The Bihar government has said that crime rates in the state have dropped by 27% after a ban on the sale of alcohol came into effect on April 5, reported PTI. The state also said on Monday that the number of deaths due to road accidents has dropped considerably since the ban. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a meeting on Monday with Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and State police chief PK Thakur, regarding raids conducted to enforce prohibition, and arrests under the new Excise law.

The news came even as Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan protested and demanded the state government allow the sale of toddy in Bihar. Paswan said the toddy ban would impact the livelihood of locals and came forward to support the Pasi community, who are involved in the local toddy business, India Today reported. The Lok Janshakti Party leader also claimed that toddy could not be classified as alcohol and called it a juice.