NINETEEN DEAD AFTER CONSUMING ILLEGALLY PRODUCED ALCOHOL

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 26 /SRNA/ - At least 19 people have died at two separate locations in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland over the past two days after consuming illegally produced alcohol, police said in a statement.

Eleven deaths were reported in Tuensang district, while eight people died in Mokokchung, Xinhua reported.

A ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol has been in force in Nagaland for more than three and a half decades.

Local police said the Nagaland government had formed a special task force to trace the source of the illicit liquor, and several people had been arrested in connection with the case.