Liquor smuggler injured, nabbed after shootout with cops on highway

PRAYAGRAJ : An armed liquor smuggler was nabbed after a brief shootout with police on the Prayagraj-Varanasi highway near Valipur under Uttaraon police early on Saturday. The smuggler sustained a bullet injury to his leg in the shootout and was rushed to hospital, police said.

As many as 300 bottles of “Bombay” whisky, a car, items used in making illicit liquor, an alcohol metre besides a country-made handgun and live bullets were recovered from the smuggler identified as Habib Ahmad, 35, of Andhiyari village under Nawabganj police of Prayagraj , they added.

SP (trans-Ganga) Dhawal Jaiswal said Ahmad was involved in the illegal trade of illicit liquor manufacture. He added that cases had been registered against him at Nawabganj and Handia police stations of the district.

The injured smuggler, the seized liquor and other items from his car.

The cop said as part of the ongoing offensive against illicit liquor, the police had set up a checking near Ekdala culvert on the Prayagraj-Varanasi highway in Uttaraon when a white car missing a number plate rammed through the police barricade forcing the police to give a chase.

Near Valipur, the driver of the vehicle opened fire on the police team that forced the police to fire back in self-defence. This resulted in the man sustaining a bullet injury on his leg, he added. The district police have started a crackdown on illicit liquor manufacturers, smugglers and sellers in the district following recent deaths due to it in Handia region of Praygaraj.