19 people die over 2 days after drinking spurious liquor in Nagaland, SIT formed

At least 19 people died in Nagaland after consuming spurious liquor, with eight deaths in Mokokchung and 11 in Tuensang.

In Short

• Mokokchung reported 8 deaths, Tuensang 11 in two days
• Police arrested 19 people, seized nearly 3,000 liquor bottles
• SIT formed to trace source and supply chain of illicit liquor

At least 19 people have died in Nagaland over the past two days after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, news agency PTI reported.

Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the deaths and trace the supply chain of suspected adulterated liquor in the state, where a prohibition law has been in place since 1990.

Mokokchung district reported eight deaths, while Tuensang district reported 11 deaths following the consumption of suspected illicit liquor, police said.

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

Police have sent samples to Guwahati for forensic examination to ascertain the cause of the deaths. "We have obtained some leads, but it is too premature to disclose details," Kezo said.

Following the deaths, police conducted multiple raids, arrested 19 people and seized close to 3,000 bottles of liquor.

Police have advised people to refrain from consuming unidentified, unlabelled or suspected illicit liquor. They also urged anyone who develops symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol to seek medical care immediately.

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