LUDHIANA: More than a week after the hooch tragedy in Amritsar claimed 27 lives, another case of spurious liquor consumption has surfaced - this time in Ludhiana's Sanyas Nagar. Three men died on Wednesday night after allegedly consuming illicit alcohol in Basti Jodhewal.Deceased Rinku (40), Debi (27), and Mango (32), were residents of the locality.

The complainant, Anil Kumar, said after noticing Debi's condition worsening, he informed the family. He and his nephew then helped Debi back to his house before returning to their own. A while later, Anil learned that Debi, along with Rinku and Mangu Sharma, had all passed away. He alleged that the trio died because of consuming the liquor.

Jodhewal police have registered a case against unidentified individuals under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and Section 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Punjab Excise Act.

Jodhewal police station SHO Jasbir Singh said confirmed the liquor vend was licensed.A senior police officer said police seized 17 cartons from the vend and sent the samples to the forensics lab in Kharar.

He said police have written to the excise department, requesting the immediate withdrawal of the entire batch from all vends. senior medical officer (SMO) of civil hospital, Dr Harpreet Singh, told TOI that a three-member board of doctors has been constituted to conduct the post-mortem examinations.

He said the deaths occurred under mysterious circumstances, and the definitive cause will be known once the reports are received.A health department official said the first body, identified as Rinku's, was brought to the hospital at 9.50 pm, while the bodies of Mangu and Debi arrived between 1am and 1.15am. Kartar Singh, Debi's elder brother, said the three were close friends. Repeated attempts to contact officials from the excise department did not elicit a response. However, sources within the department said it is still unclear whether the issue lies with the liquor brand or the vend.