At least 24 people have died after drinking home-brewed liquor in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
Indian officials said most of the victims became sick and many were hospitalized after drinking the toxic liquor Sunday night.
After the poisoning incident, angry residents took to the streets to
protest the failure of police to close illegal distilleries.
Authorities fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
Deaths from drinking illegally brewed cheap alcohol are common throughout India.
Selling and consuming alcohol is illegal in Gujarat. The state is the
birthplace of India's independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was a
strong advocate of prohibition.