Over 68,000 people arrested for violation of Bihar Prohibition & Excise Act will soon be punished. They are languishing in jails across the State for the past one and a half years since the new legislation was enacted. The Government has decided to set up five special courts only to deal with the prohibition cases.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the purpose was not only to arrest the violators but also to inflict punishment on them. During a review meeting of the excise and prohibition department, the CM told the officials, “The purpose is not only to arrest the violators and file cases against them. We should now move ahead to take the cases to logical end.” Prohibition law was introduced in April last year.
Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said, “After the enforcement of the Act, 60,232 cases have been registered and a total of 68,579 people have been arrested. There is need for the special courts in the areas where maximum cases have been registered.” Principal Secretary excise and prohibition department Amir Subhani added, “We are in the process to select the places for opening of the special cases.” Singh admitted that the number of p0rohibition related cases was growing.
The help the villagers form informing about the people indulging in liquor consumption and illicit manufacturing, the Government to have decided to inscribe the toll free number of police and excise department on electric polls and power transformers in rural areas. Director General of Police P K Thakur said the helpline number of police 18603456999 works 24/7 while the number 18003456268 of excise department works during office hours six days a week.
Thakur said in connection with prohibition cases action has been taken against 48 police officials during the last two and a half months, five officers have been suspended and 42 policemen taken to task of which 13 suspended. He said 1322 people linked with some gangs and involved in the supply of liquor and 3567 people reportedly receiving the liquor consignment have been arrested.
Even though the seized liquor stored in the malkhana of the police stations have been destroyed particularly after the report that rats were consuming the illegal drink, still two lakh crates of liquor was lying in the godowns of the Beverage Corporation. The Chief Secretary said that these stock will soon be destroyed. “The police and excise officials are working round the clock to break the network of the liquor suppliers,” said Thakur. He added that all the SPs have been directed to dedicate one hour to consider the liquor related cases during monthly crime meetings in which the excise officials should also be invited.