified as Javed, Ibrahim (residents of Juriyal Shah Colony) and Saeed, a resident of Millatabad.

Those who were admitted to the Civil Hospital include Aslam, Sharif, Khushi Mohammad, Ayub, Wahid, Javed, Shahid and Nadeem. The Market police detained Ishaq for interrogation, whose 70-year-old father, Fayyaz Qureshi and brother Rehan had expired on Tuesday.

He said his friend Cheeko, an employee at a bus terminal, had purchased spirit in Hirabad for using it as liquor. Meanwhile, the police rejected reports that recent deaths of people were caused due to intake of poisonous liquor.

They said the deceased had consumed cheap spirit used for furniture polish. The Market police lodged a case against unknown three persons Amir, Irfan and Hera Lal on the complaint of SHO Rao Amir Iqbal under sections 322, 34 PPC and 337-J of Qisas and Diyat Ordinance.

A team of excise and taxation department officials led by the director excise and Taxation Kanwar Amir Jamil picked up four persons who were associated with manufacturing of liquor in Makrani Para and Phulleli areas.

Those arrested were identified as Khan Mohammad, son of Taj Mohammad, Allan, son of Karim Bux, Haji, son of Umar, (picked up from Makrani Para) and Mashooq Ali, son of Noor Mohammad, apprehended in Phulelli area. Police said that two suspects Manzoor Jatoi and Allo Jatoi managed to escape.