A police officer was killed after a truck allegedly carrying illicit liquor ran over him during an anti-smuggling operation in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district in the early hours of Monday, November 2. The deceased officer was Dilip Puri, the Khategaon police station in-charge.
The incident took place on the Harda-Nemawar highway when Puri and his team tried to intercept the truck following intelligence inputs about illegal liquor transportation from Harda towards Gujarat via Indore. According to police, the driver allegedly attempted to escape when Puri approached the vehicle.
The truck’s rear wheel ran over Puri, leaving him critically injured. Police personnel rushed him to a hospital, where doctors could not save him. Police seized the vehicle and recovered liquor concealed in a separate compartment. An SIT has been formed to investigate the incident and identify those involved in the alleged smuggling network.
Who was Inspector Dilip Puri?
Dilip Puri was a 2007-batch Sub-Inspector in the Madhya Pradesh Police. He served as the station in-charge of Khategaon police station in Dewas district. During his career, he also served at Heera Nagar and Chandan Nagar police stations in Indore.
Puri came from Barmandal village in Sardarpur tehsil of Dhar district. His father, Om Prakash Puri, was a farmer and a Congress leader. His younger brother works in a private job in Indore.
Puri is survived by his wife, Kavita, a son and a daughter. Police gave him a guard of honour after the postmortem. His body, wrapped in the national flag, reached Barmandal for the last rites with state honours.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced Rs 1 crore in financial help for the family. He also ordered a compassionate appointment as Sub-Inspector for Puri’s wife.
“I pay my humble tribute to him,” Yadav said on X. “Instructions have been given for an impartial probe and strict action in the case.”
What Happened During the Police Operation?
Dewas Superintendent of Police Aditya Mishra had formed more than five teams to intercept the suspected liquor consignment. Personnel from Khategaon, Kannod, Satwas and Nemawar police stations were involved in the operation.
Police had placed barricades at different locations to stop the truck. According to the police account, the driver had stopped on the highway to drink water when Puri approached the vehicle and asked him to get down.
An altercation reportedly followed. The driver allegedly attempted to drive away and crossed the road divider. Puri fell during the incident and came under the truck’s rear wheel.
Police seized the vehicle and recovered liquor stored in a separate compartment. Dewas SP Aditya Mishra initially reported that officers had recovered more than 800 litres of alcohol. A later statement by Special Director General of Police Upendra Jain put the quantity at over 1,800 litres.
Where Did the Illicit Liquor Come From?
Preliminary information from the investigation pointed towards a liquor shop in the Timarni area of Harda district. Police are examining the shop’s possible involvement and the people responsible for transporting the consignment.
SP Aditya Mishra said investigators were checking the source and destination of the liquor. He said it was too early to establish whether the consignment was moving between shops or formed part of a wider supply network.
Police arrested Keram Singh, an alleged liquor supplier, in Behadwa village in Alirajpur district. Investigators are examining his possible connection with the liquor found in the truck.
The Excise Department suspended the licences of three liquor shops associated with Bharatendra Jaiswal. It also suspended Assistant District Excise Officer Amarsingh Baghel and two constables, Arun Kumbere and Krishnapal Singh Dodia. Officials sealed a liquor shop in Timarni as part of the investigation.
Congress leader Rahul Jaiswal, whose name surfaced in reports about the liquor shop, denied any involvement. He said the shop belonged to his relative and that his main businesses were buses and petrol pumps. Police are yet to establish the responsibility of the people named in connection with the alleged network.
How Are the Dewas Hooch Deaths Linked?
Puri’s death comes after reports of suspected spurious liquor deaths in Chandana, Binjana and nearby villages in Dewas district.
Between September 27 and October 16, villagers reported that 13 people had died after allegedly consuming contaminated liquor. Some residents also complained of vision problems, vomiting, stomach pain and dizziness after drinking alcohol.
The district administration initially rejected allegations that the deaths were linked to spurious liquor. The Ujjain divisional commissioner later ordered a high-level inquiry, while police began investigating an alleged network involved in manufacturing and distributing spurious liquor.
Police arrested 10 people in connection with that investigation. The state government also transferred Dewas Collector Ritu Raj and Superintendent of Police Puneet Gahlot. Three excise officials were suspended over alleged negligence in controlling the illegal liquor trade.
What Action Has the Govt Taken?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav directed Special Director General of Police Upendra Jain to visit the spot and oversee an impartial investigation. He also ordered strict action against those found responsible.
A Special Investigation Team has been formed to establish the circumstances of Puri’s death and investigate the alleged liquor supply network. Police teams are examining the source of the seized consignment and tracing people connected with its transportation.
Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar condemned the incident and questioned the safety of police personnel. He alleged that liquor networks had become increasingly emboldened in the state and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Congress state president Jitu Patwari also demanded an impartial investigation into the alleged smuggling network, raising questions about the government’s action against illegal liquor trade.
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