Two police personnel were injured in Madhubani’s Basopatti area after a group of suspected liquor smugglers allegedly attacked a police team, damaged its vehicle and freed an arrested trader during a raid on Monday evening, police said. Twelve people, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The attack took place near Bundelkhand village on the Babhandai Chowk-Kodarkatta main road, where a police team was conducting an evening patrol. The team went to a suspected liquor-smuggling den near a hotel to carry out a raid, according to the report.
During the operation, a policeman identified as Dinesh arrested one of the alleged smugglers. Police said other members of the group then confronted the team and attacked its vehicle from behind as officers attempted to leave the area. Bricks and stones were reportedly thrown at the vehicle, smashing its windows.
A home guard jawan, identified as Suresh Paswan, was injured in the attack along with a policeman. The police personnel managed to escape from the spot, but the attackers broke the rear window of the vehicle and freed the arrested trader, police said.
Around 25 to 30 men and women are believed to have participated in the attack. Basopatti police station in-charge Dharmendra Kumar reached the area with a team after receiving information about the incident. Police cordoned off the area and took the injured personnel to the Primary Health Centre in Basopatti for treatment.
Kumar said an FIR had been registered in the case. Police are identifying around 30 unidentified men and women who are suspected to have taken part in the assault, in addition to 14 named accused listed in the case. Twelve accused have been arrested so far.
The incident raises immediate concerns about the ability of enforcement teams to conduct raids in areas where suspected illegal trade is supported by organised local resistance. The police vehicle was attacked during an operation on a main road, and the arrested accused was released before a second police team reached the location.
The Jainagar sub-divisional police officer also inspected the scene and issued directions to police officers. The investigation is continuing, with police working to identify the remaining suspects and establish the roles of those named and unidentified in the FIR.
