Dewas Police Officer Crushed to Death by Liquor-Smuggling Truck in Madhya Pradesh

A police officer was killed after a truck allegedly carrying illegal liquor ran over him during an operation against liquor smuggling in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district. The deceased officer was identified as Dilip Kumar Puri, who was in charge of the Khategaon Police Station. The incident took place late on Sunday night, November 1, on the Indore-Betul highway. Police have arrested the truck driver and seized the vehicle, while an investigation into the case is underway.

Police officials reportedly said Puri had received information about a truck suspected of carrying illegal liquor. He was leading a police team that was formed to stop liquor smuggling in the area. Acting on the information, Puri and other officers reached the highway at around 1.30 am on Monday to check the vehicle and catch those involved in the illegal trade.

How Did the Incident Happen?

When the police team spotted the truck parked near the road divider, Puri approached the driver and asked him to get out of the vehicle. However, the driver allegedly tried to escape instead of following the officer's instructions. During the attempt, the truck moved forward, and its rear wheel ran over Puri, leaving him seriously injured.

Police personnel immediately rushed Puri to a private hospital in Khategaon. Doctors tried to save his life and gave him CPR for nearly two hours. However, his injuries were too serious, and he could not be saved. His death has left his family and fellow police officers in deep shock.

The incident took place during a major operation against illegal liquor smuggling:

• More than five police teams were formed to stop the suspected liquor-smuggling truck.
• The truck was reportedly carrying around 1,800 litres of illegal liquor packed in 208 boxes.
• The driver initially escaped after leaving the truck in Sandalpur. Police later arrested him and seized the vehicle.
  

Police Begin Investigation Into Liquor Smuggling

According to police officials, the truck was suspected of transporting illegal liquor from Harda towards Gujarat through Indore. Dewas Superintendent of Police Aditya Mishra reached the area after receiving information about the incident. Police have started investigating the case to identify other people involved in the suspected liquor-smuggling network and find out where the liquor was being taken.

Puri had earlier served at Hira Nagar and Chandan Nagar police stations in Indore. He is reportedly survived by his wife, Kavita, and two children, a son and a daughter. His last rites are scheduled to take place in his native village of Barmandal in Dhar district with full state honours.

The incident has also raised concerns about illegal liquor activities in the Dewas district. The district had recently faced controversy following suspected deaths linked to poisonous liquor in Chandana and Binjana villages. Police are now investigating the officer's death along with the suspected smuggling operation.