NEW DELHI, Feb 28: The Bihar government has decided against sending the violators of the state’s prohibition law to the jail.
The Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar announced on Monday that people caught drinking alcohol would not be jailed and instead they would be demanded to reveal the identity of the suppliers and the liquor mafia.
As per the latest order issued by the state government, the police will not send those drinking alcohol to jail. If the police succeed in making arrests based on the information provided, then the offenders will be spared from jail time.
The decision was taken in a meeting on Monday. Both the police and the Prohibition Department have been given the authority to execute the order. Deputy Commissioner, Excise, Krishna Kumar, told reporters that “relaxation” was being introduced with a view to tighten the noose on the network of smugglers and peddlers.
“Now, if a person is caught drunk he will be asked about the place and persons who made alcohol available to him. A raid would be conducted on the basis of the tip-off and if the information is found correct, the informant will not be jailed,” he said.
Bihar and Gujarat are the only two states in the country implementing prohibition.
(Manas Dasgupta)