Violent Clash Erupts Between Excise and GRP During Train Raid in Katihar
A serious confrontation unfolded at Katihar railway station on Friday morning, resulting in injuries and highlighting tensions between state enforcement agencies. Officials from the Bihar excise and prohibition department clashed with Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel during a planned raid on an express train, leaving one excise constable wounded.
Injured Constable Hospitalized Following Station Altercation
The injured officer, identified as Dev Shankar Jha, sustained injuries during the scuffle and was promptly transported to Katihar Sadar Hospital for medical treatment. He is currently undergoing care, with his condition reported as stable but under observation following the violent incident.
Tip-Off Leads to Early Morning Raid Operation
According to excise and prohibition official Ravi Kishore Prasad, the department had received specific intelligence indicating that illicit liquor was being smuggled from West Bengal aboard the Sealdah-Saharsa Hate Bazare Express (train number 13163). Acting swiftly on this information, a team of excise officials, dressed in plain clothes to maintain operational secrecy, arrived at Katihar station to intercept the contraband.
The train arrived at the station around 8:00 AM on Friday, at which point the excise team moved to conduct their inspection. However, the situation rapidly deteriorated when GRP personnel allegedly intervened and obstructed the excise officials from carrying out their duties.
Allegations of Assault and Obstruction Surface
Ravi Kishore Prasad has publicly alleged that the GRP forces not only prevented the excise team from performing their lawful raid but also physically assaulted them without any justifiable cause. "We were prevented from performing our duty and were assaulted without any valid reason," Prasad stated, emphasizing the severity of the confrontation.
In contrast, rail DSP Arun Kumar Akela provided a different perspective, describing the incident as a minor scuffle stemming from a serious misunderstanding between the two departments. Akela confirmed that all misunderstandings have now been clarified and resolved, though he acknowledged that the matter remains under active investigation to determine the full sequence of events.
Coordination Concerns Amid Bihar's Prohibition Policy
This incident has inadvertently raised significant concerns regarding the coordination and cooperation between various enforcement agencies involved in anti-liquor operations within Bihar. The state maintains a strict prohibition policy, making effective inter-agency collaboration crucial for successful enforcement actions.
Sources indicate that such clashes could undermine public trust and operational efficiency, potentially hampering future raids and law enforcement efforts aimed at curbing illegal liquor trade in the region.
Railway Authorities Seek Detailed Incident Report
In response to the altercation, North Frontier Railway Chief Public Relations Officer K K Sharma has officially requested a comprehensive and detailed report about the incident. This step aims to gather all relevant facts and assess any procedural or communication failures that may have contributed to the clash.
The investigation will likely examine the roles and actions of both the excise department and GRP personnel, with findings expected to inform future protocols to prevent similar occurrences.
