KOHIMA, Sept 14: Nine people died in Nagaland’s Tuensang district on September 10 and 11, with police saying the deaths were circumstantially linked to the consumption of suspected spurious or adulterated liquor.
The deaths were reported from Tuensang town and Chendang Saddle village. Police, however, said the link between the deaths and liquor consumption had not been scientifically or conclusively established, with scientific and forensic procedures underway.
Preliminary enquiries found that most of the deceased had reportedly consumed liquor before developing symptoms including blurred vision, severe headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. One person was reportedly found hanging and the case was being investigated as a suspected suicide.
Police also suspected spurious liquor in the deaths of three members of a family. The liquor was reportedly purchased by one of the deceased from premises where it was allegedly available.
Following the deaths, Tuensang Police conducted searches and raids in Tuensang town and the Chendang Saddle area, seizing around 470 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) and beer cans suspected to be unauthorised or spurious/adulterated.
Nagaland has enforced prohibition under the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989, which bans the possession, sale, consumption and manufacture of alcohol in the state.
Police were investigating the source and nature of the liquor allegedly consumed and the possible involvement of those responsible for its sale or distribution. Authorities urged people to avoid liquor from unknown or unauthorised sources and seek immediate medical attention if they developed unusual symptoms after consuming alcohol.
Police also appealed to residents to report the sale or distribution of suspected spurious liquor, cooperate with the investigation and avoid circulating rumours or unverified information.
