Katihar: In a first for Bihar, authorities used drone surveillance to detect and seize a large consignment of illegal alcohol on a passenger train, as the state continues its efforts to enforce prohibition laws.
Despite a statewide alcohol ban in place since 2016, smuggling continues to be a challenge for law enforcement. In the latest development, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Katihar district recovered over 126 litres of illicit liquor from train number 15720, arriving from Siliguri. The operation, part of the nationwide ‘Operation Satark’ campaign, marks the first instance where drones were deployed to monitor train activities for alcohol smuggling.
Acting on a tip-off, the RPF team led by Inspector Rakesh Kumar surveilled Katihar railway station and its surrounding yard using drone cameras. As the train pulled into platform 7, officers conducted a search and discovered the alcohol hidden in an unclaimed compartment. The seized liquor included both country-made and foreign brands, with an estimated value running into several lakhs of rupees.
The recovered consignment has been handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) for further investigation. Authorities believe the use of drone technology could become a key tool in curbing illicit trade across the state’s railway network.
