As the Bihar Government is ruthless in the implementation of the stringent Bihar Prohibition Bill, police officials are facing the heat. Till now 11 policemen heading various police stations have been suspended by the direct orders of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for their alleged failure in checking bootlegging in the dry State.
A number of sub-inspectors and inspectors have requested their superiors to transfer them from police stations — the posting they would rush to grab during the pre-prohibition era. Ram Kishore Rai, a police inspector, said, “I can’t quit the job but want a safe passage.”
Bihar Police Association (BPA) is up in arms against the draconian rule that says that cops failing to check brewing and sale of liquor would not get thana posting for ten years. The prohibition was enforced in the State from the first week of April.
“We are holding meetings in each district against this rule and suspension of 11 cops. We have urged the DGP to review this order and revoke suspension. The men will do their job but should not be held responsible,” said BPA president Mritunjay Singh.
However, Additional Director General of Police Sunil Kumar said, “Disciplinary action has been initiated against erring cops to send a message that the Government is serious in imposing prohibition.” He admitted it was the first such crackdown in Bihar.
All told, the Government’s action against Dehri-on-Sone SHO IC Vidyasagar — who only two days before being suspended for his alleged failure in checking bootlegging was rewarded cash prize of Rs 2,500 by DIG Shahabad range M Rahman for handling of anti-liquor operation — is talk of the town.
Many policemen are clueless how to deal with stubborn liquor manufacturers in rural areas. When a police team comprising 40 men raided a unit at Dehri village in Punpun block, 22 km from Patna recently, they were attacked by the villagers and in the stone pelting five policemen, including SHO Arun Kumar, were injured.
Till now, nearly 5,000 people have been arrested and no day is passed without booze recovery and more arrests. The arrest of “violators” is feared to go up many times once the Prohibition Bill, already passed by the two Houses of the legislature, becomes an Act following the Governor’s nod because of the stringent provisions like arrest of all the adult members of the family from where a bottle of liquor is seized.
Since most of the recovery of liquor has been made from the passengers in trains, the Government is mulling to install baggage scanner at some select railway stations as well as two airports in Patna and Gaya for preventing import of liquor in Bihar.
Assistant Excise Comm-issioner OP Mandal said orders have already been placed for 14 scanners. Six railway stations at Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Bhagalpur and Dehri-on-Sone will be stalled with two scanning machines each. The two machines will find place at the arrival lounges of Patna and Gaya airports, he added.