In an anti-smuggling operation, a police inspector lost his life on the Indore-Betul highway in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh late on Sunday, while a Sub-Divisional Magistrate narrowly escaped an alleged attack by an illegal mining dumper driver in Yamunanagar district of Haryana.
At A Glance
-
Khategaon SHO Dilip Puri died after an alleged illicit liquor vehicle ran him over during an anti-smuggling operation in Dewas district.
-
Police arrested the driver and seized the vehicle. The incident comes amid controversy over suspected spurious liquor deaths in the district.
-
In Yamunanagar, an SDM escaped an alleged attempt by an illegal mining dumper driver to run him over. Police have registered a case and launched a search for the accused.
A police inspector was crushed to death while attempting to stop a vehicle allegedly transporting illicit liquor in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh.
| Read more National News Here |
In a separate incident in Haryana, a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) narrowly escaped after a dumper driver allegedly tried to run him over while evading inspection of suspected illegally mined material.
The two incidents occurred during enforcement operations against alleged illegal activities. The Madhya Pradesh incident claimed the life of a police officer, while the Haryana SDM escaped without injury. Both cases have prompted police investigations.
Dewas SHO Dies While Intercepting Illicit Liquor Vehicle
The deceased officer was identified as Dilip Puri, Station House Officer (SHO) of Khategaon police station in Dewas district.
The incident occurred late on Sunday night along the Indore-Betul highway. Puri had reached the location with a police team after receiving information about a vehicle allegedly transporting illicit liquor.
During the interception attempt, the vehicle reportedly ran over the inspector. The impact left him critically injured. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Police arrested the driver and seized the liquor-laden vehicle.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident. They are also trying to establish whether the driver deliberately ran over Puri while attempting to escape the police operation.
The incident has renewed attention on the illegal liquor trade in Dewas, which has already faced controversy over a series of suspected spurious liquor deaths.
Suspected Spurious Liquor Deaths Spark Political Controversy
At least 13 people reportedly died between September 27 and October 16 in Chandana and Binjana villages after allegedly consuming adulterated liquor.
Several others reportedly developed serious health complications, including loss of eyesight.
The deaths triggered a political confrontation, with the Congress accusing the state government of failing to control the illegal liquor trade.
The district administration initially maintained that investigators had not conclusively established a connection between the deaths and poisonous liquor.
The state government subsequently ordered a high-level inquiry to determine the circumstances behind the fatalities.
The controversy also led to administrative action. Authorities suspended excise officials and transferred senior district officials.
Reacting to Puri’s death, senior Congress leader Arun Yadav criticised the state government’s handling of law and order.
He questioned how ordinary citizens could expect protection when police personnel themselves faced threats while performing their duties.
Yadav demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and alleged that Madhya Pradesh had turned into a “mafia raj”.
Haryana SDM Escapes Alleged Dumper Attack During Inspection
In a separate incident, Vyaspur SDM Dr Kuldeep Singh narrowly escaped an alleged attempt to run him over by a dumper driver in Haryana’s Yamunanagar district.
Police registered a case following a complaint from the SDM and launched a search for the accused.
The incident occurred on the morning of October 31. According to the complaint lodged at Sadhaura police station, Dr Singh was travelling to the Public Works Department (PWD) Rest House in Sadhaura around 6.15 a.m. to participate in the ‘Run for Unity’ programme.
During the journey, he noticed a dumper near the rest house. The vehicle had a blurred number plate, raising his suspicion that it was carrying illegally mined material.
The SDM signalled the driver to stop for inspection.
However, the driver allegedly accelerated instead of stopping and steered the dumper directly towards him in an attempt to run him over.
Dr Singh managed to escape. He immediately alerted the police and pursued the vehicle.
Creta Allegedly Helped Dumper Driver Escape
The SDM’s complaint also described an alleged attempt by another vehicle to obstruct his pursuit.
A white Hyundai Creta, which was reportedly following the dumper, allegedly tried to block the SDM’s vehicle.
According to the complaint, the car driver repeatedly manoeuvred in a zig-zag pattern and suddenly applied the brakes to obstruct Dr Singh’s path. This allegedly helped the dumper driver escape.
Dr Singh reportedly recorded the entire incident on his mobile phone.
Sadhaura police station in-charge Lakhwinder Singh confirmed that police had registered a case based on the SDM’s complaint. The case covers the dumper driver and the occupants of the car.
Police have launched an investigation to identify and arrest the accused. Investigators are also examining whether the dumper was carrying illegally mined material and whether the occupants of the Creta deliberately helped the driver escape.
Police said efforts were underway to trace the accused and expressed confidence that they would be arrested soon.
Two Incidents Put Focus on Risks Faced by Enforcement Officials
The incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana involved separate enforcement operations against suspected illegal activities.
In Dewas, an alleged liquor smuggling vehicle struck a police officer, resulting in his death. In Yamunanagar, an SDM escaped an alleged attack while attempting to inspect a suspected illegal mining vehicle.
While police have arrested the driver in the Dewas case, the accused in the Haryana incident remain at large.
Investigations in both cases will establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged attacks and the role of those involved. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)