The death toll in the suspected spurious liquor incident in Mokokchung district has risen to eight, with fresh deaths reported from Mangkolemba and Aliba on Friday, confirmed Mokokchung police.
One person died at Mangkolemba Community Health Centre at around 2 a.m. on Friday, while another death was reported in Mangkolemba in the evening. Two more persons died at Aliba in the afternoon, according to information available.
The exact cause of the deaths and illness remains under investigation. The police confirmed that they are in the process of sending samples to a Forensic Science Lab in Guwahati, Assam to determine the nature of the alcohol and ascertain whether it was adulterated.
The development follows the deaths of four persons reported earlier in Mangkolemba Sub-Division following suspected consumption of adulterated or spurious liquor. Four others had reportedly fallen ill.
Mangkolemba Police Station has registered a case vide Case No. 002 under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with relevant provisions of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act. Six persons have so far been arrested and suspected adulterated liquor seized in connection with the case.
Police said the investigation is aimed at establishing the circumstances leading to the deaths and illness, tracing the source and supply chain of the suspected liquor, and identifying persons involved in its manufacture, transportation, distribution or sale.
Police had also cautioned that liquor from the suspected source may have been distributed to other parts of Nagaland and warned that its consumption could pose a serious risk to life and health.
The investigation is continuing.
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Dimapur has detected methanol in samples of suspected alcoholic beverages forwarded by Tuensang Police in connection with the investigation into recent deaths suspected to be associated with alcohol consumption.
According to the FSL report dated September 24, the samples tested positive for methanol, or methyl alcohol, on qualitative examination. However, the laboratory stated that quantitative estimation could not be carried out due to the non-availability of the required instruments.
Tuensang Police clarified that qualitative detection alone does not establish the concentration of methanol in the samples or whether it exceeds applicable permissible limits. Quantitative analysis is required to determine the actual concentration and assess compliance with relevant standards.
The samples were also forwarded to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Guwahati, on the same day for detailed quantitative analysis. The results are awaited.
The police said the investigation is continuing into all relevant aspects, including the source, supply chain and distribution of the suspected alcoholic beverages. Further action will be taken based on the complete forensic and investigative findings.
Tuensang Police has meanwhile advised the public to exercise caution and refrain from consuming unidentified, unlabelled or suspected illicit alcoholic beverages while the investigation is underway.