Kohima, September 17: Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma says police are investigating the deaths of 11 people in Tuensang district, amid suspicion that contaminated or spoiled liquor may have caused several of the deaths.
Speaking exclusively, Sharma said nine deaths initially reported from Civil Hospital, Tuensang, showed similar symptoms. Police later found that most of the deceased had reportedly consumed liquor from the same liquor-selling joint in the district.
The DGP said one of the 11 deaths was a suicide, while another recent death may have been linked either to contaminated liquor or excessive alcohol consumption. The exact cause of the latest death remains under investigation.
Sharma said no post-mortem examinations were conducted because the families of the deceased did not agree to them. As a result, no viscera or biological samples were collected initially.
Police have, however, seized bottles from the suspected premises and other locations and are sending them for forensic examination. The results are expected to take around 15 days.
The DGP said police have not yet identified where the suspected liquor came from or who supplied it. Investigators are also examining whether the liquor was adulterated before reaching Tuensang, became contaminated after being stored for a long period, or was spoiled at the place where it was sold.
No arrests have been made so far, as the person allegedly selling the liquor has also died.
With Nagaland under the NLTP prohibition law, Sharma said the investigation will also examine whether there were any enforcement failures or lapses by officials that allowed illegal liquor to be sold in such quantities.
The DGP has also issued an appeal for people to avoid consuming alcohol for the time being, as the exact cause of the deaths is yet to be scientifically established.
