ChapraSaran police on Monday launched Operation ‘Clean Drive’ against the sale and consumption of liquor in the state amid spurt of deaths due to spurious liquor in Bihar’s Chhapra. The release said that under the ‘Clean Drive’, the police will mark every house where liquor is sold or consumed. The campaign will continue till further notice, the release said, adding that general awareness programs and door-to-door campaigns are also underway to prevent people from consuming spurious liquor. Raids are being conducted at many places under the operation.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the spurious liquor deaths has arrested nine people and is questioning 17 more in the case. The police also informed that 12,155 liters of spurious liquor was destroyed on December 17 and 18. The opposition, led by the BJP, took on the ruling JD(U)-RJD over the rising number of spurious liquor despite a ban on its sale. Liquor consumption in the state is applicable from April 2016.
The Prohibition Act, which came into force in 2016, states that the manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor has been banned in the entire state.