NEW DELHI: At least nine people died at the Civil Hospital in Nagaland’s Tuensang district over the past three days after allegedly consuming suspected spurious liquor, officials said on Sunday (Sept 13).
The deaths were reported in Tuensang Town and Chendang Saddle on Sept 10 and 11, following which police issued a red alert and warned people against consuming liquor from unknown or unauthorised sources.
Nine deaths reported
According to the IANS report, police said several victims developed symptoms such as breathlessness, blurred vision, severe headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting after allegedly consuming the suspected adulterated liquor. Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said the deaths were suspected to be linked to spurious liquor, although the exact cause has not yet been scientifically established.
According to an official statement, the deaths have a direct or indirect circumstantial link with alcohol consumption based on the information available so far. However, police said further scientific and forensic examination is required to confirm whether spurious liquor caused the deaths.
One person, reportedly a family member of the liquor seller, also died by hanging. Police said the circumstances of this death are being investigated separately as a suspected suicide.
Tuensang Police received information on Saturday about a pattern of deaths involving people admitted to the Civil Hospital. Preliminary enquiries found that most of the victims had reportedly consumed liquor before developing health complications.
Post-mortem examinations were not carried out in most cases as the bodies had already been taken for funerals before police became aware of the pattern. The current assessment is therefore based on medical records, preliminary enquiries and other information gathered during the investigation.
470 liquor bottles, beer cans seized
Police have launched a detailed investigation to identify the source and nature of the liquor consumed and determine whether anyone was responsible for the deaths.
Officials said three members of a family from whose premises the liquor was reportedly purchased by some of the victims were also among those who died. Further medical and scientific examinations are being conducted in coordination with the concerned authorities to establish the exact cause of the deaths and determine the nature of the liquor.
Police also carried out searches and raids across Tuensang Town and the Chendang Saddle area to identify and seize suspected unauthorised, spurious or adulterated liquor. During the operations, around 470 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer cans were seized from different locations.
Police have also launched public awareness efforts and urged people to avoid consuming liquor obtained from unknown, unauthorised or suspected adulterated sources. - The Statesman/ANN
