19 Die In Nagaland After Suspected Adulterated Liquor Consumption; SIT Begins Probe

At least 19 people have died in Nagaland’s Mokokchung and Tuensang districts after allegedly consuming suspected spurious liquor, prompting a police probe.

Eight deaths were reported in Mokokchung and 11 in Tuensang over the past two days, a police official in Kohima said on Saturday. Police have arrested 19 people and seized nearly 3,000 bottles of liquor during raids at multiple locations.

SIT Formed To Trace Liquor Source

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Bunglang Chang, has been formed to investigate the deaths and trace the source and supply chain of the suspected adulterated liquor.

“Some leads have been obtained, but it is too premature to disclose details,” the police official said.

Liquor samples have been sent to a laboratory in Guwahati for forensic examination to ascertain the cause of the deaths.

Police have also warned people against consuming unidentified, unlabelled or suspected illicit liquor. Those experiencing dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol have been urged to seek immediate medical attention.

Earlier Deaths Reported In Tuensang

The latest fatalities come after at least nine people, including three members of a family, died earlier this month after allegedly consuming suspected spurious liquor.

Police said the nine deaths were reported in Tuensang Town and Chendang Saddle on September 10 and 11. The victims reportedly developed symptoms including blurred vision, severe headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and breathlessness before dying.

Nagaland Director General of Police Rupin Sharma had said the victims were suspected to have died after consuming spurious liquor. The state police subsequently issued a red alert and urged people to avoid liquor from unknown, unauthorised or suspected adulterated sources.

Nagaland has had a prohibition law in force since 1990, although illegal sale and consumption of liquor continue to pose challenges in the state.

Similar Spurious Liquor Cases In India

The Nagaland deaths come amid recent spurious liquor-related tragedies reported elsewhere in India. In Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, authorities investigated a spurious liquor case after multiple deaths were reported, with police arresting several people in connection with the incident. The investigation also focused on the alleged supply and distribution of illicit liquor.

In Bhavnagar, Gujarat, a separate suspected spurious liquor tragedy was reported in August, in which several people died after allegedly consuming liquor suspected to have been contaminated with methanol. Police registered a case against multiple accused and arrested several people while investigating the alleged manufacturing and distribution network.