Chasing illicit liquor traders, cops land in Bihar village. 50 locals jump into river, 2 drown

On Sunday, local police conducted an extensive operation in Beherawan Chakia Musahri village of Patna district, Bihar, in a bid to crack down on illicit liquor trade. The operation was preceded by a police team being attacked two days prior, with five alleged liquor traders managing to escape. With improved preparation, multiple police teams and armed forces converged on the village.

However, the operation took an unexpected turn when around 50-60 locals leaped into the nearby Punpun river to avoid arrest. Tragically, the bodies of two individuals were later discovered, leaving some villagers missing. SDPO-01 Raghav Dayal explained that on October 1, five alleged liquor traders were released after a police team faced an attack, resulting in injuries to three policemen.

The search operation on Sunday saw the arrest of 39 suspects, including women, along with 1,000 liters of illicit alcohol and equipment used for production. Additionally, 61,000 liters of mahua-based fermenting mixture was destroyed, and a pistol with live cartridges were recovered. Locals accused the police of triggering panic, causing people to jump into the river and alleging that stones and bricks were thrown during the confrontation.

Moreover, police were reported to have entered homes and taken belongings. The deceased, identified as Akash Manjhi (25) and Ram Manjhi (60), were placed on the road by villagers, causing traffic disruption. Police eventually persuaded protesters to clear the road, and the bodies were sent for post-mortem examination. Villagers remained on the road demanding the release of arrested individuals, compensation for their families, and a search for those still missing.