Law Kumar Mishra
PATNA: Armed gang of liquor mafia on Wednesday noon shot dead a police sub-inspector and wounded a constable during an encounter on Indo-Nepal border,150 kms north of Patna. In retaliatory firing, a member of the liquor mafia was also killed, while another surrendered.
According to the Sitamarhi deputy SP, P N Sahu, a team of policemen from Majorgunj police station had intercepted a vehicle at Kowari village, 2 kms from Nepal border as there was definite information that the vehicle was importing liquor from Nepal through Janakpur route.
As the vehicle was stopped, members of the liquor mafia led by Ranjan Singh started firing on the police in which two policemen received bullet wounds. Sub-Inspector Dinesh Ram, who was leading the team, died on his way to the hospital while constable Lal Babu Paswan has been admitted to a private hospital at district headquarters of Sitamarhi.
Police claimed in retaliatory firing, Ranjan Singh was killed and his associate Mukul Singh surrendered.
In another incident on Wednesday morning, police officer-in-charge Abhay Shankar of Begusarai sadar police station and a home guard jawan were injured when they were chased and attacked by the illicit liquor traders at Pokhriya muhalla of the district headquarters. They were hit with brick stones, police claimed. Later police arrested three on the charge of attacking the police.
Begusarai police claimed the police team had raided the area on getting reports of illicit liquor being manufactured.
Last week, ten people had died in Muzaffarpur and Gopalganj districts after consuming illicit liquor which was reportedly brought in from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Director General of Police had suspended the entire police staff of the two police stations on charges of dereliction of their duties.
Bihar Policemen Association on Wednesday evening demanded compensation to the family of the deceased Dinesh Ram and regretted due to lack of co-ordination between the district SP and police station level, the encounter took place.
There has been a total prohibition in Bihar since April, 2016 and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar last week announced the policemen and officers found consuming liquor would be dismissed from their services.
