Dewas. A painful incident came to light late on Sunday night during the action against illegal liquor smuggling in Khategaon of Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh. Khategaon police station in-charge Dilip Puri was crushed by an Eicher vehicle filled with liquor on the Indore-Betul highway.
The seriously injured TI was immediately rushed to the hospital, where despite CPR and treatment for about two hours, he could not be saved. There was mourning in the police department due to the news of his death early on Monday.
According to the information, at around 1.30 am on Sunday night, the police had received information that an Eicher vehicle loaded with illegal liquor was going towards Gujarat from Harda.
After this, on the instructions of Dewas SP Aditya Mishra, more than five police teams were formed to catch the vehicle. These included police teams from Khategaon, Nemawar, Kannaud and Satwas police station areas.
Police were chasing the vehicle and further blockade was also done. Meanwhile, an Eicher vehicle was found parked on the side of the divider on the Indore-Betul highway.
It was told that the driver had stopped to drink water. Police station in-charge Dilip Puri, who reached the spot, asked the driver to get down from the vehicle. Meanwhile, the driver tried to move the vehicle forward by climbing it on the divider.
During this, TI Puri got hit by the vehicle and the rear wheel passed over him. Puri suffered serious injuries in many parts of his body in the accident.
He was immediately taken to the hospital, where doctors performed CPR and other treatments for about two hours, but his life could not be saved.
Driver absconds leaving the vehicle in Sandalpur
After the incident, the Eicher driver took the vehicle forward by climbing it on the divider and fled away leaving it near Sandalpur. Police have seized the vehicle.
Police officials have confirmed that the vehicle was filled with liquor. Information about the quantity of liquor and the network related to smuggling is being collected. Police teams have been deployed to search for the absconding driver.
As soon as information about the incident was received, Dewas SP Aditya Mishra reached Khategaon at around 3:30 am on Monday. Senior officials took information about the incident and the case. TI Puri’s family members also arrived after receiving the information. He is survived by his wife Kavita and a son and daughter.
Dilip Puri was sub inspector of 2007 batch.
Station in-charge Dilip Puri was a sub-inspector of the year 2007 batch. After becoming TI, he was also posted in Hiranagar and Chandan Nagar police stations of Indore. There is an atmosphere of mourning in the police department due to his death while on duty.
After post-mortem, his body will be taken to Barmandal in Rajod police station area of Dhar district, where his last rites will be performed.
Questions raised again after deaths due to suspected poisonous liquor in Chandana-Binjana
The issue of illicit liquor has already become a cause of serious controversy in Dewas district.
Villagers had claimed that more than 13 people had died within 20 days due to drinking suspected poisonous liquor in Chandana and Binjana villages, about seven kilometers from the district headquarters. It was also reported that the eyesight of many people was affected.
According to villagers, the series of deaths started from September 27. After drinking alcohol, people had complaints like stomach ache, dizziness, nervousness and vomiting.
After these incidents, questions were raised regarding illegal liquor trade and its prevention in the district. Amid the matter, action was also taken to change the Collector-SP of Dewas and Sagar.
In Dewas, three excise officers including District Excise Officer Basanti Bhuria were suspended.
Now, the death of the police station in-charge during the police action taken to stop illegal liquor smuggling has once again raised serious questions on the network of liquor smuggling in the district and the arrangements for its prevention.
The police investigation is now expected to reveal information about the driver of the vehicle as well as the source of the liquor consignment and the active network behind it.