As many as 19 people have died in Nagaland following the consumption of suspected illicit and spurious liquor, police said on Saturday, adding that they have launched an in-depth probe to unearth the source and the supply chain of the adulterated alcohol. Close to 3,000 bottles of liquor have been seized and 19 persons have been arrested in connection with the case so far, the police added.

The deaths caused due to the suspected spurious liquor consumption were reported from two districts; Maokochung and Tuensang, over the past two days. As per police, 8 persons succumbed after the liquor consumption in Mokochung, while Tuensang posted 11 fatalities.

Major concerns have been emerging over the incident, as Nagaland is a state where a prohibition law has been in force since 1990.

SIT constituted to trace liquor supply chain

The state police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the cause behind the deaths and discover how the suspected adulterated liquor made it to the consumers.

Additional Superintendent of Police I Bungland Chang has been heading the SIT. Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Vesupra Kezo said on Saturday that the team had been tasked with identifying the liquor’s source and ascertain the extent of its supply network.

Samples of the suspected hooch have been sent to Guwahati for a forensic examination. The tests are likely to assist authorities in establishing whether the liquor was responsible for the deaths, besides determining the nature of any toxic or adulterated substances present in it.

Kezo told news agency PTI, “We have obtained some leads, but it is too premature to disclose details.”

19 fall into police dragnet, 3k bottles seized

After deaths were reported from the aforementioned districts, police launched multiple raids across the affected areas as part of the crackdown on suspected illicit liquor. So far, 19 people have fallen into the police dragnet and nearly 3,000 liquor bottles have been seized. Police said they are persevering in efforts to identify the people involved in the manufacture, distribution and supply of the suspected adulterated alcohol.

Authorities have also urged the commoners to exercise caution and keep unlabelled or unidentified liquor at bay.

Health advisory issued

Nagaland Police have also pleaded with the public not to consume unidentified, unlabelled or suspected illicit liquor, warning of potentially dire health consequences.

Further in the advisory, it was also outlined that if anyone develops symptoms including dizziness, blurred vision, breathing woes or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol, he/she must immediately seek medical attention.