Hooch deaths in UP's Sitapur and Barabanki: Chemical supplier from Lucknow nabbed after encounter

LUCKNOW: Shanu Qureshi, a native of Lucknow, who supplied chemicals for the spurious liquor racket, claiming 26 lives in Barabanki and Sitapur, was nabbed after an encounter with the police early on Wednesday. Police had announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 after his name was taken by the spurious liquor trade kingpin, Sunil Jaiswal, arrested on Tuesday.
“A police team led by crime branch chased Qureshi and intercepted him near Gadiya village here under Kotwali police station around 3am, but he fired two rounds at policemen.In retaliation, police fired four rounds and one bullet hit Qureshi in the leg making him fall. He was admitted to Barabanki district hospital,” SP Barabanki, Ajay Sahni, said.
Police said Shanu Qureshi, resident of Nadarganj in Lucknow, supplied chemicals sourced from Kanpur.
Barabanki SP Ajay Sahni told TOI that Jaiswal spilled the beans about the chain of spurious liquor supply during questioning.
"Jaiswal had revealed that Qureshi had a licence for manufacturing thinner. He got large quantities of chemicals from a firm in Kanpur saying they were needed for a paint and leather industry unit and delivered them to Kanhaiya Kumar in Biswan, Sitapur and Pappu Jaiswal in Barabanki,” said Sahni.
The gang used one litre of these chemicals, which were used to make four litre of country-made liquor, which was then sold via the outlets of Sunil Jaiswal.