Six die in two days after ban on liquor in Bihar

Patna: The Nitish Kumar government’s decision to ban sale and consumption of alcohol in Bihar is proving disastrous for alcoholics. At least six people have died for want of alcohol in the past two days since total ban came into force on April 5. Doctors term it as “liquor withdrawal syndrome”.

A fresh incident of death due to liquor withdrawal syndrome was reported from Patna district where a hotelier reportedly died yesterday after not getting his daily dose of alcohol. The victim identified as Munni Singh was running his hotel business outside the Patna civil court.

“He was an addict but after not getting his routine dose in the past three days when the total prohibition was imposed and had turned restless. Eventually, he died,” victim’s brother Lalan Singh told the local media today.

Another addict died in Katihar district. Reports said the victim Ganesh Prasad Gaud was admitted to the local de-addiction centre after his condition deteriorated but could not survive.

In another incident, a chronic alcoholic identified as Dular Chandra Mukhia met his horrible end looking for few drops of liquor in Samastipur district. According to victim family, he would start drinking right since morning. So when a total prohibition was imposed, he turned to toddy but when the government even banned toddy, he turned restless and his condition deteriorated fast. Eventually he died.

Assistant Sub-Inspector of police Raghunandan Besara met even more horrible end in East Champaran district. Witnesses said the victim, an addict, slumped after not getting his daily dose and was hurriedly to a local health centre from where he was shifted to the Patna Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated. Finally, he died unable to bear his separation with alcohol. The victim was posted at Kundawa-Chainpur police station in the district.

Two more deaths, including that of a police officer, due to same reasons were reported from Rohtas and Begusarai district.

More than 1,000 alcoholics have been admitted to the de-addiction centres in the aftermath of the state government imposing total ban on manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor in the state. Authorities say some important medicines used for curing addicts have run short owing to sudden increase in number of such patients being admitted to the de-addiction centres. Bihar has opened one de-addiction centre in every district.

The police are further conducting massive raids across the state to seize illegal supply of liquor and arrest the culprits. As per an official report, over 15,000 raids have been conducted and around a million liquor bottles and pouches have been destroyed using tractor lorries, trucks and other heavy vehicles.

Intellectuals in Bihar have questioned the state government’s move to impose total prohibition without giving the alcoholics time to change and adapt to new situation. “This is simply an inhumane act. The government should have allowed restricted supply of alcohol for some time before banning it completely in phases. That would have given the alcoholics the opportunity to correct themselves and adjust to the new situation,” they feel.