In a dramatic incident during a prisoner transport, an officer of Gujarat's elite State Monitoring Cell (SMC) was forced to open fire, injuring a notorious accused who allegedly attempted to strangle a fellow policeman using a vehicle's seatbelt. The high-stakes event unfolded on Tuesday evening while the accused was being moved from Guwahati to Gandhinagar.
Violent Attack Inside Moving Vehicle
The confrontation occurred at approximately 7:45 pm on December 30 near Sevaniya village in Devgadh Baria taluka of Dahod district. According to an official SMC statement, the accused, Ashok Punaram Panwar alias Bishnoi, was being transported in a Mahindra Scorpio SUV. While the vehicle was in motion, Panwar, who was seated behind the driver, suddenly grabbed the driver's seatbelt.
He then wrapped the belt around the neck of Police Sub-Inspector K D Raviya, who was driving the vehicle, and began to strangle him. The statement detailed that other officers in the vehicle commanded Panwar to stop and used adequate force to try and subdue him. However, the accused continued to pull the seatbelt tighter, increasing the pressure on the PSI's neck.
Officer Forced to Fire to Regain Control
Faced with the escalating and life-threatening assault, Police Inspector R G Khant, who was present in the vehicle, drew his service weapon. With the situation spiraling out of control, PI Khant aimed at Panwar's right leg and fired a single shot. The gunshot successfully brought the violent attack to an end and allowed the officers to secure the accused.
Following the shooting, both the injured PSI Raviya and the accused Panwar were initially taken to a community health centre for primary treatment. Panwar was subsequently shifted to Zydus Hospital in Dahod for further medical care. His condition is reported to be stable.
Notorious Background of the Accused
Deputy Inspector General of Police Nirlipt Rai, addressing a press conference on Wednesday, revealed the dangerous profile of Ashok Panwar. He is identified as the alleged leader of a gang involved in trafficking illicit and fake liquor from Goa to Gujarat. A total of 27 criminal cases are registered against him, and he had been absconding in seven cases over the past year.
DIG Rai emotionally highlighted the gang's violent history, stating, "I have lost two of my fellow officers, sub-inspectors, in the fight against this Bishnoi gang over the last two years." He explained that PSI Sachin Sharma died of a heart attack during a scuffle with the gang, while PSI J H Pathan lost his life in an accident while trying to apprehend them.
The Gujarat Police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to Panwar's arrest. He was finally tracked through a mobile phone ping in Guwahati, Assam, and apprehended from Hotel Palacio under the Dispur police station jurisdiction.
Legal Repercussions and Investigation
On December 31, based on a complaint filed by PSI Raviya on behalf of the state, a fresh case of attempt to murder was registered against Ashok Panwar at the SMC police station in Gandhinagar. DIG Rai confirmed that the SMC itself would investigate this incident, rather than the local Dahod police.
Panwar is also a key accused in a case registered under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organized Crime Act (GUJCTOC) by the SMC. Of the 11 accused named in that case, eight, including Panwar, have now been apprehended.
