The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has called for a “careful and honest relook” at the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, following the tragic loss of lives in Tuensang district in connection with the consumption of suspected spurious liquor.
In a press statement issued on September 15, the NBCC said that while investigations into the incident were underway and the facts had yet to be fully established, the deaths served as a reminder of the dangers posed when alcohol and illicit substances are allowed to take a destructive course in society.
The Church said the tragedy should not be allowed to pass as another unfortunate incident, but should compel society and the Government to pause and examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the broader issue of alcohol abuse.
The NBCC called for a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation so that the truth could be established and those responsible held accountable under the law.
It also urged the Government and the Excise Department to pursue the matter with urgency and diligence and identify those involved in the illegal liquor trade.
The Church said individuals involved as bootleggers, suppliers, distributors or members of illicit networks, if found responsible, should be brought to justice and face legal action and appropriate punishment.
“There must be no room for negligence, collusion, illegal manufacture, distribution, or the exploitation of vulnerable people for profit,” the NBCC stated.
Beyond the immediate incident, the NBCC urged the Government to strengthen enforcement against illegal liquor sales and ensure that the protective intent of the NLTP Act is not weakened in practice.
The Church said laws are meaningful only when they are faithfully implemented and when the safety and dignity of human beings are placed above commercial or political interests.
The NBCC said the NLTP Act, which was enacted in 1989, deserved a careful examination not merely as a matter of legislation, but in terms of its original purpose, implementation and continuing relevance to the moral and social well-being of the people.
“Whether the Act is retained, amended, or repealed,” the Church said, its ministry and prophetic responsibility would remain unchanged.
The NBCC maintained that its concern over alcohol abuse goes beyond the existence of any particular law. It said the Church has for decades stood alongside people struggling with alcoholism, supported families affected by alcohol abuse and called society towards sobriety, responsibility and righteousness.
The Church argued that the passage of time does not by itself change the harmful consequences of a practice.
“What was harmful to our society thirty-seven years ago does not become beneficial merely because time has passed,” the NBCC said, adding that anything that destroys individuals, wounds families, impoverishes communities and diminishes human dignity remains a social and moral concern.
The NBCC further said it would not retreat from its position simply because the Church’s views might be unpopular or opposed.
It said the Church had a responsibility to speak on issues affecting society, particularly where there was “brokenness”, “danger” and suffering.
At the same time, the NBCC acknowledged the constitutional responsibility of the Government and said it remained committed to working constructively with the authorities.
The Church said it would cooperate with the Government wherever possible in strengthening implementation of the NLTP Act, addressing gaps in enforcement and protecting communities from the social consequences of alcohol abuse. However, it stressed that such cooperation should not be interpreted as a compromise of its conviction.
The NBCC said the Tuensang tragedy should also serve as an opportunity to examine how existing measures against illegal liquor are being implemented on the ground.
It maintained that the issue was not limited to individual consumption, but could develop into a wider family crisis, public-health concern and social disorder.
The Church said it could not continue to “normalize what destroys lives and then mourn only after tragedy strikes”, and called for greater collective attention to the social consequences of alcohol abuse.
The NBCC concluded by reiterating its solidarity with the bereaved families and all those affected by the Tuensang deaths, while urging authorities to ensure that those proven responsible are held accountable and that measures are taken to prevent similar loss of life.
The statement was signed by Rev Achu Chang, President, NBCC; Rev Dr Mar Pongener, General Secretary, NBCC; and Dr Villo Naleo, Secretary, Social Concerns, NBCC.