Five persons died after consuming spurious liquor in Aliganj area here, police said today.
Locals claimed that 12 others were taken ill after drinking the alcohol out of which six lost their eyesight.
About 17 persons from Luhari Darwaja and adjacent Laukhera village consumed the liquor late last evening which led to the deaths of Netrapal (35), Ramesh Shakya (36), Sarvesh (25), Ateeq (31) and Ram Autar, police said.
Additional Superintendent of Police Visarjan Sigh Yadav said the number of persons taken ill was being investigated.
Meanwhile, agitated locals blocked the Etah-Farrukhabad route by keeping the bodies of Ateeq and Ramesh on the road.
District Magistrate Ajay Yadav said an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each would given to families of the deceased and added that stern action would be taken against liquor mafia.
