GUWAHATI: At least 19 people have died in Nagaland over the past two days after allegedly consuming spurious liquor, prompting police to launch an investigation into the source and distribution of the suspected adulterated alcohol.
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Eight deaths were reported from Mokokchung district, while Tuensang district recorded 11 fatalities, police said.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the deaths and trace the supply chain of the suspected illicit liquor. The team is headed by Additional Superintendent of Police I Bunglang Chang, Senior Superintendent of Police Vesupra Kezo said on Saturday.
Following the deaths, police carried out raids at multiple locations across the state. According to media reports, 19 people have been arrested and nearly 3,000 bottles of liquor seized as part of the investigation.
Authorities have also urged people to avoid unidentified or unlabelled alcohol and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties or loss of consciousness after drinking.
Nagaland has had a prohibition law in place since 1990, restricting the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol in the state.
