Bihar DGP interview: ‘We have limitations… almost 50% of sanctioned police strength vacant'
First, we focused on disposing of cases. Now, each of Bihar's 40 police districts is disposing of around 50% more cases than before. We have stressed on swift investigations and speedy trials as the two pillars of policing. Under the Bhartiya Nyay Samhita (BNS), the ambit of timelines for investigation has been expanded… We have our limitations because of manpower constraints — while there is a sanctioned police strength of 2.47 lakh personnel, almost 50% of this is vacant. But of late, we have recruited 21,391 constables, and another 19,000 constables should be recruited by the end of this year. Plus, we are also advertising for 4,300 constable-driver posts for our 11,000 vehicles. Over 4,000 sub-inspectors will also be appointed. We have been trying to become equal to the task in multiple ways.
It is very true that the profile of crime has been changing drastically over the last 30-35 years. There used to be so many incidents of dacoity up until 2005 that South Bihar Express and Palamau Express trains were called 'dacoity express'… Kidnapping for ransom in the 1990s, which we used to call 'KR', was another big challenge. Every now and then, there would be some big-ticket kidnapping… In Bihar, however, we must say that we did not face any (political) pressure to protect any accused. After all, no government wants to be defamed.
The biggest challenge is cybercrime, particularly instances of 'digital arrest' involving retired government employees. Jamtara-model crime is a post-2014 phenomenon (Jamtara is a city in Jharkhand that has come to be known as a hub of cybercrime), with UPI coming into use.
However, this is not a Bihar-specific problem, but is pan-India and transnational.
We have been working out how to counter their multi-layered modus operandi, which includes everything from identity theft to mule bank accounts.
We now have a cyber police station in each Bihar district. We are also making a devoted cyber unit under the Economic Offences Unit. Further, we are monitoring social media posts of suspected cyber gangs.
This is a social legislation. It has had a positive impact — rioting cases have come down from 14,000 per year until 2016 to fewer than 3,000 now. Domestic violence has come down.
However, it is true that areas bordering Bihar find impetus in the business of illegal trade. Besides, they have been coming up with one innovative trick after another. Using 'Press', 'Police' and 'Ambulance' stickers (on vehicles transporting hooch) has become passé. Now, oil tankers have been found to be modified to carry liquor, which shows our high level of alertness…
With the amendments in the liquor law, more bootleggers are now in Bihar jails… Additional courts are being set up to expedite pending cases. On average, the Bihar Police lodges 70,000 liquor cases every year… This is besides the cases lodged by the Excise Department.
A slight spurt in the use of such drugs post 2016 is reflected in the data of cases lodged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPAS) Act. But it does not seem to be connected to the liquor ban. Bihar was already a transit route between the drug channels of the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent. We recently seized a truckload of codeine from Purnia. We have also been creating a narcotics vertical under the EOU to deal with this.
Yes. It has been a challenge, with the state reporting paper leaks in several exams. We have been preparing dossiers of all suspected solver gangs working from Bihar or connected with Bihar gangs. At times, we also do surveillance on them. We keep watch on their social media posts. We have raised the fine to up to Rs 1 crore in such offences. The state is also building capacity with the construction of its own examination centres, instead of being solely dependent on hired private online examination centres.
We have proposed that the ammunition limit for an arms licensee be brought down from 200 cartridges a year to 50. One has to now also explain where the ammunition was used and produce empty cartridges to get another set. Celebratory firing has been totally banned. Licensed arms can be used only for self-defence…
The Special Task Force has just seized a stock of over 7,000 ammunition cartridges. We are also trying to rein in illegal gun assembly and manufacturing factories in Munger.
This has been a big area of focus. Of late, we seized 100 sand trucks in Aurangabad. We have also seized some trucks in Banka. Intermittent raids are conducted as per tip-offs.
Since 2005, construction of over 1,000 police station buildings has been sanctioned, and we have so far constructed 700… As for women's empowerment, we have two devoted women's battalions… Plus, Patna traffic is now being taken care of mostly by women.
Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
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