Four persons died after they allegedly consumed country liquor of a particular brand in Burdwan town on Thursday night, prompting the state excise department and police to start a probe to find out whether the alcohol had been contaminated.

“Four persons have died so far and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem. It is too early to say whether the actual cause of the death was consumption of liquor,” said Kamanasish Sen, the East Burdwan superintendent of police.

Police sources said the deceased were Sheikh Halim, 29, Sheikh Surabarti, 35, Chinmoy Dey, 38, and Goutam Dey, 36. Chinmoy and Goutam are brothers and their family members primarily denied that the two had consumed liquor on Thursday night.

“They (Deys) often used to have food from outside. Yesterday, they complained about uneasiness. We took the duo

to a private hospital today and they died there. According to my knowledge, they did not consume liquor,” Tapasi Dey, a family member of the siblings, said.

Sources said at least a dozen people had reported severe headache, nausea and vomiting tendency after they had consumed liquor at three places in Burdwan town.

Police and excise officers have asked all district administrations to stop selling the particular brand that allegedly caused the deaths till samples of a specific batch of bottles are examined at laboratory.

“We have already collected samples of the country liquor and sent the same to the laboratory for testing. All districts have been asked to stop selling the brand till the report comes. If the cause of death is liquor, then it is for sure the entire batch of bottles may have the same contamination,” an excise department official said.

A group of senior excise department officers was sent to Burdwan for the probe.

The state government has sought a detailed report from the East Burdwan district administration.

“The issue is very serious as the brand that those who died allegedly consumed sells at least three lakh bottles in Bengal every day. If any contamination is found in the liquor, we will take action against the manufacturer,” said a senior excise department officer in Calcutta.

Residents of Burdwan town alleged rampant sale of liquor from hotels and roadside taverns without permission from the excise department. “It is really unfortunate that liquor is sold illegally from many outlets at Burdwan town. The practice should be stopped,” said a teacher.

A senior police officer said a case had already been registered against a hotel which sold liquor illegally.