Patna, Jul 30 (PTI) The Bihar government has introduced a major change in the state’s police administration by reinstating the previous zonal and range-based policing system, officials said on Thursday.
Under the arrangement, the entire state has been divided into four major police zones – Patna Zone, Muzaffarpur Zone, Darbhanga Zone, and Bhagalpur Zone.
“With the objective of making the existing zonal policing system (comprising 12 ranges) more effective, the Bihar government has reorganised the zonal police structure,” an official statement said.
As part of this restructuring, the four police zones have been constituted with effect from July 29, it said.
Each zone will be headed by a senior officer of the inspector general (IG) rank, while the ranges under each zone will be overseen by the deputy inspector generals (DIGs).
The state’s Home Department has issued a notification formalising the new administrative structure, it said.
“This restructuring is expected to improve the maintenance of law and order, crime control, disaster management, and the discharge of other administrative responsibilities,” the statement said.
The reorganisation will enable zonal heads to maintain closer supervision over the districts under their respective ranges. It will also facilitate the formulation of region-specific policing strategies.
The police administration is expected to become more responsive, efficient, and better aligned with the requirements of each region, thereby further strengthening law and order and ensuring enhanced security and policing services for the public, it said.
The four police zones and constituent ranges will be the Patna Zone (Patna Central Range, Magadh Range and Shahabad Range, Muzaffarpur Zone (Muzaffarpur-Tirhut Range, Champaran Range and Saran Range), Darbhanga Zone (Darbhanga-Mithila Range, Kosi Range, Saharsa-Purnea Range), Bhagalpur Zone (Bhagalpur Eastern Range, Munger Range, Munger Begusarai Range).
In August 2019, the Bihar government had abolished the police zonal system and reorganised the state’s police administration into 12 ranges, excluding the Railway Police.
However, over the past few years, the arrangement “could not deliver any significant improvement in crime control or administrative oversight”, an official said.
Subsequently, the Police Headquarters recommended reinstating the previous zonal system, he said. PTI PKD RBT
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