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{{Short description|Police Service of Bihar}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Bihar Police
| image_size = 140
| commonname = Bihar Police
| abbreviation = BP
| fictional =
| patch =
| patchcaption =
| logo = Bihar Police Logo.svg
| logocaption = Bihar Police Insignia
| badgecaption =
| flag =
| flagcaption =
| imagesize =
| motto = उत्कृष्टता की यात्रा
| mottotranslated = A Voyage of Excellence
| mission =
| formedyear = 1935
| formedmonthday =
| preceding1 =
| dissolved =
| superseding =
| employees =
| volunteers =
| budget = {{INRConvert|20132.87|c}}<small> (2026-27)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Bihar Budget Analysis 2023-24 |url=https://prsindia.org/budgets/states/bihar-budget-analysis-2023-24 |website=PRS Legislative Research |access-date=23 August 2023}}</ref>
| country = India
| countryabbr = IN
| national =
| federal =
| international =
| divtype = [[State]]
| divname = [[Bihar]]
| divdab =
| subdivtype =
| subdivname =
| subdivdab =
| map = File:IN-BR.svg
| mapcaption = Map of Bihar State Police Jurisdiction.
| sizearea =
| sizepopulation =
| legaljuris =
| governingbody = [[Government of Bihar|Bihar Government]]
| governingbodyscnd =
| constitution1 =
| police = Yes
| local = Yes
| military =
| provost =
| gendarmerie =
| religious =
| speciality1 =
| secret =
| overviewtype =
| overviewbody =
| headquarters = Sardar Patel Bhawan, [[Bailey Road, Patna|Bailey Road]], [[Patna]]
| hqlocmap =
| hqlocmapwidth =
| hqlocmapheight =
| hqlocmapborder =
| hqlocleft =
| hqloctop =
| hqlocmappoptitle =
| sworntype =
| sworn =
| unsworntype =
| unsworn =
| multinational =
| electeetype =
| minister1name = [[Nitish Kumar]]
| minister1pfo = [[Chief Minister]]
| chief1name = Vinay Kumar [[Indian Police Service|(IPS)]]
| chief1position = <br>[[Director General of Police]]
| parentagency =
| child1agency = [[Patna Police]]
| child2agency =
| child3agency =
| unittype =
| unitname =
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| provideragency =
| uniformedas =
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| stations =
| airbases =
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| person1name =
| person1reason =
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| activity1name =
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| anniversary1 =
| award1 =
| website = https://police.bihar.gov.in
| footnotes =
| reference =
}}

The '''Bihar Police''' is the [[law enforcement agency]] for the state of [[Bihar]], [[India]], with its headquarters in [[Patna]]. As per official figures, Bihar Police has a sanctioned strength of 2,29,000 personnel, and as of 2024, it employs 1,10,000 personnel.<ref>{{cite web | author= Kshitiz | title=Sanctioned strength of police force 2.29L now: Chief secy | website=[[The Times of India]] | date=22 February 2025 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/sanctioned-strength-of-police-force-2-29l-now-chief-secy/articleshow/118486228.cms | access-date=11 June 2025|quote=Today, the force has expanded with 2,29,000 sanctioned positions and a fleet of 11,000 vehicles," he said while inaugurating the Bihar Police Week celebrations at the police headquarters (PHQ) in Sardar Patel Bhawan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=bihar police soon recruitment of 78000 police personnel cm nitish kumar ordered know details | website=Moneycontrol Hindi | date=22 October 2024 | url=https://hindi.moneycontrol.com/news/india/politics/bihar-police-soon-recruitment-of-78000-police-personnel-cm-nitish-kumar-ordered-know-details-1931828.html | language=hi | access-date=11 June 2025|quote=मौजूदा समय में बिहार में 1.10 लाख पुलिसकर्मी हैं। (translation: At present, there are 1.10 lakh police personnel in Bihar.}}</ref>

The present [[Director general of police|DGP]] of Bihar Police is Vinay Kumar, an IPS officer of 1991 batch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Network |first=Elets News |date=2024-12-14 |title=Vinay Kumar Appointed New DGP of Bihar |url=https://egov.eletsonline.com/2024/12/vinay-kumar-appointed-new-dgp-of-bihar/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=Elets eGov |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Nitish Kumar, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Choudhary participated in appointment letter distribution of newly appointed sub-inspectors.jpg|thumb|Nitish Kumar, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Choudhary participating in appointment letter distribution of women police officials in October 2024.]]
There is historical evidence of the adoption of intensive policing practices in the Magadh empire more than 2,000 years ago, where the head of police was known as Dandapala. His main role was to maintain law and order in the society while implementing harsh injunctions of ''[[Arthashastra]]'' to collect taxes and suppress rebellions.

