At least 19 people have died in Nagaland allegedly after consuming suspected spurious liquor, leading police to launch a massive investigation into the source and supply chain of the adulterated alcohol.
The deaths in Mokokchung and Tuensang districts have taken place in the last two days and now officials are investigating exactly what caused the deaths and where the illegal liquor is believed to be coming from.
According to police, eight deaths have been reported in Mokokchung district and Tuensang district, 11 deaths have been associated with suspected illicit liquor consumption. The incidents have created serious problems in the state, especially since Nagaland has been under a liquor prohibition law since 1990. Despite the restrictions on liquor in some areas, a struggle for the circulation and consumption of illegal liquor is still ongoing, and illegal liquor continues to be spread, causing suffering in other areas.
To investigate the deaths and establish the supply chain of the liquor, Nagaland Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The team is headed by Additional Superintendent of Police I Bunglang Chang. Senior Superintendent of Police Vesupra Kezo said the SIT would investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and try to trace the source from which the adulterated liquor reached consumers.
Police also sent samples for forensic examination in Guwahati. The laboratory analysis will help investigators determine if there was any potential contamination or toxic substances in the liquor consumed by the victims. The results of the forensic analysis will help determine what caused the deaths and how much.
“We have got some leads, but it is too premature to disclose details,” SSP Vesupra Kezo said, indicating that investigators were following up on information gathered during the early stages of the investigation. Police are reviewing evidence and trying to find out who made, transported, and distributed the suspected illicit liquor.
Following those deaths, police conducted several raids at suspected locations in the state. 19 people were arrested and more than 3,000 bottles of liquor were seized, police said. The arrests and seizures are part of a bigger investigation into the alleged supply network. The seized liquor will be investigated to determine if it was linked to the deaths and if it was part of the same suspected distribution chain.
The incident has also led to a public health warning. Police have told people not to consume unbranded or unlicensed, suspected illicit liquor. Such warning is of particular relevance to people in areas where prohibited or illegally distributed alcohol can be sold outside regulated channels, making it difficult for consumers to know the contents or the safety of the product.
People who experience unusual symptoms after drinking alcohol are advised by health officials to seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulty, or loss of consciousness can indicate a serious medical emergency and must be treated without delay. People experiencing such symptoms should not wait for the condition to go away on its own.
The deaths have put more focus on the enforcement of Nagaland's prohibition policy and the dangers of illegally produced or adulterated liquor. And though the investigation is still ongoing, officials are trying to determine where the liquor was delivered and whether the seized bottles are connected to the deaths.
The SIT investigation will also provide further clues in the next few days, and forensic examination of the samples should be done. But until that is known, the substance responsible for the deaths and the causes of death remain to be determined. Police say more details will be released when there is enough evidence.
And until then, authorities are advising residents to be extremely cautious and avoid liquor from unknown sources. The 19 deaths and the alleged illicit liquor network are being investigated.
