Bhopal, Sept. 23 -- Sagar Police on Wednesday arrested the prime suspect in the spurious liquor tragedy after a brief encounter, nearly three weeks after he went absconding, officers said.

Licensed liquor contractor Manish Lodhi alias Yashwant Thakur, who carried a Rs.30,000 reward, was arrested along with his associate Ashish Sahu in the Malthon area. Police said Lodhi was shot in the leg after he and Sahu opened fire on a police team during an interception.

Lodhi is the key conspirator in the spurious liquor case registered at Banda and Vinayaka police stations, which has so far claimed 20 lives, police said. The Madhya Pradesh government told the high court on Tuesday that the deaths of seven others were suspected to be linked to the...