Nitish Kumar Effect: Thousands Of Bihar Cops Vow Not To Drink

Patna: After the politicians, the cops. Bihar's policemen have now vowed not to drink alcohol and work to ensure successful prohibition in the state.

Across the state on Monday, policemen gathered in uniform to take an oath, some at their police stations, others in big open grounds. In capital Patna, Bihar's Director General of Police P K Thakur administered the oath to several thousand policemen at a military parade ground.

When the Nitish Kumar government passed a new prohibition law four days ago, Bihar's 243 state legislators had in the Bihar Assembly formally declared their intent to "stay away from alcohol."

On Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's appeal that "charity begins at home", both Houses had adopted a resolution, stating that they would not consume liquor and would discourage others from doing so.

Prohibition is an issue close to the Chief Minister's heart and political agenda and was a key promise he made to women voters, who are seen to have played an important role in his winning a third term in November last year.


The new law bans the sale of country liquor and provides for the death penalty for those caught manufacturing or selling countrymade and spurious liquor.

A partial ban on liquor has been in place since Friday, when all shops selling country liquor in rural areas and cities were shut down.

In cities like Patna and Gaya, alcohol is available, but only at government-run outlets and restaurants and bars. But under the new law, anyone found drinking in a public place like parks or in cars parked on the roadside could face between five and eight years in prison.

The Nitish Kumar government has said it is working towards total prohibition in six months.

The police have set up a control room in Patna, which will function round the clock to ensure the implementation of the new law.