A police sub-inspector, 47, was fatally run over and two home guards were injured Wednesday when they tried to intercept a car allegedly carrying liquor in Begusarai district of Bihar, underscoring challenges associated with enforcing prohibition in the dry state.
The abandoned car was found and its owner arrested. No liquor was found in it. Police are looking for the driver.One of the injured home guards was admitted to hospital with severe injuries.
Acting on a tip-off, SI Khamas Choudhary (47) and three home guards initiated a patrol to intercept the car. As they approached a bridge, they signalled the car to stop. However, the driver accelerated, striking the policemen before escaping.
The SI was thrown into the air and landed on a boulder near the bridge, dying instantly. A native of Madhubani district, he was mourned by senior police officers at the district police lines.
Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh called for a re-evaluation of the prohibition law following the SI’s death. Singh alleged that fatalities related to liquor were occurring due to CM Nitish Kumar’s “stubbornness”. BJP’s ally HAM (Secular) has also demanded the withdrawal of liquor laws.