Nagaland: 9 Die After Consuming Toxic Liquor in Tuensang, Warning Issued
At least 9 people have died in Tuensang, Nagaland, over three days amid suspicion of spurious liquor consumption, prompting a statewide red alert from DGP Rupin Sharma. Police have urged people to avoid alcohol while the cause is investigated. The deaths have also renewed scrutiny of Nagaland’s long-standing liquor prohibition law and its enforcement.
At least 9 people have died in Tuensang over three days amid suspicion that spurious liquor may have been involved, prompting Nagaland Police to issue a statewide red alert. The deaths were reported from the Tuensang area between September 10 and 12, with authorities yet to officially establish the cause. Nagaland Director General of Police Rupin Sharma has urged people to avoid consuming liquor as an investigation continues.
The alert followed reports of multiple deaths at Civil Hospital in Tuensang. The individuals were reported to have shown similar symptoms, including breathlessness, and some reportedly died within hours of consuming alcohol, NDTV reported. Police have not yet confirmed that the deaths were caused by a particular liquor product or established the precise medical cause. Sagar Liquor Tragedy: 9 Dead, Over a Dozen Hospitalised After Suspected Toxic Alcohol Consumption.
Police Issue Statewide Warning
In his advisory, DGP Sharma urged people not to consume liquor, particularly in Mon, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator and Noklak districts. He also appealed to residents in other parts of Nagaland to abstain from alcohol until the circumstances surrounding the deaths become clear.
The warning comes as authorities investigate the suspected consumption of spurious liquor and seek to determine whether contaminated or illegally produced alcohol was involved.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation. While the initial reports have linked them to suspected spurious liquor consumption, authorities have not yet announced a definitive cause. The latest reports put the number of deaths at 10, compared with nine reported earlier. Five deaths were reported on September 10, four on September 11 and one on September 12, according to local reporting. The development has renewed scrutiny of Nagaland's long-running prohibition policy and the availability of illicit alcohol in the state.
Nagaland's Liquor Prohibition Law
The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989, came into force in 1990 and prohibits the possession, sale, consumption and manufacture of liquor, as well as its import and export, in the state.
The law was introduced with the stated objective of addressing social problems associated with alcohol consumption. Over the years, however, government officials and civil society groups have raised concerns about enforcement, illegal sales and the circulation of poor-quality liquor.
During a 2024 discussion in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on the health hazards of spurious liquor, Advisor for Excise Moatoshi Longkumer said the prohibition regime had produced several unintended consequences, including the growth of illegal liquor outlets and the circulation of spurious and inferior-quality alcohol.
Assembly Had Flagged Spurious Liquor Risks
Longkumer told the Assembly that hundreds of illegal liquor outlets had emerged in and around Dimapur and Kohima, sometimes operating under the guise of businesses such as cold-drink shops.
He also linked the availability of adulterated liquor to serious health risks and said the problem had implications for tourism, hotels, hospitality and the wider economy.
The state's own Excise and Prohibition Department continues to enforce the prohibition law. In a review held in August 2026, the department reported enforcement activity involving liquor and drugs between April 2021 and March 2026. It also reported ₹22.51 crore in excise revenue collections over that period.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has previously acknowledged difficulties with the prohibition policy. During the Assembly discussion on spurious liquor in 2024, Rio said the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act had not been successful in achieving its objectives and pointed to the growth of black-market activity, criminal syndicates and spurious liquor.
The Chief Minister said the government could regulate and restrict the sale and flow of liquor but could not outrightly prohibit individuals from drinking, which he described as a matter of personal choice.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 13, 2026 05:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
