Four policemen, including a local outpost in-charge, were suspended on Wednesday following the death of five persons after consuming suspected spurious liquor in Meerut district’s Bahsuma area.

The ADG (Law and Order), Brij Lal, said: “Though the exact findings of the examination of the liquid seized from the spot are yet to be received, experts said no remains of ethyl or methyl alcohol have been found prima facie in the mixture. It appeared to be a home-made solution.”

Sub-Inspector Madanpal Singh — in-charge of Ramraj outpost — and three constables were suspended for laxity in performing their duty, said Meerut DIG M K Bashal.

He added that three locals, who had sold the suspected spurious liquor to eight persons from Ramraj village, were arrested on Wednesday. While five of the victims died on Tuesday, the condition of others is stated to be stable.

Additional Excise Commissioner Shamim Ahmed Khan said a team led by the joint commissioner of the Meerut zone was conducting raids in the area to trace illicit liquor vendors. “The remains found from the house where the victims had consumed the liquid did not show the presence of liquor. The excise laboratory is still conducting tests to identify the liquid,” he added.

According to DIG M K Bashal, Vinod and Jai Prakash had sold the ‘liquor’ to Brahmapal, Ram Chandra, Satyapal, Rajkumar and Arvind Jogi and three others on Monday night. Their condition deteriorated late in the night and Brahhmapal and Ramchandra died early on Tuesday morning. Rajkumar and Jogi died by noon.