A prime suspect involved in the production of spurious liquor that has led to the death of 16 individuals across six villages in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district was apprehended following an alleged gunfight. Shivanjay Rajput, who was on the run since the first reported fatalities, sustained a leg injury during the confrontation.
A 21-year-old named Shivanjay Rajput, accused of producing illicit liquor responsible for the deaths of sixteen individuals across six villages in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, has been taken into custody. According to reports by Press Trust of India (PTI), Rajput was apprehended after a gunfight on Sunday, during which he sustained a leg injury.
Rajput allegedly fired three rounds at the police team during a search operation in the Kathua Nala forest area, prompting a response by security personnel. Following the altercation, Rajput was taken to a hospital and is reported to be stable, as per Sagar police control room in-charge Sub-Inspector RKS Chauhan, also quoted by PTI.
The arrest of Shivanjay Rajput comes after another suspect, Ravi Lakhera, was apprehended on Friday following an alleged gunfight. Lakhera had been hiding in a forest near the Uttar Pradesh border and opened fire on the police team that was searching for him. The authorities claim to have retaliated with gunfire, injuring Lakhera's leg. According to The Hindu, Lakhera is believed to have supplied raw materials for the spurious liquor to Chandrabhan Rajpoot, another key suspect who is in police custody.
In total, 19 individuals have been arrested in connection with this case and five First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered. The police recovered a country-made .315-bore pistol, three live cartridges, three empty cartridges, a mobile phone and a motorcycle from Rajput, reported PTI.
Those who died after consuming the spurious liquor hailed from six villages – Ghooghra Khurd, Nauraj, Bamoora, Patan, Chauka and Dalpatpur. The police had earlier claimed that during their investigation, a link emerged between some persons in Lalitpur and a local liquor outlet owner.
Two police officials – the Banda Police station house officer and an outpost in-charge – were suspended after the deaths. Sagar Assistant Excise Commissioner Kirti Dubey, Additional District Excise Officer Dilip Kandaka and Sub-Inspector Roshani Urathi were also suspended.
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