Groom lands in jail after violating liquor ban

Mandeep Singh, a 26-year-old from Amritsar had not anticipated that the new excise policy will land him in jail a day before his wedding.

Last week Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had imposed total prohibition of alcohol in the state.

The prospective groom, Mandeep, who was on way from Punjab to Asansol (in West Bengal), was anxious about his Saturday wedding. But his addiction for booze landed him in jail after the railway police arrested him at Danapur (near Patna) for consuming liquor in the train passing through the state capital.

According to railway sources, the groom along with his friend from Australia, was travelling by Amritsar-Howrah Punjab Mail and was supposed to get down at Asansol where his wedding was to take place a day later.

However, the two friends, were found consuming liquor in the AC compartment of the Punjab Mail. The railway police conducted raid after the co-passengers informed the police about their illegal activity.

An open bottle of Indian made foreign liquor, besides huge cash, was recovered from the duo. The two apprehended persons were booked under the new excise law and the Indian Railway Act, and sent to jail.6 trainee constables held But then its not only the groom who has been put behind bars after the imposition of prohibition. At least six trainee police constables in Banka, who last week had pledged not to consume alcohol, were found fighting with a road-side hotel owner in an inebriated condition.

The incident took place when these cops went to Deoghar, in neighbouring Jharkhand, without informing seniors to consume alcohol as it is not banned in Jharkhand. While returning to their work-place (Banka in Bihar), they, under the influence of liquor, got engaged in brawl at a road-side dhaba.

When complained about them, the Banka SP asked for medical examination of the cops. After finding the charges (of consuming liquor) true, the trainee cops were forwarded to judicial custody.