NAWABSHAH: Five persons, including a policeman, died after consuming tainted liquor in Jamshed Colony on Tuesday.

While hospital officials said two persons died at the hospital due to consumption of toxic liquor, a senior police officer confirmed that a total of five persons died after taking the locally made liquor.

The deceased have been identified as police constable Rafiq Bhangwar, Rashid Ali, Mohammed Ameen, Abid Rangar and Shafiq Malik.

Prof Dr Shamsuddin Shaikh, head of the medicine department at the PMU Hospital, Nawabshah, said that only two persons brought to hospital died. However, sources said, the families of the remaining three persons did not shift them to hospital. After consuming the liquor in Jamshed Colony, the three persons had returned home where they later died.

SSP Javed Jiskani confirmed to Dawn that the death toll was five.

He said he had reverted and suspended the area SHO Mubin Parhyar following the deaths. He added that he also requested the Hyderabad DIG to transfer his service from Shaheed Benazirabad district.

The SSP said he had constituted a committee headed by ASP Asim to conduct an inquiry and submit its report within three days.

DSP Aijaz Tareen said there were reports about the sale of spirits and tincture at a few drug stores for their use in making liquor. He said the police were investigating the matter and strict action would be taken against the culprits.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2014.