19 dead after suspected spurious liquor consumption in Nagaland; 19 arrested

• Police say eight deaths were reported in Mokokchung and 11 in Tuensang over the past two days.

• Nineteen people have been arrested and nearly 3,000 bottles of liquor seized during raids.

• Samples have been sent for forensic testing; the cause of the deaths has yet to be confirmed.

At least 19 people have died in Nagaland’s Mokokchung and Tuensang districts over the past two days after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, police said on Saturday. Officers have arrested 19 people and are investigating where the suspected liquor came from and how it was supplied.

A police official said eight deaths were reported in Mokokchung and 11 in Tuensang. A Special Investigation Team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Bunglang Chang has been formed to investigate the deaths and trace the source of the liquor.

“Some leads have been obtained, but it is too premature to disclose details,” the official said. Samples have been sent to a laboratory in Guwahati for forensic examination. Police have also conducted raids at several locations and seized nearly 3,000 bottles of liquor.

The deaths follow a separate report earlier this month of nine people dying in Tuensang after allegedly consuming spurious liquor. At the time, police warned residents against drinking liquor from unknown or unauthorised sources. It was not immediately clear from the latest police account whether any of those earlier deaths were included in Saturday’s figure of 19.

Nagaland has had a prohibition law since 1990, but illicit liquor remains available. Police have urged anyone who develops symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness after drinking alcohol to seek immediate medical attention.

With IANS inputs