PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday asked the top officers of the state administration to maintain extra vigil during Holi festival and keep an eye on people consuming illicit liquor and those indulging in illegal trade of the banned commodity in the state.
During a virtual review meeting on law and order and effective enforcement of the prohibition law in the state, the CM asked the senior officers to remain more alert during Holi this time as the festival of colours and Shab-e-Barat coincide with each other.
“There is a need to keep strict surveillance on people who may create law and order problem. Such elements should be dealt sternly,” he said.
Nitish told the officers to ensure arrest of those involved in illicit liquor smuggling. “There is a need to launch a special drive to arrest liquor mafias operating from big cities,” he said.
“Nobody violating the prohibition law will be spared. It doesn’t matter how much powerful, influential or rich they are,” the CM told the officers.
The CM pointed out that several schemes had been launched by the state government for the welfare and rehabilitation of economically backward people who were earlier engaged in liquor trade.
He also directed the senior officers posted at the headquarters to seek reports on disposal of cases related to land disputes at the weekly review meetings at the police station, twice a month at the sub-division level and once at the district level.
The CM opined that the regular meetings at the police station level, sub-division level and district headquarters will reduce incidents of crime. “Around 60% of the crime incidents are related to land and property disputes,” he said.
Nitish said that the people of the state would get benefits of development works only when there was peace, tranquillity and communal harmony in the society.
Earlier, ADGP (special branch) J S Gangwar, ADGP (law & order) Amit Kumar and IG (prohibition) Amrit Raj briefed the CM about the measures taken by respective branches of the state police force for maintenance of law and order and effective enforcement of prohibition law.
Deepak Kumar, principal secretary to CM, S K Singhal, DGP, additional chief secretary, home, Chaitanya Prasad, principal secretary to CM Chanchal Kumar, secretary to CM Anupam Kumar, ADGP, CID, Vinay Kumar and state excise commissioner B K Dhanji were prominent among those present at the meeting.