The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) has called for a comprehensive review of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, amid reports of 23 deaths linked to suspected spurious liquor consumption in Mokokchung and Tuensang districts, while urging the state government to adopt an evidence-based approach to address the crisis.
In a statement issued by its president, Imnaonen Pongen, and general secretary, Moarenba Ozukum, the MTLT expressed grave concern over the deaths of three persons at Longpayimsen village on October 15 and 16, suspected to have resulted from methanol poisoning.
The organisation said the reported death toll of 23 could be higher due to unreported cases, describing the situation as an alarming public health crisis requiring urgent and comprehensive intervention.
While acknowledging the response of the district administration and police, including their stated commitment to a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal liquor, the MTLT questioned whether strict enforcement of the prohibition law alone could resolve a crisis that continued despite the ban.
Stating that the present situation cannot be attributed solely to bootlegging, alcohol adulteration, or inadequate enforcement, the MTLT said it also exposes serious concerns regarding the effectiveness of the existing policy framework.
“The continued availability of dangerous liquor and the resulting loss of lives call for an honest assessment of the law, its implementation, and its broader consequences for society,” it stated.
The MTLT said placing blame on the government, the Church and civil society would not serve any meaningful purpose, besides entrenched positions either in favour of or against the NLTP Act would not resolve the crisis.
The MTLT urged elected representatives to take up the matter in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and examine the effectiveness of the Act and determine an appropriate way forward.
Calling for an effective law in practice, which would serve the purpose for which it was enacted, the MTLT said when a prohibition policy fails to prevent illicit activities, it risks driving them underground, making regulation more difficult and exposing citizens to greater danger.
The MTLT, therefore, called for a comprehensive review of the NLTP Act, not an outright demand for its repeal, but an evidence- based assessment of its implementation, effectiveness, and impact on public welfare.
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The MTLT urged elected representatives to take up the matter in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and examine whether the existing policy adequately protected public health and human life. It also called for careful legal and policy scrutiny of the state’s responsibility to protect the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The MTLT believed that without concrete policy interventions, the circulation of spurious liquor and the resulting fatalities may continue.
“The present crisis demands more than enforcement alone; it requires a sustainable, evidence-based response that addresses illicit alcohol distribution, public safety, and the wider social consequences of alcohol dependence,” it added.
The MTLT also sought clarification from Mokokchung police on the status of the investigation into the seizure of 15,824 empty McDowell rum bottles during a surprise vehicle check at Sewak Gate on May 8, 2026. It recalled that reports at the time indicated that police suspected the bottles were being transported for the manufacture of adulterated liquor.
The organisation urged the authorities to establish the intended use of the bottles, determine whether they were connected to any illicit liquor-manufacturing operation and take appropriate action if wrongdoing was established.
The MTLT further appealed to consumers to avoid liquor from unverified sources, warning of the grave dangers posed by adulterated alcohol. It also cautioned against turning to narcotics or other harmful substances as substitutes amid the scarcity of alcohol, expressing concern that the current crisis could trigger another wave of substance abuse reminiscent of the 1990s.
Emphasising that the protection of human life must remain the highest priority, the organisation called upon the government, district administrations, law enforcement agencies, elected representatives, the Church and civil society to work collectively towards a practical and sustainable solution.
The MTLT maintained that addressing the crisis required not only effective enforcement but also responsible policymaking and a willingness to review existing laws and policies in the interest of public safety and welfare.
