Dimapur, Sept 27: Nineteen people have died in Nagaland’s Mokokchung and Tuensang districts over the past two days after allegedly consuming suspected spurious liquor, police said on Saturday. Authorities have arrested 19 people, seized nearly 3,000 bottles of suspected illicit alcohol and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the deaths and trace the supply chain.
Police form SIT, samples sent for forensic analysis
A police official in Kohima said the casualties comprised eight deaths in Mokokchung district and 11 deaths in Tuensang district. The SIT is headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Bunglang Chang. Investigators have collected samples of the liquor and forwarded them to a laboratory in Guwahati for forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death.
"Some leads have been obtained, but it is too premature to disclose details," the official said.
Following the fatalities, police teams carried out multiple raids across affected areas and detained 19 persons in connection with the incidents. Nearly 3,000 bottles of liquor alleged to be illicit were recovered during these operations.
Context: prohibition and repeated incidents
Nagaland has had a state prohibition law in force since 1990. Despite the ban, the illegal manufacture, distribution and consumption of alcohol persist in parts of the state, posing recurring public health and law-and-order challenges. Earlier this month, authorities recorded at least nine deaths at the Tuensang Civil Hospital after people reportedly consumed suspected spurious liquor; police had then issued a red alert and warned the public against drinking alcohol from unknown or unauthorised sources.
Police have repeatedly urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms following alcohol consumption, including dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness.
Investigation status and public advisories
The SIT will investigate the source of the suspected adulterated liquor and attempt to map the supply chain leading to the affected districts. Forensic results from the Guwahati laboratory are awaited and are expected to play a key role in establishing the proximate cause of death and any toxic agents involved.
- Deaths reported: 19 (Mokokchung 8, Tuensang 11)
- Arrests made: 19
- Bottles seized: nearly 3,000
- Samples sent for forensic testing: Guwahati laboratory
Immediate implications and next steps
Police action so far has focused on containment — apprehending suspects, seizing suspected contraband and forwarding samples for laboratory analysis. The SIT is expected to follow leads to identify manufacturers, distributors and sellers linked to the batch or batches of liquor allegedly responsible for the deaths.
Depending on forensic findings, criminal charges could include causing death by negligent or reckless conduct and offences under excise and prohibition statutes. Additional arrests are possible as the investigation progresses, the official indicated.
Data summary
| Parameter | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total deaths | 19 |
| Mokokchung | 8 deaths |
| Tuensang | 11 deaths |
| Arrests | 19 |
| Seized bottles | Nearly 3,000 |
Police have advised the public to avoid consuming unidentified, unlabelled or suspicious liquor and to report any cases of illness after alcohol consumption immediately to health facilities. Symptoms cited by authorities in past incidents include breathlessness, dizziness, blurred vision and loss of consciousness.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities said they will release further details as forensic results and additional enquiries yield verifiable information.
