VILLAGERS ASSAULT POLICE, FREED LIQUOR SMUGGLING ACCUSED

VILLAGERS ASSAULT POLICE, FREED LIQUOR SMUGGLING ACCUSED

19-APRIL-ENG 11

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------A grave incident challenging law and order has come to light in Purushottampur village, located within the Bahoranpur police station area of ​​the district, where a police team arriving to arrest liquor smugglers was subjected to a violent attack by a group of villagers. In this incident, the police personnel were not only physically assaulted, but the two accused individuals already taken into custody were forcibly freed, and two police motorcycles were also snatched away. However, a short while later, the motorcycles were returned to the police station by the former *Mukhiya* (village head) representative, Dhaneshwar Rai.

According to the information received, a police team led by Station House Officer (SHO) Ajay Kumar had arrived in Purushottampur village to arrest Tengari Yadav alias Bittu and Munna Yadav—individuals named as accused in a liquor smuggling case. The police team had successfully cordoned off the area and apprehended both individuals; however, at that very moment, a group of 10 to 15 villagers launched an attack on the police squad. During this altercation, Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar and *Chowkidar* (village watchman) Shivchand sustained serious injuries and were subsequently admitted to the Sadar Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, a named First Information Report (FIR) has been registered by the police regarding this incident. The FIR names 12 specific individuals as accused, while also implicating 10 unidentified persons. The police are currently conducting raids to apprehend the accused individuals. According to SHO Ajay Kumar, a resident of Purushottampur village had been arrested approximately a week prior in connection with a liquor smuggling case. During the investigation of that specific case, the names of Tengari Yadav alias Bittu (son of Harimohan Yadav) and Munna Yadav—both residents of the same village—had surfaced. On Saturday, the police received intelligence indicating that both individuals had returned to their homes.

Acting on this information, the police team proceeded to Purushottampur village to conduct a raid, utilizing two motorcycles and an official police vehicle. Upon arrival, it was discovered that the two accused individuals were fleeing towards the fields. The police pursued them and successfully apprehended both of them. It was at this juncture that the group of 10 to 15 villagers arrived and confronted the police personnel. Amidst the physical altercation that ensued, the two accused individuals were forcibly freed, and the two police motorcycles were snatched away. The Station House Officer (SHO) stated that Harimohan Yadav has previously been accused in a liquor smuggling case. He has even served jail time in connection with that case. About a week ago, his brother was arrested while in possession of liquor. The names of his son—Tengari Yadav (alias Bittu Yadav)—and Munna Yadav, a resident of the same village, had also surfaced in that very case. The police had gone to arrest both individuals in connection with that matter. Both had, in fact, already been taken into custody when villagers launched an attack.

He asserted that no criminal involved in liquor smuggling or in attacking the police would be spared. An FIR has been registered, and raids are currently being conducted to apprehend the accused. Dismissing allegations of "under-the-table dealings" (bribery) that have surfaced locally, he affirmed that the police are prepared to conduct the investigation with complete transparency. He characterized the attack as a conspiracy by the liquor mafia aimed at undermining police strictness—a plot that, he vowed, would be foiled.

On the other hand, the perspective of the villagers and the family members regarding this incident is quite different. Locals claim that individuals riding two motorcycles—dressed in plain clothes—intercepted a minor boy who was heading out to relieve himself, carrying a plastic bottle of water, and forcibly attempted to make him sit on one of the bikes. According to the villagers, when the family members objected, the individuals identified themselves as police officers and demanded a "settlement" (bribe) in exchange for releasing the minor, which escalated into a heated dispute. The villagers allege that amidst the ensuing commotion, the motorcyclists alerted the Bahoranpur police; subsequently, as soon as the police arrived at the scene, the motorcyclists abandoned their bikes, boarded the police vehicle, and departed. The motorcycles were later handed over to the police station by Dhaneshwar Rai.