NBCC to Govt: Act with urgency on illegal liquor

September 17, 2026 4 Views No Comment

Demands thorough probe into Tuensang incident

Kohima, September 17 (MExN): The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on Wednesday demanded a “thorough, impartial and transparent investigation” into the deaths of nine people in Tuensang district after they allegedly consumed suspected spurious liquor, saying the tragedy must not be allowed to pass as “another unfortunate incident.”

NBCC President Rev Achu Chang, General Secretary Rev Dr Mar Pongener, and Secretary for Social Concerns Dr Villo Naleo in a statement said it was “deeply grieved and profoundly disturbed” by the tragic loss of nine precious lives.

“The deaths of eleven people are not merely numbers. They represent families, stories, hopes, and God-given lives that can never be restored,” the NBCC said, adding that the Church mourns with the bereaved families and stands in prayer and solidarity with all those affected.

It said the tragedy should compel society and the government to pause, reflect and ask difficult questions, and warned that when profit is placed above human life, when illegal liquor finds its way into communities, and when known dangers are tolerated or overlooked, the consequences can be devastating.

“The NBCC therefore calls for a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation so that the truth may be established and those responsible are held accountable under the law,” it said.

The Church body said alcohol abuse is not merely an individual problem but can become a family crisis, a public-health concern, a social disorder and ultimately a threat to human life, and that the deaths in Tuensang must awaken the collective conscience. “We cannot continue to normalize what destroys lives and then mourn only after tragedy strikes,” it said.

It urged the government to strengthen enforcement against any illegal liquor sale and to ensure that the protective intent of the NLTP Act is not weakened in practice, asserting that laws are meaningful only when they are faithfully implemented and when the safety and dignity of human beings are placed above commercial or political interests.

The NLTP Act 1989 deserves a “careful and honest relook,” not merely as a matter of legislation but in light of its purpose, its implementation and its continuing relevance to the moral and social well-being of the people. “Whether the Act is retained, amended, or repealed, the ministry and prophetic responsibility of the Church remain unchanged,” it said.

The NBCC said its mission does not begin or end with a law, and that for decades it has stood alongside those struggling with alcoholism, ministered to families wounded by alcohol abuse and called society to sobriety, responsibility and righteousness.

“What was harmful to our society thirty-seven years ago does not become beneficial merely because time has passed. What destroys individuals, wounds families, impoverishes communities, and diminishes human dignity remains a social and moral concern today. The passage of time does not turn a destructive practice into a constructive one,” it said.

It asserted that NBCC will not retreat from its “prophetic calling” simply because its position may be unpopular or opposed, and that the Church is called not merely to echo prevailing opinion but to speak truth to society with courage, humility and love. “Where there is brokenness, we must speak; where there is danger, we must warn; and where there is suffering, we must stand with those who suffer,” it said.

NBCC also said it recognises the constitutional responsibility of the government and remains committed to working constructively with the authorities, and will cooperate wherever possible in strengthening implementation of the Act, addressing gaps in enforcement and protecting communities from the social consequences of alcohol abuse. “Our support and cooperation are assured. But our cooperation must not be mistaken for compromise of conviction,” it said.

The NBCC appealed to the government and the Excise Department to pursue the matter with urgency, diligence and impartiality, and to identify and bring to justice all those responsible. “Whether operating openly or through clandestine networks, every individual, bootlegger, supplier, distributor, or member of any illicit syndicate found to be involved must be held accountable under the law,” it said.

Those proven guilty must face stringent legal action and appropriate punishment so that justice is served and such loss of precious lives is not repeated, the NBCC said, adding there must be no room for negligence, collusion, illegal manufacture, distribution or exploitation of vulnerable people for profit.