Bihar’s relentless war on illegal alcohol took a violent turn late Sunday when police engaged in a fierce gunbattle with bootleggers near the Mashrak-Panapur border in Saran district. Suraj Mahto, a well-known liquor trader from Mithwa village, sustained a leg injury from police gunfire during the skirmish and was detained afterward.
The operation stemmed from targeted intelligence about Mahto hiding in Katihar. A police team traveled there, arrested him, and returned to Chhapra. Using his information, they launched a raid in the border area to recover smuggled liquor and arrest his partners.
Chaos erupted as Mahto tried to escape and his gang unleashed a barrage of bullets at the officers. Responding in kind to protect themselves, the police shot Mahto in the leg, halting his flight. He was immediately handcuffed and taken for medical care.
Speaking to reporters Monday, DSP Sanjay Kumar Sudhanshu of Mashrak detailed the sequence of events. The injured accused received first aid locally before being transferred to Chhapra Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him out of danger. ‘We are conducting extensive searches for his associates who fled the scene,’ the officer added.
A repeat offender with multiple prior convictions for liquor smuggling, Mahto’s capture marks a significant victory for enforcement agencies. The Prohibition Department and local police have ramped up joint patrols and surveillance to curb the underground trade thriving despite Bihar’s statewide ban. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of his operations and supply chains.