Big game of alcoholics in jails of Bihar, Nitish government has to build 13 new jails, know the whole story

Patna: The increasing number of prisoners in the jails of Bihar has become a matter of concern for the state government. There are 59 jails in the state. In these, the capacity to keep prisoners is 45 thousand 736. Presently 61 thousand 891 prisoners are living in these jails. Means 16 thousand 155 more than the capacity. Of these, the number of males is 59 thousand 270 and the number of females is 2 thousand 621. After the implementation of the liquor ban law, the number of prisoners in jails has been increasing continuously. There has been a glut of liquor related cases in the courts as well. The conviction rate for those arrested under the prohibition law has been less than 3 percent. As a result, the number of undertrials in the jails is more than the convicted. For this many times the upper courts have been reprimanding the state government. Liquor prohibition law is in force in Bihar since 2016. Since then till October 2022 Bihar Police and Excise Department had registered about 4 lakh cases. The number of cases registered after this would have only increased. The saddest aspect is that less than 3% of the cases related to alcohol lead to conviction in the court.

Big claims of the success of prohibition, but the reality is different

CM Nitish Kumar has been making tall claims regarding the success of prohibition. Its secrets are exposed when the news of deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor comes to the fore. Everyday, information about liquor being seized from different parts of Bihar keeps coming. Pictures of drinking and liquor smuggling also go viral. Even after being caught, the police do not take money from people and send them to jail. The businessmen have found unique ways of smuggling liquor. Sometimes liquor hidden in a casket kept in an ambulance is caught and sometimes in an LPG cylinder. Many leaders, including Jitan Ram Manjhi, have been demanding review of the law after death by spurious liquor, but the government is adamant.

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In the year 2022, more than one and a half lakh people were punished

According to the data released by the Prohibition Department, in the year 2022, 1 lakh 55 thousand 867 people were punished under the prohibition law. Of these, 1 lakh 51 thousand 591 people were saved from going to jail by paying fine. Only 3 thousand 622 were sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. These included people who were caught on charges of consuming alcohol again. More than 400 people engaged in the liquor business were sentenced to a minimum of one year and a maximum of 10 years. In April 2022, the state government amended the prohibition law. There was a provision in the amendment that for the first time drinkers can avoid going to jail by paying a fine of two to five thousand rupees. No relaxation was given in strictness on liquor traders and smugglers. There is still a provision of life imprisonment for them from one year to life imprisonment.

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Cases pending in court

After the implementation of prohibition, between April 2016 and December 31, 2021, only 1 thousand 686 trials were completed. Of these, 1 thousand 062 accused were sentenced from three months to life imprisonment. The culprits of the famous Khajurbani liquor case were also sentenced. By the year 2022, 1 lakh 55 thousand 867 accused were sentenced. 3 thousand 622 accused were sentenced to jail for one month. 113 accused were sentenced to 3 months in jail or Rs.50,000 fine. 202 accused were sentenced to one year while 198 accused were sentenced to 5 years. 9 accused were sentenced to 6 years, 23 accused to 7 years, 6 accused to 8 years and 33 accused to 10 years.

Internet started in Nalanda and Sasaram, on the other hand preparations are on to build 13 new jails in Bihar

The load of prisoners on the jails is increasing, the government will make 13 new jails

In view of the increasing number of prisoners in the jails of Bihar, the state government has decided to build 13 new jails. One divisional level jail is to be set up in Madhepura and 12 subdivision level jails are being set up at Kahalgaon, Nirmali, Narkatiaganj, Rajgir, Madhaura, Rajauli, Siwan, Gopalganj, Chakia, Pakdidayal, Mahnar and Simri Bakhtiyarpur. There will be accommodation for 1000 prisoners in these jails. As of now it is only at the proposal stage. Government approval is yet to be received. In addition to these places, additional new buildings are also being constructed in the existing jails at Divisional Jail Bhabua, Jamui, Aurangabad, Arwal and Sub Jail Paliganj. In some places, the construction work of new buildings has also been completed. The government has also approved the construction of 33 additional prison cells in 15 jails. After the construction of new jail buildings in five jails and 33 new prison cells in 15 jails, there will be a capacity to keep 9.5 thousand more prisoners.
Report- Omprakash Ashk