POLICE OFFICER KILLED BY LIQUOR SMUGGLERS

A sub-inspector was killed and a police guard was injured in an encounter with liquor smugglers in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district on Wednesday.

The incident occurred when a police team led by Sub Inspector Dinesh Ram reached village Kunwari under Majorganj police station to arrest Mukul, Ranjan and their associates in connection with an extortion case.

Sources said that as soon as the police team started cordoning off the area, criminals opened fire in which the Sub Inspector was killed and a police guard sustained injuries.

According to the police, Mukul, Ranjan and others have also been involved in liquor smuggling from Nepal and other neighbouring states.

Later, Mukul was arrested while he was fleeing to Nepal after the firing incident and one of the smugglers was killed by the police.

“Manhunt has been launched and raids are being conducted to nab all those who have been involved in the incident”, ADG (law and order) Amit Kumar told reporters in Patna. The incident has triggered sharp reactions from across the political spectrum in Bihar. While the ruling JD(U) termed the incident as “an act of frustration” by the liquor mafia, opposition blamed the state government for its failure to check liquor smuggling from outside the state.

“The incident shows that there is no fear of law in Bihar. The state government should order a high-level probe and act against all those who are behind the entire liquor trade racquet in the state. There are many big people who have close links with liquor mafias”, RJD leader Subodh Rai told reporters.