Following a spate of complaints about liquor smuggling via trains running on the Delhi–Howrah railway line, especially from Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay (PDDU) Junction to Patna and Gaya, police officials have initiated a large-scale crackdown on the misuse of rail services for illegal transportation.
According to officials, smugglers have been pulling emergency chains on select trains at stations like Kuchman, Sakaldiha, and Dhana, using the brief halts to load illicit liquor, which is then transported into prohibition-ruled Bihar.
19 Trains Under Watch; FIRs Registered Against Unknown Offenders
Acting on reports submitted to senior police officers, the DIG instructed immediate legal action, resulting in FIRs filed against unknown smugglers in Mughalsarai, Alinagar, and Sakaldiha police stations. Notably, in these cases, police officers themselves are listed as complainants to ensure prompt procedural handling.
The 19 trains identified as frequently misused for smuggling include:
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Barmer Express
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Gurumikhi Express
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Ananya Express
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LTT–Bhagalpur
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Sampoorna Kranti
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Shramjeevi Express
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Indore–Patna
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Patna–Bandra
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Ahmedabad–Patna
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Howrah Duronto
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Secunderabad–Danapur
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Lokmanya Tilak–Agartala
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Patliputra Express
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Poorvottar Express
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Rani Kamlapati Express
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Sampark Kranti
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Magadh Express
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Varanasi–Asansol Express
The issue isn’t new. In a shocking past incident, two RPF personnel were murdered by liquor smugglers aboard the Barmer Express, highlighting the risks involved for enforcement agencies.
