All the 19 deaths were reported from Odhav alone, said state Director General of Police S S Khandwawala.

Addressing an impromptu media conference in Gandhinagar, Khandwawala said as many as 19 people died in the tragedy that occurred in the Odhav area of Ahmedabad today.

The DGP said notorious bootlegger identified as Harishankar Kahar alias Hari Om is believed to have supplied the killer brew to the victims of both the incidents at Majoor Gam and Odhav.

“We will be able to trace the exact source of illicit liquor supply only after the interrogation is over,” said the DGP.

Khandwawala said that six police officers from Ahmedabad, including four inspectors and two assistant commissioners of police, have been placed under suspension and transferred to other parts of the state in connection with the tragedies.

The four PIs against whom action has been initiated are R G Patel and A A Pathan of the Kagdapith police station, and J B Rana and N G Jadeja attached to the Odhav police station.

The DGP said that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) G L Khunti of the A Division (Kagdapith) and ACP K V Vadher of the I Division (Odhav) have been placed under suspension and transferred out of Ahmedabad to Bhuj and Banaskantha (SRP Group) respectively.

The police have been carrying out raids on liquor dens across the state for the last two days and have detained a large number of bootleggers.

Responding to a query, Khandwawala said the action against the six police officers was taken following reports that they might have the information about such illegal activity going on in their respective jurisdictional areas in Ahmedabad.

“It is the responsibility of the police to strictly enforce the implementation of the Prohibition Act. If any of the police officers are found lax in their duty, a stringent legal action would be initiated against them,” he said.

In reply to another question, the DGP said that earlier it was the prohibition department that was enforcing the Prohibition Act in the state. But, now the police have been entrusted with this job.

He declined to comment when asked if there was any move to transfer back this task to the prohibition department.

The state Home Department has directed the Superintendents of Police (SPs) and the range IGPs to ensure that raids are intensified on liquor dens and to book bootleggers in their respective areas across the state.

The teams of State Reserved Police (SRP) personnel have been rushed to vulnerable border districts to prevent flow of illicit liquor into Gujarat from the neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Struggle for life

One hundred victims of the hooch tragedy were reportedly admitted to various hospitals in the city by Wednesday evening. Thirty-eight victims were admitted to Shardaben Hospital.

Of this, 19 have died and six are critical. Of the 26 admitted to V S Hospital, 13 have died and two are serious.

Out of 14 admitted to L G Hospital, two have died while 12 are undergoing treatment.

Twenty victims were admitted to the Civil Hospital, of which 12 have died and six are reported to be serious.