Three Gujarat Policemen Face Suspension Over Bootlegging Operation
Police authorities in Gujarat have suspended three officers from Chakaliya police station in Dahod district. Officials confirmed the action on Tuesday after discovering their involvement in illegal liquor transportation.
Dramatic Chase Ends With Vehicle in Drain
According to police reports, the three accused officers executed a coordinated bootlegging operation. Head constable Arjun Bhuriya and constable Prakash Hathila traveled together in a Maruti Alto car carrying the liquor consignment. Head constable Mohan Taviyad drove ahead of them in a separate Tata Punch vehicle.
Taviyad served as a scout, checking the route for police checkpoints to ensure safe passage for the liquor transport. Police had received specific intelligence about the trio's activities, including information that they had procured liquor from neighboring Rajasthan for transport into Gujarat.
Failed Escape Attempt
Acting on the tip-off, police officers established a checkpoint along the suspected route. When Bhuriya and Hathila approached in their Maruti Alto, they recognized the police presence and accelerated past the checkpoint without stopping.
Taviyad followed closely behind in his Tata Punch but also refused to stop for police. During the ensuing chase, Taviyad lost control of his vehicle a short distance ahead. The Tata Punch veered off the road and crashed into a stormwater drain.
Taviyad abandoned both his vehicle and the liquor worth approximately Rs 66,646, fleeing the scene on foot. Police investigations confirmed that the Tata Punch belonged to Taviyad, while the Maruti Alto was registered under Hathila's ownership.
Ongoing Manhunt and Departmental Action
Zalod sub-divisional police officer D R Patel stated that all three policemen are currently absconding. "We are gathering both human and technical intelligence to trace their whereabouts," Patel explained. He confirmed that authorities have suspended all three officers and initiated a departmental inquiry into the incident.
Police officials noted this bootlegging case follows a similar pattern to previous incidents. In November, head constable Jayendrasinh Solanki of Bakor police station in neighboring Mahisagar district faced arrest for transporting liquor in his personal vehicle. Solanki had also sourced his liquor consignment from Rajasthan before Ditwas police apprehended him following a tip-off.
The repeated involvement of police personnel in bootlegging operations raises serious concerns about enforcement integrity in the region. Authorities emphasize their commitment to rooting out such misconduct within the force through strict disciplinary measures.
