In a significant crackdown, the Gopalganj district police in Bihar have successfully thwarted a major criminal conspiracy, leading to the arrest of a notorious liquor smuggler and the seizure of illegal firearms. The swift late-night operation, conducted under challenging conditions, has been hailed as a crucial victory for law and order in the region.
Intelligence Triggers Swift Police Action
The chain of events began on the night of December 25, when Hathua Station House Officer (SHO) Shoaib Alam received specific and credible intelligence. The information indicated that Vikas Kumar, son of Shivnath Sah and a resident of Attwa Durg village under the Hathua police station limits, was planning to execute a serious criminal act from his residence. Kumar, a known figure with multiple liquor smuggling cases against him, was reportedly assembling accomplices for the plot and was in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition. Notably, he was out on bail at the time.
Taking this input with utmost seriousness, senior police officials immediately green-lit a proactive operation. A special police team was swiftly constituted under the leadership of Inspector and SHO Shoaib Alam.
The Challenging Late-Night Raid
Braving dense fog and poor visibility, the police team moved into action and conducted a raid at the suspect's residence in Attwa Durg village. The operational challenges posed by the weather played a role as, during the raid, Vikas Kumar's accomplices managed to escape under the cover of the fog. However, the police succeeded in their primary objective: Vikas Kumar was arrested on the spot.
A search of the premises yielded a significant cache of illegal weapons. The recoveries included:
- A loaded country-made pistol
- One live cartridge
- Another country-made pistol (without a magazine)
A Known Criminal with a Long History
Elaborating on the operation, Hathua Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Anand Mohan Gupta stated that the police acted on credible information about a gathering of criminals at the smuggler's house. “Acting swiftly, the police carried out the raid and successfully arrested the accused along with the recovery of illegal arms,” Gupta said.
He further revealed that Vikas Kumar is a well-known liquor smuggler in the area, with several cases registered against him not only in Gopalganj but also in the neighbouring Siwan district. The SDPO added that the accused has been jailed multiple times in the past for offences related to illicit liquor.
The police have now launched continuous raids to track down and apprehend the absconding associates who were part of the alleged conspiracy. Officials emphasized that the timely intervention by the police likely prevented a serious crime that could have posed a substantial threat to public safety. Currently, the law-and-order situation in the area is reported to be normal, but police authorities are maintaining a heightened state of vigilance.
This operation is being viewed as a testament to the proactive and intelligence-driven approach of the Gopalganj police, underscoring their commitment to crime prevention and ensuring security in the district.
