PATNA: In two incidents in Bihar that show how prohibition remains a tough task for Nitish Kumar's government, a ruling Janata Dal(U) MLA was seen drunk in public badmouthing a police officer, and two policemen were placed under suspension for getting photographed with a fugitive liquor smuggler.
Shyam Bahadur, the controversial MLA for Barharia in the western Siwan district, allegedly used foul language against an officer at an outpost just as a police team was out on a liquor patrol Sunday night. Sources said the MLA reached the site in a drunken condition with his bodyguards and badmouthed the officer, Feroze Hussain, in the presence of a policeman Radheshyam Jha. By the time two senior officials reached the spot to attend to the fracas, the MLA had left.
“We have received a written complaint from the police official who was an eye-witness to the incident. A probe is currently on,” said ASP Arvind Kumar Gupta. Police are trying to ascertain if the MLA was intervening on behalf of liquor smugglers in the district.
Shyam Bahadur, who has previously starred in a controversy over his penchant for dancing with bar girls in a drunken condition, has denied the allegation. JD(U) leaders declined to comment on the matter.
In Muzaffarpur district, two police constables were placed under suspension by superintendent of police Anand Kumar after they were seen happily getting photographed with Sunil Kumar, a known liquor smuggler and history-sheeter, at a wedding. In police records, Sunil Kumar is shown to be absconding. During a raid in the Rambagh area of the town in August, a large quantity of liquor was seized but Sunil Kumar could not be arrested, said police.