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Following the Bihar government’s blanket ban on alcohol this week, habitual drinkers in the state turned a jittery lot for want of their daily dose while some of them even suffered tremors.
Without their regular dose of booze, some failed to recognize even their own family members while a man chose to munch on soap bars in a desperate attempt to get a high, The Times Of India reported.
Doctors in the state are busy attending to patients with heavy withdrawal symptoms.
As of Wednesday, at least 749 such people were brought to the state's 38 new de-addiction centres, the newspaper reported, citing reports received by the State Health Society of Bihar (SHSB).
Four days after banning sale and consumption of country-made and spiced liquor in rural areas from April 1, the Bihar government followed it up with prohibiting India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).
Meanwhile, the liquor ban has turned out to be a boon for paan shopkeepers after alcoholics, denied of their regular quota of booze, started depending on bhang to get a high, according to another news report.
Bhang, sold in tiny sachets in most paan shops across the state, though produced from cannabis leaves, is not a listed narcotic drug in the state.
With alcoholics migrating to a cocktail of sugar cane juice and bhang for their daily fix, the display of Dutch courage by many after downing a few pegs that often leads to bloody brawls, has reportedly gone down.
Bihar liquor ban however excludes army canteens and the BJP was quick to criticize the state government, questioning the basis of allowing sale of liquor there.
"Will not the high and mighty be able to get liquor from Army canteen?... How the government would make prohibition a complete success in such a situation," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said.
Salman Khan and a few other fellow actors were accused of hunting and killing black bucks (an endangered species) in Jodhpur in October 1998 while shooting for 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. The actor was also accused of using illegal arms with an expired license. (credit:STRDEL via Getty Images)
Hit-and-run case, 2002(02 of09)
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Salman Khan was charged in a hit-and-run case in 2002, when he crashed his car into a bakery in Bandra under the influence of alcohol. One person sleeping on the footpath was killed while four others were seriously injured. The case has continued for over 12 years: Khan was found guilty on 6 May 2015, with a sentence of 10 years. (credit:PUNIT PARANJPE via Getty Images)
Aishwarya Rai, 2002(03 of09)
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Salman Khan and actress Aishwarya Rai who were reportedly dating, broke up in 2002. Rai accused Khan of harassing her and her parents lodged a complaint against him. A year later in 2003, Vivek Oberoi who was then rumoured to be involved with Rai, called a press conference, accusing Khan of threatening him. (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
Shah Rukh Khan, 2008(04 of09)
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In 2008, a brawl allegedly broke out between actors Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan at actress Katrina Kaif's birthday party. Their relationship was soured for five years. Finally the duo made up at Salman's sister Arpita's wedding last year. (credit:STRDEL via Getty Images)
Ganesh Pooja, 2007(05 of09)
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In 2007, a Muslim organisation issued a fatwa against Salman Khan for attending a Ganesh Pooja at singing sensation Sonu Nigam's house. Khan's family also brought the Ganesha idol home, and was seen dancing during the procession before immersing the idol into the sea. Daarul-Ifta-Manjar-e-Islam, the Muslim organisation, said unless the actor read the Kalmas all over again, he would not be considered a Muslim. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Bigg Boss, 2013(06 of09)
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As host of the popular show 'Bigg Boss', Salman Khan was accused of showing bias towards two contestants. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sri Lanka visit, 2015(07 of09)
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The beginning of 2015 saw yet another attack on Khan: His visit to Colombo with 'Kick' co-star Jacqueline Fernandez who hails from Sri Lanka, sparked rage among Tamil groups following his participation in a campaign for President Mahindra Rajapaksa. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Saifai Mahotsav, 2014(08 of09)
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Salman Khan found himself in another controversy after performing at the Saifai Mahotsav early last year, with other actors. Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav was also attacked on the same account of being insensitive to Muzaffarnagar riot victims by hosting such a lavish event. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
-- This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which
closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions
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