patna

Updated: May 05, 2016 18:24 IST

Director general of police PK Thakur on Wednesday claimed that Bihar crime figures had come down sharply post the ban on liquor.

He said strict enforcement of law had been ensured to thwart any indulgence in illegal production, sale and consumption of liquor. Excise rules were changed inserting stringent penalties for violation of prohibition norms, he pointed out.

Thakur, who addressed Jeevika members in Darbhanga on the eve of one month of total prohibition, said those arrested under new prohibition rule were not being granted bail.

To highlight the impact of total prohibition on law and order front in the last one month, the DGP also provided crime statistics of April this year in comparison to the corresponding period last year.

He said the figure for murder in April this year fell by 25.36%, whereas there was substantial decrease in other crimes.

He said the number of dacoities fell by 41.03%, loot by 30.83%, incidence of burglary by 2.40%, theft by 3.53%, those of rioting by 38.82%, kidnapping by 15.82%, kidnapping for ransom by a whopping 91.67%, rapes by 47.32%, number of atrocity cases against scheduled castes and tribes by 45.09%, and atrocities against women and domestic violence by 13.32%.

He said incidents related to road accident due to rash or drunken driving had fallen by 17.62% and cognizable offences by 17.02%.

The DGP also pointed out that after enforcement of liquor ban, there had been 168% rise in cases instituted against trade and consumption of contraband material.

Likewise, there has been a 300% increase in cases instituted under the excise Act since the implementation of complete ban on liquor in the state.

He said all officers-in-charge of police stations had submitted an undertaking to enforce prohibition in their respective jurisdictions and if there were breaches in this regard and if any of them were found to be indulging in abetting its production or sale, not only would they have to face departmental proceedings and suspension, but they would also be ‘debarred’ from police station work for 10 years.