Police officer crushed to death by truck in Dewas liquor raid
Khategaon police station in-charge Dilip Puri died after a truck allegedly ran over him during an anti-smuggling operation.
A police station in-charge was crushed to death by a truck during an operation against illegal liquor transportation in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, according to ANI and The Assam Tribune.
The incident occurred between 1 am and 2 am on the Harda-Nemawar highway. Dilip Puri, a 2007-batch Sub-Inspector and in-charge of the Khategaon police station, was leading a team to verify intelligence regarding an illegal liquor consignment.
During the vehicle checking, a truck suspected of carrying illicit liquor allegedly sped up when signalled to stop. Reports indicate that a scuffle occurred after Puri asked the driver to get down, after which the driver attempted to flee, resulting in the vehicle's rear wheel running over Puri.
Dewas Superintendent of Police Aditya Mishra said that five teams, including in-charges from Nemawar, Kannod, and Satwas, were formed to verify the information. The police have seized the Eicher truck, which was carrying more than 1,800 litres of alcohol without purchase bills.
The driver has been arrested, and police are investigating the smuggling network. Rahul Jaiswal of Harda has been identified in connection with the alleged network, and officials are examining the financial involvement of individuals in the logistics.
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari criticised the state government over the incident, alleging it shows a deteriorating law and order situation and demanding an impartial investigation into the liquor smuggling network.