Bihar Sharif/Bagaha, Oct 15 (PTI) A police constable was allegedly shot dead by suspected liquor smugglers in Nalanda district of dry Bihar, an official said on Thursday.
The incident took place near a flyover in Pawapuri-Giriyak area on Wednesday night when an Excise Department team, of which police constable Ajit Kumar was also a part, was chasing a liquor-laden pickup truck, they said.
The liquor smugglers allegedly opened fire at the chasing Excise team, and Kumar sustained gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital in Pawapuri and later referred to Patna, where he died during treatment.
Excise Superintendent Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary said, “The Excise Intelligence Bureau (EIB) at its Patna headquarters received a tip-off that a large consignment of liquor was being transported to Nalanda from Jharkhand, following which a special team from Patna, along with local excise and police personnel, launched a raid.
The liquor-laden pickup had crossed Kharat Mor in Nawada district when the team began chasing it. The personnel attempted to intercept and surround the vehicle near a flyover on the highway in Pawapuri-Giriyak area, he added.
During the operation, the smugglers opened fire at the chasing team, and Kumar was hit, Chaudhary said, noting that they managed to escape.
The injured constable was taken to Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences in Pawapuri, but doctors referred him to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) due to his critical condition.
He later died during treatment in the medical establishment at the state capital, the official said.
Excise and police personnel have launched a manhunt to nab those involved in the incident, he said.
Storage, transportation, sale and consumption of liquor are prohibited in Bihar.
Meanwhile, five police personnel, including a station house officer (SHO), were injured after a police team was attacked by locals while attempting to arrest two men in a liquor supply case in Bagaha in West Champaran district.
The incident happened around 10 pm on Wednesday in the Naurangiya police station area, with the attackers allegedly freeing one of the men arrested by the police.
“A five-member police team, including me, had gone to arrest Nagendra Been and Bhulan Been on warrants in a liquor supply case. We arrested Bhulan Been,” Naurangiya SHO Raj Raushan said.
During the operation, around a dozen people confronted the team. They surrounded the personnel, engaged in a scuffle, tore the SHO’s clothes and forcibly freed Nagendra Been, officials said.
Police personnel from several stations later reached the spot and brought the situation under control, they added.
An FIR was registered and three persons, Raushan Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and Rambriksha Chaudhary, were arrested, police said. PTI CORR SUK SOM
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