Assistant Commissioner of Police, DCB, Usha Rada, added: “We seized 40 litres of country-made liquor during the raid.”

Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil visited Majoor Gam and the government hospitals where the victims are being treated. He assured the residents that he will raise the issue in the state Assembly.

The dead include the accused bootlegger Arvind Solanki, his son Pradeep (22), nephew Bhavan (30), Kanti Ahir, Arvind Solanki, Manilal Purbia, Valji Valera, Jetha Marvadi and Pradeep Solanki, Pushottam Revat, Babu Krishna and others.

Purity’ test leads to triple tragedy
Among the 16 who died in the illicit hooch tragedy after consuming spurious liquor on Sunday night, were three members of the accused bootlegger (Arvind Solanki’s) family, including his son Pradeep (22) and nephew Bhavan (30). Arvind Solanki had allegedly brewed the country-made liquor (lattha).

Reportedly, after a few of his customers returned with a complaint that the liquor was not good and was spiked, he consumed it on the spot to prove its authenticity. He also gave the lattha to Pradeep and Bhavan. Later, all three died at the L G Hospital on Tuesday morning after being brought in an unconscious state.

Relatives who had assembled outside the emergency ward of the hospital said that on Sunday night people went to buy lattha from Arvind. One by one people kept purchasing the liquor and drank it, and by the next day, started showing symptoms of cardiac poisoning. As soon as relatives realised that illicit liquor was the reason behind the mass tragedy, a flare-up triggered over the issue, leading to stone-pelting and demonstration.