LUCKNOW: A dozen people have died after drinking toxic homemade alcohol in Uttar Pradesh state, police said Monday, the latest incident of bootleg booze killing Indian drinkers, reports AFP.

Police in the northern state said victims complaining of severe stomach pain fell seriously ill after consuming a batch of illicit moonshine last Thursday.

"Twelve persons have died after (the) consumption of spurious liquor," Ajay Kumar Sahni, the police chief in Azamgarh district, told AFP.

Police arrested 21 people, including the main suspect behind the toxic brew, he added. At least four other victims were still in hospital undergoing treatment.