Mokokchung liquor deaths rise to eight as police arrest 19, seize suspected spurious liquor and launch district-wide raids
MOKOKCHUNG — The death toll in Mokokchung district’s suspected spurious liquor tragedy has risen to eight, with six deaths reported from Mangkolemba sub-division and two from Mokokchung Police Station-II area, police confirmed on Friday.
Mokokchung Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Superintendent of Police I Bunglang Chang, to investigate the deaths and trace the source of the suspected adulterated liquor.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mokokchung, Vesupra Kezo, said the first reports emerged from Mangkolemba on September 24, when four people died over the preceding few days after allegedly consuming illicit liquor. Four others reportedly fell ill with similar symptoms.
Two more deaths were reported from Mangkolemba on September 25, along with two deaths in the Police Station-II area, taking the toll to eight.
Police said post-mortems were being conducted and samples would be sent to Guwahati for forensic examination to determine the cause of the deaths.
“We have obtained some leads, but it is too premature to disclose details,” Kezo said.
A case has been registered at Mangkolemba Police Station under Case No. 002, Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 44(a), (c), (d) and (e) of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act.
Police said raids in connection with the Police Station-II cases had already yielded useful information.
Following the deaths, Mokokchung Police launched district-wide raids covering all sub-divisions and Mokokchung town amid concerns that the suspected liquor could have been distributed to other parts of the district and beyond.
The seizures reported so far include 2,017 bottles of rum, comprising 346 bottles of 750 ml, 941 bottles of 375 ml and 730 bottles of 180 ml; 496 cans of beer (500 ml); 245 bottles of whisky (180 ml); and 30 bottles of vodka (180 ml).
Nineteen people have been arrested in operations conducted by Mangkolemba Police Station, Mokokchung Police Station-II, Mokokchung Police Station-I, Tuli, Changtongya and Kubolong police stations.
Police said the investigation would focus on establishing the circumstances surrounding the deaths and illnesses, tracing the source and supply chain of the suspected spurious liquor, and identifying those involved in its manufacture, transportation, distribution or sale.
‘Patients dying within 30 minutes’
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Mangkolemba Moakumzuk Tzudir said a joint meeting of police and civil society organisations in Mangkolemba on September 25 resolved to intensify checking and monitoring across the sub-division.
“Patients are dying within 30 minutes of reaching the hospital,” he said, while appealing to the public to come forward with information that could help curb the circulation of suspected adulterated liquor.
Police have cautioned that liquor from the suspected source may have reached other parts of the state and urged people not to consume liquor from unknown, unauthorised or doubtful sources.
People experiencing symptoms such as gastric pain, dizziness, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, severe headache or loss of consciousness after consuming liquor have been advised to seek immediate medical attention.
The public has also been urged to report suspected sale or storage of spurious or adulterated liquor and provide information on its source or distribution to police.
Tzudir issued a separate advisory to residents of Mangkolemba, reiterating the warning against consuming liquor from unknown, unauthorised or suspected sources and urging people to immediately seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
The Mokokchung deaths come less than two weeks after a suspected spurious-liquor tragedy in Tuensang district, where at least 11 people reportedly died between September 10 and 12 after developing similar symptoms following alcohol consumption.