In a tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district, two men lost their lives and another is fighting for his life after allegedly consuming illicit or contaminated liquor on Thursday morning, officials confirmed. The incident occurred around 7:30 am in Misakalan village, under the jurisdiction of Awagarh police station.
According to local sources, the three victims—identified as Rakesh Singh (45), Narsingh Pal (59), and Ranjit Singh—had purchased a tetra pack of liquor. Shortly after drinking, their health deteriorated rapidly, alarming local residents who informed the families. The victims were rushed to a nearby Community Health Centre (CHC), from where they were referred to SN Medical College in Agra. However, Rakesh and Narsingh succumbed during transit. Their bodies were brought back to Etah, where local police took custody and sent them for post-mortem examination.
District Magistrate Orders Probe
Taking note of the gravity of the situation, Etah District Magistrate Arvind Singh stated, “A team has been constituted to thoroughly probe the incident from all angles.” The investigation aims to determine the source of the contaminated liquor and any possible criminal negligence.
Allegations of Foul Play
Shanti Devi, wife of deceased Narsingh Pal, alleged that Rakesh had brought the liquor to their property and forced her husband to drink it. Narsingh’s son, Vijay, suspected foul play, linking the tragedy to a past dispute. Vijay revealed that his elder brother Bhupendra was murdered in 2019, and the trial in that case is ongoing. He alleged that four individuals from the village “hatched a conspiracy” to eliminate his father, who may have been a key witness in the case.
Police, however, maintained that all three men were acquaintances and had gathered at Narsingh’s plot on Thursday morning to drink together. Authorities are awaiting post-mortem reports and conducting further inquiries to ascertain the exact cause of death.
