Police in Bihar’s Saran district on Wednesday (November 26, 2025) seized more than 400 litres of illegal liquor and arrested a 47 people.
The development came a day after Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who also holds the home portfolio, declared that mafias would be dealth with sternly.
After assuming the charge of the home department on November 25, Mr. Choudhary warned that actions would be taken against all criminals, regardless of their influence. The minister also said that social media would be monitored as nobody would be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere though unsubstantiated or provocative posts.
Earlier, several people died, and many lost their vision after consuming hooch (spurious liquor) in the district, which shares a border with Uttar Pradesh.
“During the special drive on Wednesday, the police also seized several four-wheelers, motorcycles, mobile phones, gas cylinders, and other incriminating items. In accordance with the directive of Superintendent of Police Kumar Ashish, the drive will continue to maintain the law and order situation in the area”, said a senior official of the state police headquarter on condition of anonymity.
“A list of 400 people has been prepared, and action would be taken against them”, Mr Choudhary said, adding, “The state police’s focus would be on maintaining the rule of law established by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and creating a sense of fear in the minds of antisocials through multiple initiatives”.
“We’ll also monitor social media posts. Pink patrol vans and ‘anti-Romeo’ squads would be out on streets and around colleges to prevent eve-teasing,” he added.
Since liquor was banned in Bihar in April 2016, as many as 3.86 crore litres of illegal liquor have been seized in the state. In 2025, the average monthly seizure of illegal liquor was around 77,000 litres. According to officials of the state Prohibition, Excise and Registration department, around 97% of the seized liquor has been destroyed.
Despite crackdowns, the menace of illegal liquor continues across the state. Smugglers use trucks carrying vegetables and gas cylinders, ambulances and railway pantry cars to smuggle in liquor bottles.
Several officials of the Prohibition, Excise and Police Department have either been suspended or subjected to disciplinary action for violation of prohibition laws. A police inspector of Muzaffarpur district was even suspended after he was caught selling seized illegal liquor bottles from the police station.
Published – November 27, 2025 01:02 am IST
