Patna: Passengers travelling on the Satyagraha Express were briefly thrown into panic after liquor bottles began falling from the ceiling of a moving coach, in an incident that has drawn attention to a suspected new method of smuggling into Bihar, where alcohol remains prohibited.
The incident occurred on train number 15274 as it travelled from Pipraich in Uttar Pradesh towards Kaptanganj, en route to Raxaul. According to eyewitnesses, more than 20 bottles dropped in quick succession from ceiling panels near the toilets between sleeper coaches S4 and S5. Initial confusion among passengers soon gave way to concern as the source of the bottles became apparent.
Preliminary inquiries suggest the liquor may have been concealed inside ceiling compartments while the train was stationed in a washing yard, with the intention of being retrieved during the journey. Authorities believe this could represent a new tactic used by smugglers seeking to bypass Bihar’s longstanding prohibition laws.
The state’s liquor ban has led to repeated attempts to transport alcohol through covert means, with enforcement agencies regularly uncovering new methods. The use of train infrastructure to hide contraband is likely to intensify scrutiny of railway operations.
A video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, has raised questions about security measures on board and at railway facilities. Critics have questioned how such a quantity of alcohol could be hidden without detection, and whether existing surveillance by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) is adequate.
Officials have said an investigation is underway. Santosh Kumar Mishra, sub-inspector in charge of the RPF at Raxaul, said action would be taken once the train reached its destination. Pawan Kumar, station in charge of the GRP, also confirmed that inquiries had begun.
Railway police in Kaptanganj are examining the case and attempting to identify those responsible, as well as the scale of the suspected network behind the operation.
While the situation on board was brought under control, the incident has renewed concerns about enforcement gaps and the challenges of policing prohibition in the state.
