An excise department team enforcing Bihar's total liquor prohibition law ran straight into a violent mob in Muzaffarpur district, when the accused it had detained during a raid was forcibly snatched away and whisked off. The clash unfolded at Rupanpatti Chowk in the Sakra police station area, where the situation spiralled out of control within minutes of the officials' arrival.
How the Raid Began
Led by ASI Upendra Mandal, the excise team had received credible information that liquor was being sold on a large scale in the Sakra belt, with some sellers even offering home delivery. After verifying the tip-off, the officials moved towards the spot and set up a check near the Chiknauta checkpost to catch the suspects in the act.
The Arrest and the Market Connection
During the operation, the team caught hold of Pankaj Kumar Thakur, a resident of Vishanpur Baghangari, who is accused of ferrying liquor by motorcycle for supply. The moment he was detained, activity in the area picked up sharply. The market where the raid was being carried out reportedly belongs to Arvind Mishra of Rupanpatti, who currently works as a driver with the police's Dial 112 emergency response vehicle service in Darbhanga district.
A Recurring Safety Question for Enforcement Teams
The incident once again raises questions about how secure raiding teams actually are in areas under prohibition. At the time of the attack, the excise personnel present were limited in number, while the crowd that gathered was sudden and large, making it difficult for the officials to keep the situation under control.
Mob Surrounds the Team, Tries to Damage the Vehicle
According to the allegations, Arvind Mishra himself was present at the spot, and it was on his instigation that local residents quickly gathered in large numbers. Within minutes, the atmosphere turned hostile. The crowd encircled the excise team from all sides, jostled the officials and attempted to damage the government vehicle. Taking advantage of the chaos, some of the miscreants reached the vehicle, pulled Pankaj Thakur out of it and fled with him from the spot. The excise personnel somehow managed to protect themselves and immediately alerted the Sakra police station about the entire episode. A police team rushed to the location on receiving the information, but by then both the attackers and the freed accused had already escaped. Officers later raided the homes of Pankaj Thakur and other suspects, but found the houses locked, with nothing recovered. On a positive note, CCTV footage of the attack has since been obtained and is now being used to try and identify the assailants.
DSP Confirms Case Against Five Named Accused
DSP (East-2) Manoj Kumar Singh confirmed the incident, saying the team had gone to the area near the Chiknauta checkpost on information about liquor sales. "A crowd gathered the moment Pankaj Thakur was stopped, and the accused was freed after officials were jostled," he said. According to him, on ASI Upendra Mandal's complaint, a case has already been registered at Sakra police station against five named individuals and several unidentified people. Following the incident, police reached the homes of Pankaj Thakur and other accused, but all of them were found absconding. The DSP said police are now working through the CCTV visuals to identify the attackers and are preparing further legal action against those involved.
