In ‘dry’ Nagaland, 19 die of hooch poisoning; police probe underway

In the predominantly dry state of Nagaland, at least 19 individuals have succumbed to suspected hooch poisoning in the past two days, according to police reports. The tragic incidents occurred in Mokokchung and Tuensang districts, with eight deaths reported in Mokokchung and eleven in Tuensang, as per the PTI news agency.

The death toll has prompted the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of Additional Superintendent of Police I Bunglang Chang. The primary objective of this team is to investigate the unfortunate incident and trace the origin and distribution chain of the allegedly adulterated liquor. Senior Superintendent of Police Vesupra Kezo, speaking on the matter, stated that samples have been forwarded to Guwahati for forensic analysis to determine the cause of the fatalities.

Police have managed to gather some leads but cautioned against premature conclusions, emphasizing that further investigation is ongoing. Following the tragic occurrences, police carried out multiple raids, resulting in the arrest of nineteen individuals and the seizure of approximately three thousand bottles of liquor. It is worth noting that Nagaland has maintained a prohibition law since 1990, underlining the state's strict stance against liquor consumption.

In response to the crisis, the police have advised the public against consuming unidentified, unlabelled, or suspected illicit liquor. The authorities have also urged anyone experiencing symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol to seek immediate medical attention.