Araria Police Cracks Down on Organized Liquor Smuggling Ring
In a significant operation targeting illicit alcohol trade, the Araria Police successfully dismantled an organized inter-district gang involved in liquor smuggling. The crackdown occurred on Wednesday night in Dahgama village, located under the Sikti police station area, where authorities apprehended three individuals while they were loading Nepali liquor into gunny bags on a Bihar-registered pickup van at Ward No. 7.
Details of the Seizure and Arrests
Araria Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar disclosed the operation on Thursday, revealing that a total of 936 liters of Nepali liquor were recovered from the scene. Although 12–13 persons were reportedly involved in loading the consignment, most managed to escape under the cover of darkness. The SP asserted that their identities and whereabouts are known, and they will be arrested soon.
The raiding team seized several items from the accused, including:
- A pick-up van
- 22 jute gunny bags
- Four yellow plastic bags
- One cellphone
- Rs 11,610 in cash
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Nand Kishore Mandal from the Karjain police station area in Supaul district
- Basuki Kumar Mandal from the Bardaha police station area in Araria district
- Rajkumar Paswan from Saidabad under the Sikti police station
Police Achievements Under New Leadership
SP Jitendra Kumar, who assumed charge in January, highlighted the police force's accomplishments during the first 12 days of his tenure. In addition to the liquor seizure, the police have recovered various assets and contraband, including:
- Four four-wheelers
- 19 motorcycles
- One tempo
- One e-rickshaw used in criminal activities
- One country-made revolver and five live cartridges
- 91.58 grams of smack
- 198 kg of ganja
- 6.37 grams of brown sugar
- 82.2 liters of cough syrup
- 1,343.5 liters of country-made liquor
- 176.2 liters of foreign liquor
Emphasis on Public Outreach and Transparency
Emphasizing the importance of public engagement and transparency, SP Kumar announced plans to hold 'janata durbars' at every police station. These forums aim to resolve grievances on the spot, with the SP stating, "Transparency in police action will be my priority, and I will remain accessible to the people."
Regarding land disputes, the SP mentioned that a mechanism is being developed to connect aggrieved citizens directly with the concerned circle officers and station house officers to ensure timely resolution. He also expressed serious concern over the non-registration of FIRs, vowing to enforce strict accountability in such cases.
Addressing District-Specific Challenges
Considering Araria's vast geographical area and its strategic location along the Indo-Nepal border, SP Kumar stressed the need for at least four police subdivisions and five police circles in the district. He assured the public, "No complainant will return unheard, and grievances will be addressed promptly," underscoring his commitment to improving law enforcement efficiency and responsiveness in the region.
