“IT is a historic decision not to offer funeral prayers of the drunkards who die,” says Hafiz Maulana Mahtab Alam Makhdumi, of the Anjuman Faizane Mustafa Committee, Nalanda. “We hope that it will send a strong massage among Muslims not to consume liquor.”

“We have urged people that drunkards should be socially boycotted but even after that if they fail to end their habit, we will not lead their funeral prayers. It is a tough decision as there is no other method left to warn the drunkards.”

Nayiar Fatmi, a Muslim activist in Patna is supportive: “It will help discourage consuming of liquors and serve as a warning for drunkards. I hope other Imams of other districts across Bihar start similar campaigns.”