Nineteen people have died in Nagaland over the past two days after consuming suspected spurious liquor, triggering a major probe in the state where prohibition has been in force since 1990.
Officials said 11 deaths were reported from Tuensang district and eight from Mokokchung district. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the incident.
During statewide raids, police arrested 19 people and seized around 3,000 liquor bottles. Samples have been sent to the forensic science laboratory in Guwahati to determine the cause of death.
Police have warned the public against consuming unidentified or unlabelled liquor. People experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, breathlessness or fainting have been advised to seek immediate medical attention.
