A major development has unfolded in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh following the fatal crushing of Khategaon Station In-Charge Dilip Puri during an illicit liquor interception. Within 48 hours of the officer's death, the primary suspect behind the wheel and his associate Dheeraj sustained gunshot wounds to their legs during an encounter with the police late Tuesday night. The confrontation took place while the two men were being transported from Alirajpur to Khategaon along separate routes.
Escape Bid and Disarming of Officer Near Rajoda and Barotha
The escalation occurred when the police vehicle transporting the primary truck driver suffered a flat tire between Rajoda and Barotha. While police personnel were occupied with changing the tire, the suspect used the pretext of needing to relieve himself to step away from the vehicle. Seizing the opportunity, he snatched an ASI's service revolver and initiated an escape, discharging bullets toward the police party. In immediate self-defense, officers returned fire, striking the accused in the lower part of his right leg and bringing his escape attempt to an end.
Parallel Encounter of Associate Dheeraj on Bhopal Bypass
Simultaneously, the driver's accomplice, identified as Dheeraj, met a similar outcome when he attempted to flee custody within the jurisdiction of the Bank Note Press police station along the Bhopal bypass. Police teams fired at him to prevent his getaway, with a bullet striking his right leg. Both injured suspects were initially transported under tight security to the district hospital late at night, triggering widespread commotion on the premises. After receiving emergency primary care, doctors referred both accused individuals to Indore for advanced medical attention.
Tragic Incident on the Indore-Betul Highway
The fatal confrontation traces back to the early hours of Monday when Station In-Charge Dilip Puri received intelligence regarding a large consignment of illicit alcohol being smuggled toward Gujarat. Leading a police contingent, Puri deployed along the Indore-Betul highway to establish a checkpoint and intercept the vehicle. When the officer signaled the truck, which was carrying more than 1,800 liters of contraband liquor, and attempted to question the driver, the driver took extreme measures to evade arrest.
In a reckless maneuver to break through the blockade, the driver steered the heavily loaded truck over the central road divider. During this attempt, the rear wheel of the vehicle ran directly over Station In-Charge Puri, inflicting catastrophic injuries that claimed his life on the spot. The incident sparked an intensive regional manhunt that culminated in the tracking of both suspects to Alirajpur, leading directly to Tuesday night's confrontations.
