📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Limasenla
Crime
19 die in Nagaland after consuming illicit liquor in Mokokchung and Tuensang
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 27 Sep 2026, 11:15 AM
👁 11
Police say 19 people died after drinking spurious liquor in Mokokchung and Tuensang districts of Nagaland, and a probe has been launched.
Earlier this week, authorities in Nagaland confirmed that 19 individuals lost their lives after consuming illicit alcoholic beverage, commonly referred to as "hooch", in the districts of Mokokchung and Tuensang. The victims were reportedly part of a gathering where the unregulated liquor was served.
Preliminary reports indicate that the deaths were caused by acute poisoning, a known risk associated with illegally brewed spirits that often contain harmful contaminants such as methanol. Families of the deceased have been notified, and local hospitals were overwhelmed with patients showing symptoms of severe intoxication.
The Nagaland police have opened a criminal investigation to identify the manufacturers and distributors of the illicit brew. Teams have been dispatched to both districts to collect samples, interview witnesses, and trace the supply chain of the contraband liquor.
State officials have urged the public to avoid unlicensed alcoholic products and have promised stricter enforcement against illegal brewing operations, citing a rise in similar incidents across the Northeast in recent months.
Preliminary reports indicate that the deaths were caused by acute poisoning, a known risk associated with illegally brewed spirits that often contain harmful contaminants such as methanol. Families of the deceased have been notified, and local hospitals were overwhelmed with patients showing symptoms of severe intoxication.
The Nagaland police have opened a criminal investigation to identify the manufacturers and distributors of the illicit brew. Teams have been dispatched to both districts to collect samples, interview witnesses, and trace the supply chain of the contraband liquor.
State officials have urged the public to avoid unlicensed alcoholic products and have promised stricter enforcement against illegal brewing operations, citing a rise in similar incidents across the Northeast in recent months.