Khategaon Inspector Dilip Puri Dies After Liquor Truck Attack
Bhopal, November 2: The killing of a police officer in Madhya Pradesh's Devas district has ignited a heated political debate in the state. Khategaon City Inspector Dilip Puri died after being run over by a truck carrying illegal liquor, prompting the Congress to target the government and the BJP to counter with allegations against the opposition party.
The incident occurred late on Sunday night when Puri was stopping a liquor-laden truck travelling from Harda to Gujarat. The driver allegedly drove over him, and he died as a result of the injuries.
The Congress has accused the government of failing to control the rising activities of mafia and criminal groups. The BJP has countered by saying that the case has links with Congress leaders.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed sorrow over the tragedy. In a post on X, he said that news of Puri's death while performing his duty in Khategaon, Devas, was extremely sad and painful. He offered his humble tributes and expressed deep sympathy for the grieving family. He added that the state government stood with the victim's family during this difficult time.
The Chief Minister said that Special DG Upendra Jain had been sent to the spot immediately to look into the matter. He instructed authorities to ensure a fair investigation and strict action.
He further announced that Puri's wife would be given a compassionate appointment as Sub-Inspector, and that the family would receive Rs 1 crore in financial assistance. He prayed to Baba Mahakal to grant the late officer a place at his feet and to give the family the strength to bear this immense sorrow.
Cabinet Minister Vishwas Sarang alleged that preliminary investigation pointed directly to Congress leaders. He said that Congress leader Rahul Jaiswal's role had surfaced in the case. Sarang stated that a liquor shop in Timarni, connected to the case, has Rahul Jaiswal and his brother Manish Jaiswal as partners. He said that the shop's manager, Bhupendra Rana, had given important information to the police.
Sarang also claimed that Jaiswal is the Congress in-charge of the Khategaon assembly constituency and is considered close to state Congress president Jitu Patwari. He said Congress leadership should respond to the allegations.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar said criminals in the state had grown so bold that even the police were not safe. He said the illegal liquor mafia had crushed the Khategaon police station in-charge in Devas without fear. He asked what hope common people could have for their safety if law enforcers were being killed in broad daylight. He also questioned whether the mafia had lost all fear of the administration, calling the incident a direct slap on the face of the system.
Congress state president Jitu Patwari also attacked the government over the Devas case. He said that under BJP rule, policemen were now being crushed by liquor mafia trucks. He said people were dying from poisonous liquor, police officers were falling prey to mafia trucks, and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was silent. He said this was completely unacceptable.
Patwari posed questions to the Chief Minister, asking why his government was failing to bring the liquor mafia under control. He asked why junior officers were always punished while senior responsible persons were protected, and who was giving patronage to the liquor mafia.
BJP leader Dr. Hitesh Vajpayee responded by attacking the Congress. He linked the Devas poisonous liquor tragedy and the murder of TI Dilip Puri, asking why the liquor mafia's links always seemed to lead to the Congress. He asked Patwari to explain what such a mafia-Congress relationship is called, and whether the party was doing this only to grab power.
As the investigation continues, the case remains at the centre of a sharp political exchange between the ruling party and the opposition.