20 members of liquor gang held for police officer's murder

At least 20 members of a gang involved in the supply of illicit liquor, including its kingpin, were arrested in connection with a police officer's murder in neighbouring Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, police said Saturday.

Police sub inspector Chhatrapati Chide (45), attached to Nagbhid police station in Chandrapur, was crushed to death allegedly by liquor smugglers on November 6, an official said.

Chide and four other police personnel were conducting a routine check of vehicles allegedly involved in illegal transportation of liquor on the Gosikhurd canal road when the incident happened, he added.

"The incident had occurred when PSI Chide tried to catch the vehicle carrying illegal liquor. A day after the incident, Shahjad Shaikh, the alleged kingpin of the gang was arrested," the official said.

Shaikh has been involved in the transportation of illicit liquor since the past few years, he said adding that during the probe police apprehended a liquor shop owner Vishal alias Pappu Advani.

Based on the inputs given by the duo, police arrested driver of a vehicle and a co-passenger. Thereafter, three persons, who were found purchasing the liquor were also nabbed, he said.

"So far we have arrested at least 20 people, including main accused, and busterd the liquor smuggling racket. All the accused were part of the gang involved in liquor smuggling from Nagpur to Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts," he said.

Apart from Chandrapur, Wardha, a place associated with Mahatma Gandhi, and Gadchiroli have also been declared 'dry' districts by the state government.