PATNA, April 8 -- Bihar director general of police (DGP) Vinay Kumar on Tuesday said that the cause of death of 11 persons in East Champaran was spurious liquor laced with methyl alcohol. This is the first time the police have admitted that liquor caused the deaths in the tragedy, even as the victims' viscera reports are awaited.

Around 15 people fell ill last Wednesday evening. They were admitted to various hospitals in East Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Patna. The first death was reported on Thursday.

This is the third hooch incident reported from the state in 2026.

The DGP said that seven FIRs have been registered with the Turkaulia, Raghunathpur, Piprakothi and Excise police stations against 13 named persons; eleven have been arrested...