Lucknow, May 8 (IANS): Five people died in Amethi after consuming illicit liquor, police said Wednesday. Three people, including the liquor supplier, were arrested.

The deaths took place in the Miyan Ka Purwa village where people consumed the poisonous liquor during an entertainment programme and fell ill. They were taken to a hospital where they died Tuesday night. Amethi is the parliamentary constituency of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Alankrita Singh told IANS that the liquor was consumed by the deceased two days back at the village in Amethi district.

Three people, including the government vendor of the country liquor, have been arrested by the police.

Kailash, Surya Narayan, Jamaal Ahmad, Ram Bahadur and Notedar died after consuming the liquor. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem.

A team of the excise department has raided all the shops selling country liquor in the area and have seized all liquor pouches and bottles. The authorities have also ordered a probe into the incident.

Three people, including a woman, are still ill after they consumed the liquor.