Liquor mafia mows down cop

In a shocking incident, the liquor mafia ran over sub-inspector Chhatrapati Chide of Nagbheed police station in Chandrapur on Tuesday.

Just last month, Chide had been felicitated in October for his excellent investigative acumen. Chide was on patrol duty in Maushi Chorgaon early on Tuesday. He had received a tip-off that a private vehicle would be passing through, ferrying illicit liquor. Along with his four associates, he intercepted an SUV. Panicking at the sight of police, the driver turned back and tried to speed away. His SUV collided with a tractor and Chide rushed in the direction of the errant driver. Spotting him in the rearview mirror, the driver reversed at high speed, mowing down Chide, and then sped away. Prohibition has been in force in Chandrapur for the past four years; however, the liquor mafia smuggles illicit alcohol from Lagat taluka into Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts.

So far, the police have been successful in strictly implementing the liquor ban. But the liquor mafia has become so powerful that it is unafraid of law enforcers. A seriously injured Chide was rushed to Christan and Hospital of Brahmapuri. However, during treatment, he succumbed to injuries.

The police have put out messages with details of the vehicle and its owner. They claim a person named Sahil Shehzad is the prime mafia accused and is reportedly in Kurkheda of Gadchiroli district.