The Bihar government on Friday suspended 25 policemen and arrested six people in connection with the death of 13 locals in a suspected hooch tragedy in Gopalganj district, reported The Indian Express. The local administration also lodged First Information Reports against 14 people in the case.

Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Ravi Ranjan said the policemen were suspended for negligence because they did not conduct checks or raids in the area that provided opportunity for country-made alcohol brewers to carry on their business unhindered, reported India Today.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "So far, it is not clear what exactly caused the deaths in Gopalganj. If it is due to the consumption of spurious country made liquor, as reported, the culprits will not be spared. The culprits will be punished as per the new excise law."

The newspaper reported that according to records at Patna Medical College and Hospital, where the victims were treated, one of the patients had bled from the eyes. This is considered a common symptom after consumption of spurious liquor. The victims purportedly consumed the country-made alcohol on Monday night, and the first death was reported on Tuesday morning. The state government had banned alcohol in the state on April 5.