19 dead after suspected spurious liquor consumption in Nagaland

Mokokchung, Nagaland: At least 19 people have died in Nagaland over the past two days after allegedly consuming suspected spurious liquor, prompting police to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to trace the source and supply chain of the suspected adulterated alcohol.

Eight deaths were reported from Mokokchung district and 11 from Tuensang district, police said.

The SIT, headed by Additional Superintendent of Police I Bunglang Chang, has been constituted to investigate the deaths and identify the source and supply chain of the suspected illicit liquor, Senior Superintendent of Police Vesupra Kezo said on Saturday.

Samples of the suspected liquor have been sent to Guwahati for forensic examination to determine the cause of the deaths, Kezo said.

"We have obtained some leads, but it is too premature to disclose details," he said.

Following the deaths, police carried out multiple raids across the state and arrested 19 people. Nearly 3,000 bottles of liquor were also seized during the operations.

Nagaland has had a prohibition law in place since 1990.

Police have advised people against consuming unidentified, unlabelled or suspected illicit liquor. They also urged anyone experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol to seek immediate medical attention.