Lucknow, Feb 27 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government Saturday ordered a statewide drive to check the sale of spurious liquor and bust illegal liquor manufacturing units, an official said.

'SPs (superintendents of police), Additional SPs, circle officers and excise department officials of every district have been given strict directions for launching an operation against spurious liquor units and those involved in its manufacturing,' Additional Director General (Law and Order) Brij Lal told reporters here.

The government's direction comes after several deaths in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad and Varanasi districts due to consumption of illicit liquor.

While six people died Feb 26 in Ghaziabad, at least 16 lost their lives last week in different villages of Varanasi district.

In its direction the government said: 'Police officers would be held accountable for any illicit-liquor-related death taking place in their region.'

'It has been directed to all SPs, Additional SPs, circle officers and Station House Officers (SHOs) that they would be questioned and held accountable if any death occurs due to spurious liquor,' Lal added.