From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 12:00 AM IST

Five people died and 20 others were taken ill after they consumed spurious country liquor in West Bengal's East Midnapore district Monday.

The tragedy occurred near Ramtarak market of Mecheda in the Matangini block of the district, the state police control room said.

Fourteen of those taken ill are serious, said East Midnapore superintendent of police Pallab Kanti Ghosh.

The incident happened in the afternoon after those drinking in a country liquor den started complaining of excruciating body ache and began vomitting.

Five of them died on way to the hospital.

Irate villagers staged an impromptu demonstration demanding all the liquor dens in the area be dismantled. Following this, five such illegal shops were razed.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)