Modern policing in Bihar started in 1862 under the provisions of the ''[[Police Act, 1861]]''. After Bihar was carved out as an independent province in 1912 from Bengal, the basic structure of police was created as it exists today. After its major reorganization several pre-eminent police officers adorned pre-independent Bihar Police Force. These included Mr. Walter Swain of Swain Beat system fame, Shri AK Sinha, the first Indian to become an IGP of any province, [[Bhola Nath Mullik|Shri BN Mullick]], the second director of the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau (IB)]], [[Qazi Azizul Haque|Khan Bahadur Azizul Haque]], credited with the primary development of the famous ‘[[Henry Classification System|1024 pigeon holes]]’ cabinet system eventually named after his supervisor, Sir Edward Richard Henry.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=17 June 2021|title=BIHAR POLICE|url=http://biharpolice.bih.nic.in/|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-06-17|website=biharpolice.bih.nic.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018163806/http://biharpolice.bih.nic.in/|archive-date=18 October 2008}}</ref>

Post independence, Bihar Police led innovative policing measures, such as the creation of a Police Welfare fund, Police Hospitals and Police Information Room (PIR) in 1952. Bihar Policemen's Association, which looks after the interests of policemen, was one of the first police welfare associations in all of India in 1967. A Police Commission was also set up in 1958, whose mandate was to bring the police closer to the people.<ref name=":0" /> [[Patna Police]] got its new headquarter Sardar Patel Bhavan, [[Bailey Road, Patna|Bailey Road]] in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/patna-police-gets-new-headquarter-after-100-years-1367021-2018-10-13|title=Patna police gets new headquarter after 100 years |date=13 October 2018 }}</ref> The seven storied building with a helipad at the top is spread over almost 53,000 sqft area. Prior to this, police headquarter of Bihar Police was located at the [[Patna Secretariat|old secretariat]] building since 1917.

==Organizational structure==
[[File:Nitish Kumar and Samrat Chaudhary distributing appointment letters to 1239 new police sub inspectors.jpg|thumb|Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary distributing appointment letters to 1239 newly appointed police sub-inspectors in October 2024.]]
Bihar Police comes under the direct control of the Department of Home Affairs, [[Government of Bihar]].
It has six divisions under the organizational structure, namely, Human Resource Development and Training Division (TRG), Law & Order Division (L & O), Establishment and Legal Division, Personnel and Welfare Division, Headquarter (DGP Office) and Budget Division (HQRT), and Modernization, Crime Records and Provision Division (SCRB &Mod). These are headed by four Additional Director General (ADGP), where ADGP (HQRT) has an additional charge of Welfare division, and ADGP (L & O) with that of Establishment and Legal Division.<ref name=":0" /> The Training division is headed by DGP (Training), while the latter five are headed by Director General (DGP).

For geographic workload distribution, the state is divided into 12 ranges, each range consisting of 2 to 5 districts. The central range (Patna), Magadh range (Gaya), Tirhut range (Muzaffarpur), Mithila range (Darbhanga) and Purnia range are headed by IG rank officers, while other seven ranges are headed by DIG rank officers. Each district is commanded by a Superintendent of Police (SP), where as Patna is under a Senior Superintendent of Police.<ref name=":0" />

Earlier, the state also had a zonal division into four police zones. Introduced in 1982, each zone consisted of two to four ranges, and was headed by an IG level officer. This system was abolished in 2019, and only rail police zone continues to exist.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=17 Aug 2019 |agency=TNN |title=Government dissolves all four police zones in Bihar {{!}} Patna News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/govt-dissolves-all-four-police-zones-in-state/articleshow/70706122.cms|access-date=2021-06-17|website=The Times of India|date=17 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

===List of ranges===
List of 12 Police Ranges and Police Districts in Bihar is as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! Sr No
! Police Range
! Police Districts
|-
| 1.
| Begusarai range
| Begusarai & Khagaria
|-
| 2.
| Champaran range
| East Champaran, West Champaran & Bagaha
|-
| 3.
| Eastern range
| Bhagalpur, Banka & Naugachhia
|-
| 4.
| Central range
| [[Patna Police|Patna]] & Nalanda
|-
| 5.
| Mithila range
| Darbhanga, Madhubani & Samastipur
|-
| 6.
| Munger range
| Jamui, Lakhisarai, Munger & Sheikhpura
|-
| 7.
| Magadh range
| Arwal, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Nawada & Gaya
|-
| 8.
| Purnia range
| Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj & Purnia
|-
| 9.
| Kosi range
| Madhepura, Saharsa & Supaul
|-
| 10.
| Saran range
| Saran, Siwan & Gopalganj
|-
| 11.
| Shahabad range
| Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur & Rohtas
|-
| 12.
| Tirhut range
| Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi & Vaishali
|}

