Discontent in villages over Rs 5,000 liquor fine

Simmering discontent over the “arbitrary” decision of the Nitish government’s implementation of Liquor Prohibition Act came to a boil when a collective fine was imposed on several villages in Bihar.

A fine of Rs 5,000 on a village in Islampur area of Nalanda district. The move was initiated by the district administration after the excise department directed officials to earmark villages violating the Excise and Prohibition Act. Last week, the excise department identified five villages as regular violators and had sent notices to 150 families of Darhi Tola in Sheikhpura district.

Collective fines were imposed on villages where illegal distilleries and materials were found in large numbers during routine raids several times, the district officials said.

“Collective fines on these villages are being imposed on the direction of excise department. The department was facing difficulty in enforcing the ban effectively and they have now decided to impose collective fines,” district magistrate Nalanda S.M. Thyagrajan said.

Around 50 persons of Kashipur village in Nalanda district were asked to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 on Tuesday. According to a source from Nalanda, “Most of those who have been fined are daily wage earners and belong to extremely backward class community.” He said, “Villagers don’t have the money and are willing to go to jail instead of paying the amount.”

The simmering discontent over the collective fine may snowball into an agitation as several local political forces in these areas are trying to create a consensus among people against the new excise policy, which was introduced in Bihar earlier this month.

NDA leaders opposing the government’s decision to impose a collective fine on villages on Wednesday said, “It would be better if this law is abolished, as it only targets dalits and poor people of the state.” Speaking on the issue, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said, “Villages where dalits are in large numbers have been targeted by the state government.”

Last week, the police headquarters suspended 10 station house officers (SHOs) for failing to implement the liquor prohibition act effectively under their jurisdiction. The opposition NDA in Bihar, which had earlier termed the new prohibition act as draconian, now wants it abolished.