This incident reinforced the fact that while the prohibition has boosted the business of brewing of illicit liquor, it has shattered the claim of the state government that the Bihar police was a disciplined force and was a partner in eradicating the menace of boozing.

However on August 16 the local police maintained a passive silence on the issue. In fact it came out with the theory that deaths had occurred due to food poisoning. But once the patients were referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital it was revealed that the people died of hooch tragedy. The medical records at PMCH revealed that one of the victims 'bled from the eyes', a common symptom of drinking poisonous country-made liquor.

It is not only a matter of shame, instead manifests moral decline. The district administration endorsed the food poisoning message handed over to it by the local police. Local media carried the reports that the district administration had denied that the death were caused due to consumption of illicit liquor. Gopalganj District Magistrate Rahul Kumar was quoted as saying that the medical reports suggest that consumption of poisonous liquor was not the cause of these deaths.

If in the first place the district administration was in receipt of the report that consumption of poisonous liquor was not the cause of the death, how could it change its stand within next twenty four hours and come with the information that the deaths owed to illicit liquor? However a probe had been launched into the matter after families alleged that the dead persons had consumed poisonous liquor at Old Chowk at Khajurbani in Gopalganj town. The incident raises questions on the negligence of the Bihar government and police in enforcing the ban on liquor. Historical experience shows that prohibition laws could never be implemented effectively.

Prohibition only converts legal drinkers, sellers and manufacturers into illegal ones. The illicit liquor is mainly consumed by the poor and mahadalits as they do not have purchasing power to go for foreign liquors. Once prohibition has been enforced, the bootleggers and brewers have become active.

Once it became clear that the deaths owed to illicit liquor, the chief minister, Nitish Kumar ordered suspension of 25 police officers in the district. Police has also arrested six persons and filed FIR against 14 other. During a search operation a liquor manufacturing unit was found hidden behind shrubs. At least hundred bottles were seized from a deep trench. Local residents allege; “Policemen could be seen drinking with the Pasis. How can there be arrest when police are so friendly with these people?' quipped a resident.

Just before this on August 5 in its first action against police for dereliction of duty in enforcing prohibition law in their areas even after four months of its implementation, the government had suspended 10 police station house officers in south Bihar. The police headquarters had also announced that they would not be given posting as station in-charge for next ten years. The ADG Sunil Kumar said; 'We found that in these areas machines were found to manufacture country made liquor and the police did not destroy it” The police headquarter has also sacked some trainee constable in connection with violating the prohibition laws.

Angry over the suspension of their 10 senior cops the Bihar Police Association had given the call for mass leave. Bihar Police Association president had warned; 'If the suspension is not revoked by August 28, around 21,000 officers ranging from Assistant Sub-Inspectors to Inspectors will go on a week-long mass leave.' In the wake of the latest action, suspension of 25 more officials, the situation has turned grim. Nearly 250 Station House Officers have already informed their seniors of their unwillingness to continue in their posts.

There have been some unconfirmed reports of liquor deaths from Nalanda, Khagaria and Patna but they were also shown as deaths due to food poisoning. The Gopalganj police had attempted to play down the liquor cases but the numbers were too high to hide. The biggest flaw of the Bihar prohibition policy is the inability of the police to check the sale, manufacture and consumption of country liquor. It is a sort of Mahadalit challenge for Nitish, who has initiated process of imposing a community fine for defying ban.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is frantically trying to project himself as the true inheritor of the Gandhian legacy and his ideals. This realization has dawned on him in the wake of his enforcing harsh laws to ensure success of prohibition. The person who popularized liquor and made it an essential commodity after he came to power in 2005 has come to realize his blunder. He is now ready to rectify himself and seek panache. This has become imperative with the people questioning his integrity and seeking rationale of enforcing draconian law.

On prohibition, Nitish quoted Mahatma Gandhi on how liquor 'destroyed the body, the soul and it's a disease that should be treated'. Asserting that prohibition in Bihar was a fitting tribute to Gandhi during the centenary year of Champaran Satyagraha, Nitish said: 'It is the foundation of social reform.' Quite interesting he also did not hesitate to don the mantle of an autocrat to accomplish his mission. Probably this new image makeover would appeal to the people and eventually help him in 2019.

In his euphoria to project him as the “iron man” (counter to Macho Modi) Nitish has started fastening the tag of autocrat. To boost his autocrat image he has been projecting Gandhi as a dictator. He quotes Gandhi as having written in 1931 in Young India the weekly Gandhi published; 'If I was appointed dictator for one hour for all India, the first thing I would do would be to close without compensation all the liquor shops.' He also quotes Gandhi as having said: 'Nothing but ruin stares a nation in the face that is prey to the drink habit. History records that empires have been destroyed through that habit.'

It is a paradox Nitish is unwilling to accept the criticism in right spirit. For him the criticisms are massive overdrive of the vested interest to misinform people. What has been intriguing is he has so far refrained from committing that the clause about arrest of family members would be deleted from the controversial statute. (IPA Service)