Starting Wednesday, 7 January 2026, the Bihar chapter of the All India Jewellers and Gold Federation (AIJGF) enforced a statewide rule restricting entry and sales to customers with covered faces.
This “No Face Visibility, No Entry” policy applies to hijabs, niqabs, burqas, ghoonghats, masks, and helmets (How). The federation cites a surge in high-value robberies and the record-high price of gold, currently ₹1.40 lakh per 10 grams, as the primary reason for mandatory facial identification.
While the move is intended to aid CCTV identification, it has triggered a political firestorm, with the opposition RJD labelling it unconstitutional and a violation of religious freedom.
Rising Crime Targets
The directive follows a string of audacious heists across Bihar, including a notable robbery in Bhojpur where ornaments worth ₹25 crore were looted. With silver prices also peaking at ₹2.5 lakh per kilogram, jewellery showrooms have become lucrative targets for organised gangs.
Federation leaders argue that criminals often exploit face coverings like helmets or veils to enter shops in groups of three or four, making it impossible for law enforcement to identify them via surveillance footage.
This security measure in Bihar marks the first time such a rule has been applied across an entire state, following similar localised attempts in Uttar Pradesh towns like Jhansi and Mathura.
Political Opposition
Ashok Kumar Verma, state president of the AIJGF, clarified that the move is purely functional. “We are not banning the hijab or burqa; we are requesting customers to show their faces for identification to establish trust,” Verma stated, noting that he consulted with Patna police officials who raised no objections.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed, who alleged the decision is a “conspiracy to curtail fundamental rights.”
The controversy is further fueled by a recent viral incident in December 2025 where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was criticised for removing a doctor’s hijab at a public event, leaving the state’s socio-political fabric particularly sensitive to clothing-related mandates.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that while the safety of traders and the protection of their livelihoods is a legitimate concern, security protocols should be implemented with utmost sensitivity to religious and personal freedoms.
Mandatory identification for high-value transactions is a standard global practice, but when such rules appear to target specific cultural or religious attire, they risk creating a sense of exclusion and mistrust.
A more inclusive approach, such as private cabins for identification or female staff for verification, could balance safety with dignity.
