DIMAPUR, OCT 17 (NPN): In the aftermath of recent deaths following the suspected consumption of adulterated liquor, Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma has directed village councils to monitor and report illicit liquor activities, while the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) has called for a comprehensive review of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989.
DC directs VCs to monitor illicit liquor: In view of reports of suspected consumption of spurious liquor resulting in deaths and hospitalisations in Mangkolemba sub-division and other parts of Mokokchung district, Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma has directed all village councils under the district to remain vigilant and closely monitor the situation within their respective jurisdictions.
In an order, DC directed village councils to monitor and report any suspected sale, transportation, storage or distribution of liquor to the concerned Area Administrative Officer and police authorities for necessary action.
They have also been directed to immediately report incidents involving suspected consumption of spurious or illicit liquor, particularly cases of illness, hospitalisation or death, and extend full cooperation to the district administration, police and other enforcement agencies.
The order further directed village councils to sensitise the public against purchasing or consuming liquor in view of the prevailing public health concerns.
In cases where a person exhibits symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty in breathing, nausea, severe abdominal pain or loss of consciousness following liquor consumption, village councils have been directed to ensure immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility and promptly inform the concerned authorities.
The DC directed all village councils to treat the matter with utmost seriousness and urgency and ensure prompt communication of information requiring urgent intervention.
The order, issued in accordance with the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989, came into force with immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders.
MTLT seeks evidence-based review of NLTP Act: MTLT stated that the continuing deaths due to suspected consumption of spurious liquor demand an urgent and evidence-based response beyond enforcement alone.
In a press release, MTLT president Imnaonen Pongen and general secretary Moarenba Ozukum expressed grave concern over the deaths of three persons at Longpayimsen village on October 15 and 16, 2026, suspected to have resulted from methanol poisoning.
It said reports indicated that the death toll from suspected spurious liquor consumption in Mokokchung and Tuensang districts had risen to 23, although the actual figure could be higher due to unreported cases.
Describing the situation as an alarming public health crisis, MTLT said every life lost was a tragedy for the affected families and the wider community.
MTLT acknowledged the prompt response of the district administration and police, including their stated commitment to a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal alcohol. However, it questioned whether strict enforcement of the NLTP Act alone could resolve a crisis that persisted despite prohibition.
MTLT maintained that the situation could not be attributed solely to bootlegging, alcohol adulteration or inadequate enforcement, but also exposed serious concerns regarding the effectiveness of the existing policy framework.
It said the continued availability of dangerous liquor and the resulting loss of lives called for an honest assessment of the law, its implementation and its broader consequences for society.
The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem said placing blame on the government, Church and civil society would serve no meaningful purpose, while entrenched positions either in favour of or against the NLTP Act would not resolve the crisis.
It stressed the need for a thorough, informed and constructive debate in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, where elected representatives could examine the Act’s effectiveness and determine an appropriate way forward.
According to MTLT, a law must be effective in practice and serve the purpose for which it was enacted. It observed that when a prohibition policy failed to prevent illicit activities, it risked driving them underground, making regulation more difficult and exposing citizens to greater danger.
MTLT clarified that its call for a comprehensive review was not an outright demand for repeal of the NLTP Act, but an appeal for an evidence-based assessment of its implementation, effectiveness and impact on public welfare.
It urged elected representatives to take up the matter in the Assembly without fear or favour and examine whether the existing policy adequately protected public health and human life. The Telongjem also said the continuing fatalities raised important questions regarding the State’s constitutional responsibility to protect the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, warranting careful legal and policy scrutiny.
Raising concern over the need for concrete legislative action, MTLT questioned how many more lives had to be lost before meaningful intervention was taken. It said that without concrete policy measures, the circulation of spurious liquor and the resulting fatalities could continue.
The Telongjem stressed that the crisis required a sustainable, evidence-based response addressing illicit alcohol distribution, public safety and the wider social consequences of alcohol dependence.
MTLT also urged Mokokchung police to clarify the status of the investigation into the incident of May 8, 2026, when 15,824 empty bottles of McDowell’s rum were reportedly seized during a surprise vehicle check at Sewak Gate, Mokokchung.
It said reports at the time indicated that police suspected the bottles were being transported for the manufacture of adulterated liquor. MTLT called upon the authorities to establish the intended use of the bottles, determine whether they were connected to any illicit alcohol-manufacturing operation and take appropriate action wherever wrongdoing was established.
The Telongjem appealed to all alcohol consumers, whether occasional or habitual, to exercise caution and recognise the grave dangers associated with consuming liquor from unverified sources.
It also strongly cautioned against turning to narcotics or other harmful substances as substitutes amid the scarcity of alcohol. MTLT warned that it would be a grave tragedy if the present crisis triggered another drug epidemic reminiscent of the devastating period of the 1990s.
The Telongjem said society could not afford to lose another generation to substance abuse and addiction, adding that the lessons of the past should serve as a reminder of the need for collective responsibility, foresight and decisive action to prevent a recurrence.
Reiterating that the protection of human life must remain the highest priority, MTLT called upon the government, district administration, law enforcement agencies, elected representatives, Church and civil society to work collectively towards a practical and sustainable solution.
It said the crisis must be addressed through effective enforcement, responsible policymaking and a willingness to critically examine existing laws and policies. MTLT reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing democratic and constructive means to address the issue, maintaining that no law or policy should be beyond scrutiny when its effectiveness and the lives of people were at stake.
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