Kohima: At least 19 people have died in Nagaland in the last two days after allegedly consuming spurious or illicit liquor, triggering panic in two districts and prompting a major crackdown by the state police. According to police, eight deaths were reported from Mokokchung district and eleven deaths from Tuensang district. The victims reportedly consumed liquor from unlabelled bottles sold in local areas and developed severe health complications within hours. Police said the death toll may rise as several other persons who consumed the same liquor are undergoing treatment in district hospitals.
According to initial information, the first deaths were reported from Mokokchung on Wednesday night, where several persons complained of vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, blurred vision and breathlessness after consuming liquor. They were rushed to the district hospital but eight of them died during treatment. A similar pattern was reported from Tuensang district on Thursday morning where eleven persons died with similar symptoms. Doctors treating the patients said that the symptoms are consistent with methanol poisoning, which is common in cases of spurious liquor consumption, though the exact cause will be confirmed only after forensic examination.
Taking serious note of the incident, Nagaland Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the deaths and trace the supply chain of the adulterated liquor. The SIT is headed by Additional Superintendent of Police I Bunglang Chang and includes officers from both Mokokchung and Tuensang districts. The SIT has been tasked to investigate the source of the illicit liquor, the manufacturing unit, the distribution network and the sellers involved. Police said the team will also examine whether the same batch of liquor was supplied to other districts.
As part of the investigation, police have collected samples of the liquor consumed by the deceased and sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Guwahati for detailed chemical examination. Police said that the forensic report will help establish whether the liquor contained methanol or other toxic substances beyond permissible limits. The post-mortem examination of the deceased has also been conducted and viscera samples have been preserved for further analysis. The district administrations of Mokokchung and Tuensang are coordinating with the health department to monitor the situation.
In a statewide crackdown following the deaths, Nagaland Police conducted raids at multiple locations suspected of selling illicit liquor and manufacturing units. During the raids, police arrested 19 persons allegedly involved in the sale and distribution of illicit liquor. Police also seized nearly 3,000 bottles of illicit and unlabelled liquor from different locations. The raids were conducted in both Mokokchung and Tuensang, as well as in adjoining areas based on information provided by the arrested persons. Police said further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
Nagaland is a dry state under the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989 (NLTP Act), which prohibits the sale and consumption of liquor. However, despite the prohibition, illicit liquor is reportedly smuggled and sold illegally in many parts of the state. Police said that spurious liquor is often manufactured in clandestine units using industrial spirit and methanol to increase intoxication, which makes it highly dangerous for human consumption. The present incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by the state in enforcing prohibition and checking the flow of illicit liquor.
Meanwhile, police and district administration have issued a public advisory urging people not to consume unlabelled or unverified liquor bought from unauthorized sources. Police have advised that if anyone develops symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision or breathing difficulty after consuming liquor, they should seek immediate medical help and contact the nearest hospital. The health department has also been put on alert and hospitals have been asked to keep sufficient stock of medicines and to report any similar cases immediately.
Chief Minister and senior officials have expressed condolences over the deaths and have assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible for manufacturing and selling spurious liquor. Police said that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the NLTP Act. Further investigation is underway.