==Hierarchy==

'''Officers'''

* Director General of Police (DGP)
* Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)
* Inspector General of Police (IGP)
* Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
* Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)
* [[Superintendent of Police (India)|Superintendent of Police]] (SP)
* Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl.SP)
* Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)

'''Sub-ordinates'''
* Inspector of Police or [[Station house officer|SHO]]
* Sub-Inspector of Police (SI)
* Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI)
* Head Constable / Havildar
* Senior Constable / Police Naik
* Constable

== Notable initiatives ==

===Ladli Cops===
An initiative in [[Community Policing]] for the safety of Women. The CID Branch of Bihar Police under the Leadership of Alok Raj (IPS) ADG in association with Mr. Roushan Kumar and Dr. Suman Lal founders Ladli Foundation came up with the concept of having Women Community Police to provide a safe and secure atmosphere to the inhabitants. Also to make women become familiar with Police and deeply understand the police system to invoke their taboo to interact with police station/ policemen. For this initiative, volunteer from girls studying in different colleges of Patna were identified and trained. Each of these girls were provided with ID Cards authorised by [[Bihar]] Police and are called Ladli Cops.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://biharpolice.bih.nic.in/news/adgl%26o.pdf|title= An initiative in community policing|website= biharpolice.bih.nic.in|access-date= 2021-04-16|archive-date= 20 December 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220070310/http://biharpolice.bih.nic.in/news/adgl%26o.pdf|url-status= dead}}</ref>

== Controversies and criticism ==
In contrast with several states, the Bihar Police has been notoriously condemned for corruption, colluding with mafias and criminal gangs, political influence and interference, and old school mindset.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/the-badge-that-betrayed-50-bihar-shos-linked-to-sand-and-liquor-mafias-1881194|title= The Badge That Betrayed: 50 Bihar SHOs Linked to Sand and Liquor Mafias|date= 25 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-has-a-problem-police-officers-refuse-promotions-in-writing-1442024|title= Bihar Has A Problem. Police Officers Refuse Promotions In Writing}}</ref> Bihar has also been noted to have the lowest police to population ratio of 81 per 100,000 people, which is quite below the national level of 155 while sanctioned strength is 198, and even way below UN recommendations of 222.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.newsclick.in/indias-police-prisons-crisis-says-indian-justice-report-2025|title= India's Police, Prisons in Crisis, Says Indian Justice Report 2025|work= NewsClick|date= 7 May 2025}}</ref> As policing is a state responsibility, Bihar Police still follows the colonial and archaic [[Police Act, 1861|Police Act of 1861]], which has negatively impacted law and order, investigations, and led to police brutality.

The Bihar Police was notoriously involved in the [[1980 Bhagalpur blindings]], where acid was poured into the eyes of 31 individuals, either convicted or undertrial. The incident was widely discussed, debated and acutely criticised by several human rights organizations. Given the extreme misconduct, the Supreme Court of India ordered compensation to the victims for violation of basic human rights.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.humanrights-justice.com/landmark_initiative/bhagalpur_blinding_case.php |title=CHRJ Bhagalpur Blinding Case |access-date=18 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929150243/http://humanrights-justice.com/landmark_initiative/bhagalpur_blinding_case.php |archive-date=29 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During the tenure of [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] as Chief Minister, he interfered in policing of entire state to prevent any cases against the political leaders as well as party workers. Yadav was also responsible for preventing police reforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/patna/growing-mass-appeal-prevented-lalu-police-reforms-nitish-shot-down-ats-former-bihar-dgp-7946082/|title= Growing mass appeal and hangers-on prevented Lalu from effecting police reforms, Nitish shot down ATS: Former Bihar DGP|date= 31 May 2022}}</ref>

