Liquor smugglers gun down SI in Sitamarhi

PATNA/SITAMARHI: A police sub-inspector and one alleged liquor smuggler were killed while a village chowkidar received gunshot injury during an encounter at Kuaari Madan village under Majorganj police station area of Sitamarhi on Wednesday.
Slain sub-inspector Dinesh Ram (34) of 2009 batch belonged to Lakhaura near Motihari in East Champaran district.Chowkidar Lal Bahadur Paswan was undergoing treatment at a private hospital. One of the liquor smugglers, identified as Mukul Singh (32), was arrested while his cousin Ranjan Singh (25) was killed in the firing, police sources said.
Sadar SDPO Ramakant Upadhyaya said Mukul and Ranjan were wanted in two liquor smuggling and one extortion cases registered with Majorganj police station. He said the two were hiding in the house of one Sudha Devi (45). “When the police team entered the house, the duo fired at least ten rounds and tried to flee towards Nepal. The villagers started chasing them. It was during this chase that Mukul opened fire on the villagers, but two bullets hit his cousin Ranjan in the head and waist,” he said.
The SDPO said Mukul was nabbed from Burha Chhatauna village, which is hardly 50 yards away from the Nepal border, he said.
Sitamarhi SP Anil Kumar said liquor smuggler Ranjan’s body was recovered from a banana orchard, which is at least 3km from the village where police had gone to conduct the raid.
The SP said the police team led by the SI had actually gone to the village to arrest Ranjan, Mukul and their associates in an extortion case. He said at least four-five persons were hiding in the house where police conducted the raid. “As soon as they entered the house, the criminals opened fire in which the SI and chowkidar received bullet injuries. The SI died on way to the hospital,” he said.
Another chowkidar Dharmajeet Kumar, who was also a part of the raiding team, told this newspaper over phone that Mukul and Ranjan also tried to kill him but missed the target. “Both attacked me after opening fire on SI and Paswan. We all got into a fist-fight after which they fled towards Nepal,” he said.