Three persons have died in a suspected adulterated liquor incident at Longpayimsen village under Longtho Police Station in Mokokchung district, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the source of the liquor.
According to a press release issued by Mokokchung Police on October 16, the deceased have been identified as Chungkai, 50, Samuel, 24, and Bubai Urang, 36. All three were originally from Assam and were engaged in agricultural work at Longpayimsen village, where they were temporarily residing.
Police received information about the death of Chungkai from the Longpayimsen Village Council chairman at around 10.30 pm on October 15. A second report was received at around 9 pm regarding the death of Samuel at the Health and Wellness Centre, Longpayimsen. Police subsequently received information that Bubai Urang had also died after receiving medical treatment at PHC Tzürangkong.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the three men had allegedly consumed rum at Chungkai’s residence on the night of October 14. Police said the men reportedly developed symptoms including giddiness, nausea and blurred vision.
According to the preliminary enquiry, Bubai Urang had purchased four bottles of rum from New Sonowal in Assam about a month earlier. The three men had allegedly shared the liquor that night.
Police said the precise cause of death remains subject to medical and forensic confirmation.
The bodies of Chungkai and Samuel were taken to the Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH), Mokokchung, where post-mortem examinations were conducted.
Police said no liquor remnants were recovered from the scene or the residence during the preliminary search. Relevant exhibits will be sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Kolkata, for chemical analysis to help establish the cause of the deaths and trace the source and supply chain of the suspected adulterated liquor.
“Mokokchung Police is treating the matter seriously,” the press release stated, adding that further investigation was underway and necessary legal action would be taken based on the findings.
The police statement did not provide details of any arrest, despite mentioning one in the press release headline.
The deaths come amid a wider series of suspected spurious-liquor incidents reported in Nagaland in September, when deaths were reported in Mokokchung and Tuensang districts. The incidents lead to the formation of a Special Investigation Team, raids against the suspected illegal liquor trade and a public-health response. The Nagaland State Human Rights Commission subsequently sought reports from the state government and concerned authorities on the deaths, forensic findings, enforcement measures and possible lapses. While methanol was reportedly detected in liquor seized in the Tuensang investigation, its concentration could not initially be determined. It remains to be established whether the deaths reported at Longpayimsen village are connected to the earlier incidents.