Furthermore, during Yadav's tenure as Chief Minister, Bihar's law and order was at lowest,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farz |first=Ahmed |date=June 10, 2002 |title=Laloo Prasad Yadav's army of raiders ensures his daughter's wedding is not forgotten easily |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20020610-laloo-prasad-yadav-army-of-raiders-ensures-his-daughter-wedding-is-not-forgotten-easily-795122-2002-06-10 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103111748/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20020610-laloo-prasad-yadav-army-of-raiders-ensures-his-daughter-wedding-is-not-forgotten-easily-795122-2002-06-10 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 24, 1998 |first=Bharat |last=Desai |title=IAS officer's wife charges Laloo Prasad Yadav's associate with rape |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19980824-ias-officers-wife-charges-laloo-prasad-yadavs-associate-with-rape-826927-1998-08-24 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428171130/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/19980824-ias-officers-wife-charges-laloo-prasad-yadavs-associate-with-rape-826927-1998-08-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> kidnapping was on rise and private armies mushroomed.<ref name=low>{{cite news|last=Phadnis|first=Aditi|title=Lalu Prasad Yadav: From symbol of hope to ridicule|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/lalu-prasad-yadav-from-symbol-of-hope-to-ridicule-113093000895_1.html|access-date=1 October 2013|newspaper=Business Standard|date=30 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002173442/http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/lalu-prasad-yadav-from-symbol-of-hope-to-ridicule-113093000895_1.html|archive-date=2 October 2013}}</ref> He was also criticized by opposition in the [[Shilpi-Gautam Murder]] case and the death of his daughter Ragini Yadav's friend, Abhishek Mishra, in mysterious circumstances - both cases were heavily covered up by Bihar Police on Yadav's orders, the former of which prompted an investigation from the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 25, 2006 |last=Kislaya |title=Opposition guns for Lalu Prasad Yadav in death of daughter's friend from BIT Ranchi |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20061225-abhishek-involved-with-lalu-daughter-ragini-drowned-in-mysterious-circumstances-2006-781827-2006-12-25 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428091350/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/story/20061225-abhishek-involved-with-lalu-daughter-ragini-drowned-in-mysterious-circumstances-2006-781827-2006-12-25 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=जब पटना क एक गराज म मिली दो लाश और हिल गई थी बिहार की सरकार |url=https://www.jansatta.com/crime-news-hindi/bihar-shilpi-jain-and-gautam-singh-case-which-shook-bihar-government/2084830/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Jansatta |date=13 March 2022 |language=hi |archive-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314060755/https://www.jansatta.com/crime-news-hindi/bihar-shilpi-jain-and-gautam-singh-case-which-shook-bihar-government/2084830/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Yadav attempted to also influence the [[Fodder Scam]] investigations, which was subsequently later taken over by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] and led to his conviction.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Fodder-scam-Lalu-Prasad-sentenced-to-5-years-in-jail/articleshow/23456085.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Fodder scam: Lalu Prasad gets five years in jail, Jagannath Mishra four - The Times of India}}</ref>

==Equipment==
All the equipment of the Bihar Police are manufactured indigenously by the [[Indian Ordnance Factories]] controlled by the [[Ordnance Factories Board]], Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

{| class="wikitable" width="100%" border="0"
! width="25%" |Name
! width="25%" |Country of origin
! width="25%" |Type
!References
|-
|[[Pistol Auto 9mm 1A]]
|{{Flag|India}}
|[[Semi-automatic pistol]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Pistol Auto 9mm 1A |url=http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/7.htm}}</ref>
|-
|[[Heckler & Koch MP5]]
|{{Flag|West Germany}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Submachine gun]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=PSO carrying MP5 |url=http://www.prdbihar.in/AdminPanel/Files/GalleryImages/27-05-2015_15.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623104850/http://www.prdbihar.in/AdminPanel/Files/GalleryImages/27-05-2015_15.jpg |archive-date=2015-06-23}}</ref>
|-
|[[Sterling submachine gun]]
| rowspan="4" |{{Flag|India}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=OFB Submachine Carbine |url=http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/8.htm}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lee–Enfield|Ishapore 2A1]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Rifle]]
|
|-
|[[L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle|1A SLR]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=OFB Rifle 1A1 |url=http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/15.htm}}</ref>
|-
|[[INSAS]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=OFB INSAS |url=http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/11.htm}}</ref>
|-
|[[AKM]]
|{{Flag|Soviet Union}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=OFB Assault Rifle 7.62mm |url=http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/21.htm}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

<ref name="zeenews.india.com">{{Cite web |title=Senior IPS Rajwinder Singh Bhatti appointed new Bihar DGP |url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/senior-ips-rajwinder-singh-bhatti-appointed-new-bihar-dgp-2550283.html |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Patna Police]]
* [[State Armed Police Forces]]

{{Bihar}}
{{State agencies of Bihar}}
{{Law enforcement agencies of India}}

[[Category:Bihar Police| ]]
[[Category:State law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:1935 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1935]]

Bihar Police - Revision history

Surojit098 at 23:27, 6 March 2026