BADIN: At least 35 people, including three women, died after consuming spurious liquor in Karimabad colony of Tando Mohammad Khan, police said.

Police officials confirmed the deaths on Tuesday and said those who fell unconscious were shifted to hospitals in Hyderabad and Tando Mohammad Khan. The condition of more than a dozen other victims is said to be critical, they added.

Some dead bodies were taken to private hospitals and handed over to heirs without post-mortem.

A case has been lodged against Tando Mohammad Khan SHO and CIA in-charge following the deaths of 35 persons after the consumption of poisonous liquor during last 24 hours.

Tando Mohammad Khan SSP Nasim Ara Panwhar – said to be first woman SSP in Sindh – has been shown the door. SHO Qadir Bahrani and CIA in charge Shabbir Dalwani are missing from the scene following the incident.

Hyderabad SSP Irfan Ali Baloch has been given the additional charge of the district.

Reacting to the incident, the provincial minister for excise and taxation, Gayanchand Essrani, suspended the local excise inspector Karim Bux Gehlo and ordered the Hyderabad director excise to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.

Police raided Karimabad colony and arrested 10 suspects allegedly involved in making and selling the toxic liquor.

Death toll is said to be higher but even conservative estimates put the toll at 35 in last 24 hours.

Some survivors are said to have avoided reaching government run hospitals to escape criminal proceedings. But the names of 35 deceased including two women are confirmed.

Earlier, heirs of the deceased staged a demonstration on Hyderabad-Tando Mohammad Khan road along with the bodies, raising slogans against police.

The liquor, according to a former Tando Mohammad Khan police source, is prepared with some chemical obtained from sugar mills. He said that the business is flourishing in Karimabad area with active connivance of police.

A shutdown is being observed in the city on the call of different political parties against the open sale of liquor and other contraband items.

The outgoing SSP Nasim Ara Panwhar blamed some local politicians for providing support to those who run this business and also threatening her. She said that some ruling party men often asked her to follow their advice if she wants hold this post.

DIG Khadim Rind who is entrusted with inquiry of the case by Sindh chief minister said that both policemen and accused who are involved in this trade would be arrested hopefully soon.

Around one dozen survivors are admitted in Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) city branch for treatment. According to MS LUH Dr Wajid Memon a medical team is sent to Tando Mohammad Khan under directive of health secretary to shift those survivors who are staying at homes.

“They need to be shifted to hospital for proper treatment as there are reports that some are still staying at homes and avoiding proper treatment for fear of police action,” said Memon.

In 1997, a similar tragedy was reported in Hyderabad in which close to 40 men including children had died after consuming poisonous liquor during holy month of Ramazan.