A targeted operation against illegal liquor networks in Bihar turned fatal in Nalanda district, leaving an enforcement constable dead after being shot by bootleggers. Ajit Kumar, an operative with the Economic Intelligence Bureau wing of the prohibition and excise department, sustained critical bullet wounds in the Giriyak police station jurisdiction and later died during emergency medical treatment. Kumar was a native of Nagma village within the Nagarnausa police station limits in Nalanda. The incident has sent shockwaves through the enforcement administration and plunged his family into profound grief. Married approximately eight years ago, Kumar leaves behind his grief-stricken wife, elderly parents, three brothers, two sisters, and a seven-year-old daughter who has lost her father.
Interception of Inbound Consignment from Jharkhand
The armed confrontation took place following specific intelligence inputs gathered by excise authorities in Patna. Informers had tipped off officials that a pickup van carrying a sizable quantity of illegal liquor was moving into Nalanda from neighboring Jharkhand. Mobilizing swiftly on the lead, an EIB squad travelled from Patna to lay an interception trap along the expected transit route in Nalanda. As the officers moved in to block the suspicious vehicle near the flyover access path prior to the Pawapuri Jal Mandir road, the occupants opened fire to break through the blockade. Kumar was struck directly by gunfire during the exchange and collapsed at the scene with catastrophic injuries.
Emergency Evacuation and Demise at PMCH
Following the shooting, Kumar was immediately rushed by colleagues to the nearby Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences located in Pawapuri. Attending physicians administered initial trauma interventions, but owing to his extremely critical state, the medical team recommended immediate transfer to the Patna Medical College and Hospital for advanced critical care. Medical teams at PMCH battled to stabilize him through the night, but the constable succumbed to his injuries at approximately 1:30 AM. His demise triggered immediate grief among peers and renewed scrutiny regarding the operational security of enforcement personnel handling inter-state transit corridors.
Superintendent Confirms Armed Encounter
Providing details on the sequence of events, Nalanda Excise Superintendent Sanjay Kumar Choudhary confirmed that the casualty occurred during an active anti-smuggling operation. Choudhary explained that enforcement personnel were positioned strictly on the basis of credible intelligence that a pickup van was being used to transport illicit consignments across the state border from Jharkhand. While the team attempted to stop and search the target vehicle, gunfire erupted, grievously injuring Kumar before leading to his death in hospital. The superintendent stated that comprehensive investigations have been launched and specialized units are executing search operations across prospective hideouts to apprehend all individuals involved in the ambush.
Family Alleges Conspiracy and Questions Conduct
The tragedy has provoked intense grief and sharp questions from the deceased constable's relatives. Bikram Kumar, a relative of Ajit Kumar, raised doubts surrounding the circumstances of the encounter. He mentioned that the family was alerted only after Ajit had been grievously injured. He further alleged that following the initial admission to the hospital, certain members of the raiding party were missing from the premises for roughly two to three hours, reappearing only after family members voiced severe anger and concern. Based on these circumstances, the family suspected foul play or a deeper conspiracy behind the incident. Administrative authorities have not officially confirmed these allegations, maintaining that only a formal inquiry can ascertain all operational facts.
Guard of Honor at Kumhrar Headquarters
The body of the fallen constable was subsequently transported to the Prohibition and Excise Department office situated at Kumhrar in Patna. Amid the presence of senior administrative and enforcement officials, Kumar was accorded a ceremonial guard of honor to acknowledge his sacrifice in the line of duty. Overwhelmed by grief, his father Madan Kumar broke down inconsolably while remembering his son during the solemn proceedings. Colleagues and superior officers paid their respects, expressing solidarity with the bereaved family and reiterating that relentless search operations are actively underway to track down and arrest the perpetrators.
