Cocking a snook at the law enforcing agencies, the liquor mafia in Bihar attacked a police team when it raided a hideout in Sitamarhi on Wednesday.
Sub-inspector Dinesh Ram, who was leading the raid team, was shot dead when the illicit liquor traders opened fire on the cops. A constable was also injured in the shoot-out and has been rushed to the government hospital where he is recuperating.
The raid was planned after reports reached Sitamarhi Police that illicit liquor traders were operating in the area by bringing in the banned product from neighbouring Nepal, which shares a porous border with Sitamarhi in Bihar.
It is pertinent to mention here that prohibition was enforced by the Nitish Kumar regime in Bihar in April 2016.
On Tuesday, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav blasted the state government over the failure of prohibition. The chief minister has, however, asked the law enforcement agencies to launch a crackdown on liquor mafia and book all those found involved in the illicit trade. It was against this background that a raid was planned in Sitamarhi.
A similar raid was carried out in Begusarai district and there too, the cops were chased and beaten up by the liquor mafia.
“A police official Abhay Shankar, besides two junior cops, sustained injuries in the attack at Begusarai. Three persons have been arrested in this connection,” said a police source.