Over 45,000 held for violating Bihar liquor ban

Patna, April 5 (IANS) Over 45,000 people have been arrested in a year in Bihar for violating the liquor prohibition law imposed by the Janata Dal-United government.

Bihar has acted tough against those violating the law on total ban on liquor in the state, Excise and Prohibition Minister Abdul Jalil Mastan said on Wednesday.

"At least 45,033 people were arrested for violating the new law and over 44,000 of them were sent to jail during the last one year," Mastan said.

Bihar has witnessed a complete ban on alcohol since April 2016. The ban completes one year on April 5.

According to Mastan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has repeatedly made clear his commitment to implement a total ban on liquor in the state.

"The concerned law enforcement agencies have been directed to act tough against those violating the law," he said.

According to a state Excise and Prohibition Department official, police have raided 2,18,722 locations and seized over Rs 50 crore liquor, including Rs 41 crore of foreign liquor, in the last one year.

According to a police report, 40,413 cases were registered in connection with the violation of law.

"We have seized 3,13,187 litre of desi liquor, 47,161 litre spirit, 52,53,334 litre foreign liquor, 11,371 litre beer, 628 quintal mahua, and 1,07,320 raw liquor," the report said.

Police said most of those arrested were released on bail. But nearly 5,000 people are still in jail.