A joint team investigating the recent illicit liquor deaths in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district secured a significant breakthrough after shooting and arresting prime accused Manish Lodhi, alias Yashwant Thakur, during an encounter on September 23. The confrontation took place around 3 pm in the Malthone police station area near the valley along Nonia-Sesai Road. Lodhi, who had been evading arrest and carried a cash reward of Rs 30,000 on his head, sustained a bullet injury to his leg during an exchange of gunfire. His associate, identified as Ashish Sahu, was also injured in the scuffle and subsequently apprehended.
Encounter Breaks Out During Valley Ambush
Investigators had been relentlessly trailing Manish Lodhi across potential hideouts after contaminated liquor incidents were registered across the Banda and Vinayaka police jurisdictions. Acting on confidential intelligence regarding the suspects' movements in the rural pocket, law enforcement personnel closed in on the Nonia-Sesai valley stretch. Upon spotting the police contingent, the suspects opened fire in a bid to breach the cordon and escape. The police returned fire in self-defense, disabling Lodhi with a gunshot to his leg. Sahu attempted to flee the scene on foot but was overpowered and injured during the operation.
Country-Made Firearms and Ammunition Recovered
A rigorous search of the encounter site led to the recovery of two country-made pistols, five spent ammunition rounds, and a baseball bat. The recovered weapons and related physical articles were documented and seized for ballistic analysis. Both wounded individuals were shifted to a medical facility under armed police escort, where they are undergoing treatment while remaining in custody. Forensic experts cordoned off the area around the valley road to gather trace evidence and map the scene of the shooting.
Expanding Scrutiny on Illicit Distribution Network
District authorities have intensified crackdowns on suppliers following the lethal outbreak. Earlier on September 16, police had arrested another wanted suspect linked to the ring after a similar half-encounter. With the principal conspirator now in custody, investigators are widening their inquiry into the broader logistics network. Authorities confirmed that statements taken from both injured men, ballistic results from the seized firearms, and medical documentation will form a crucial part of the ongoing judicial case file, ensuring strict punitive measures against every operative involved in the trade.
Origins of the Sagar Alcohol Tragedy
The case dates back to early September 2026, when multiple residents across the Banda block of Sagar lost their lives after consuming spurious liquor. The deaths triggered public outcry and prompted the district administration to institute a formal magisterial inquiry into administrative and enforcement lapses. Early leads had traced the contaminated consignments to Lalitpur in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Detectives are now interrogating Lodhi to establish the exact supply route used to smuggle the contraband into Sagar, as well as the local distribution points responsible for circulating the lethal brew.
