Patna: Bihar has witnessed a dramatic fall in riot-related incidents over the last two decades, with authorities crediting the state’s liquor prohibition law and the Dial-112 emergency response system for the steady decline. According to data from the Police Headquarters, riot cases have dropped threefold—from 9,199 incidents in 2004 to 3,186 in 2024.
The turning point came in 2016, when Bihar enforced a statewide ban on alcohol. That year, riot cases fell sharply to 11,617 from a high of 13,311 in 2015. A second phase of improvement followed in 2021 with the launch of Dial-112, a rapid response system that sends police to the scene of an emergency within 15 to 20 minutes. Since its introduction, the number of riot incidents has halved—from 6,298 in 2021 to just 3,186 in 2024.
Emergency response capabilities have proven vital in defusing tense situations. According to the police, officers are often able to reach potential flashpoints quickly enough to prevent violence from escalating. In some cases, they’ve managed to control mobs even when outnumbered. Notably, 2020 saw 9,419 riots, but with the full rollout of Dial-112 in 2021, the figure dropped by more than 3,000 cases in a single year.
The data also reveals longer-term trends. In 2001, Bihar recorded 8,520 riot cases, rising to 9,199 in 2004. While there was a spike in 2015, the subsequent years saw consistent decline. As of 2025, only 205 riot-related cases have been registered so far, underscoring the effectiveness of sustained policing and policy interventions.
“The liquor ban law and Dial-112 have proved to be very effective in reducing the incidents of riots,” said Vinay Kumar, Director General of Bihar Police. “There is continuous monitoring of such incidents, immediate arrests are made, and punishment is ensured quickly. The state police headquarters monitors each case closely to ensure swift and effective action.”
