Madhya Pradesh police station in-charge killed by truck in Dewas
Sub-Inspector Dilip Puri died after being run over by a vehicle suspected of transporting illicit liquor during an interception operation.
A police station in-charge, Dilip Puri, was killed late Sunday night after being run over by a truck suspected of carrying illicit liquor in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district, according to The Indian Express. The incident occurred on the Harda-Nemawar highway when Puri and his team attempted to intercept the vehicle following intelligence that it was transporting liquor from Harda to Gujarat via Indore.
Dewas Superintendent of Police Aditya Mishra said Puri, a 2007-batch Sub-Inspector, was leading one of five teams formed to track the vehicle. Police reported that the driver allegedly attempted to flee during the interception, causing Puri to fall and come under the truck's rear wheel. The Hindu reported that more than 1,800 litres of liquor without purchase bills were seized from the vehicle.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed and an FIR has been lodged. While the driver was arrested, police are searching for other staff who fled the scene. An investigation is underway to determine the source of the consignment and the involvement of others.
Congress Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar condemned the death, alleging the incident reflects the growing audacity of criminal networks. Local BJP MLA Ashish Sharma stated the administration is taking action against the illicit liquor trade and conducting a large-scale crackdown.
The incident follows a period of intensified action in the state after 13 people died in Dewas district between September 27 and October 16 after allegedly consuming spurious liquor. The state government has previously transferred Dewas Collector Ritu Raj and Superintendent of Police Puneet Gahlot amid investigations into the liquor trade.