In the Bihar village of Jawahi Diyar along the border of Uttarprady, life flows on a uniform hernia. And so the liqueur. While Bihar was declared dry in 2016, the liqueur flows freely in the river village and literally blurring the state border.
When noon arrival, the distant village in the Boxar district becomes the center of activity. Occasionally, too much activity-some of what happened to villagers, such as 68-year-old Awadh Bihari Yadav and his sons, ignore.
While a part of Mr. Yadav’s modest home with unpaid walls lies in Boxar District of Bihar, the rest falls into the Ballia district in the neighboring Uttar Pradesh. “The village of youth often walks across the border to get drunk and even smuggles in bottles,” says Satyendra, 30, the youngest son of Mr. Yadava, farmer.
Not too far from their house is a trade in alcohol and announces its presence with a red sign -in label hanging on a brick wall: “Composite English/Beer Wine Shop”. Bottles and cash are replaced with a single window on the iron grill. On the bend on the road that leads to the store, there is a small shack that sells refreshments.
It is around 13:00 on the burning June afternoon, but at their 20 years there are groups of men and drinks. Occasionally, it is scattered on their motorcycles when they see a car with the Bihar registration number. The man behind the counter gets out quickly. “Don’t worry, this alcohol store is up to UP and there is no liqueur ban,” he says, wants to stay anonymous. As an additional idea adds: “Trade is owned by a person living in the neighboring district of Ghazipur, up”
In April 2016, the main Minister Nitish Kumar banned the sale of alcohol in Bihar. With this, the purchase, sale, production and consumption of liqueur has become prohibited in the state. If the law is violated, the BIHAR law and the 2016 excise duty set a strict action, including a prison.
Prohibition
However, hundreds of people, including police staff, were captured to involve them in the illegal alcohol trade. A month ago, 40 liqueur cartons were caught in the Muzaffarpur district. In January, three police officers were caught to store liqueur at a police station in Sultanganj in Patna. Two years ago Liquor was sold from the Hajipur police station in the Vaisali district. The liqueur is smuggled from all neighboring states, including some who do not share boundaries like Haryana. Nepal, with which Bihar shares the international border, is another place for alcohol smuggling.
In Jawahi Diyar there is no barricade on the border that would force vehicles to slow down. On the Bihar side, the police remain in Panchayat Bhawan, 200 meters from the road that leaves Bihar to around four police staff.
The village, with 10 000-law adults, is on the banks of the gangs. Due to its river area, the village will flood every year during the monsoon. “We face two problems: seasonal displacement during the flood every year and liqueur,” says Mr. Satatendra.
The nearest police station on the side of Bihar is about 5 km away, in Brahampura, while in UP is in Haldi, 15-20 km away. “If there are any serious crimes in the house in the village, such as murder or dacoity, the police must first confirm whether this happened on the part of Bihar or up,” says another village and wishes to be named.
Alcohol store is open every day from 10:00 to 22:00, he adds. “Some of these drinks are also involved in the illegal trade in Bihar and are dangerous people,” he says, adding that there is a connection between the police and the bihar excise duty. “Who doesn’t want fast money in life?” Says.
Karan Pick, 35 years, other villagers, points to some houses larger than others. “A few such houses were built overnight in the village,” says Mr. Chouby, suggesting an illegal source of income, especially if alcohol smuggling.
Vigil
According to the police, however, they guard hard. “We attach holes on the border in cooperation with the state ban and the department of excise duty. We also sent the state government to give us the issues of the CID (Crime Investigation Department),” Bihar said the next CEO Kundan Kishhnan Hindu. About the missing barricade on the border of the village of Jawahi Diyar, the officer says: “There is a department (state prohibition, consumer and registration department, which usually puts the control station by placing iron barriers) in the village of Jawahi Diyar … I have no idea why it was removed.”
According to a report recently published by Bihar’s Prohibition and Excise Department “from 5 April 2016 to March this year, out of 84 checkpoints, 67 interstate, established to prevent the influx of forbidden alcohol in the state”.
The report also states that since April 2016, up to 9.36 cases of violation of the prohibition Act have been registered in the State, led to the arrest of 14 Lakhs. “Up to 4.18 lake cases were destroyed by special consumer courts with 4.16 Lakh convicts,” he adds. According to the report together with the consumer and police departments confiscated 3.86 crore liters of illegal liqueur.
Rashtriya Janata’s leader gave, and the opposition leader in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav often criticizes the state government and claims that “the ban in Bihar has failed”.
However, the main minister continues to warn people with his often repeated “Piyoge on Maroge (if you drink, die)” and that his government will continue to ban, come what it can.
Published – 5 June 2025 12:39
