Ara: A raid by the Excise Department to clamp down on illegal liquor trade turned violent in Bhojpur district’s Shahpur area on Sunday evening, leaving one villager dead and a Special Auxiliary Police (SAP) jawan taken hostage by locals.
The incident occurred in Ward No. 3 of Shahpur Nagar Panchayat under Shahpur police station, where an Excise Department team had arrived to search the house of Sushil Yadav, 45. According to officials, the team faced fierce resistance from residents who allegedly pelted stones and bricks, injuring department personnel.
In retaliation, Excise officials opened fire, resulting in the death of Sushil Yadav, who, according to initial reports, was shot in the back. Another villager, Uttam Yadav, was also injured during the altercation.
Following the shooting, tensions escalated as enraged villagers reportedly captured and assaulted a SAP jawan believed to be involved in the firing. The jawan was held hostage within the premises, prompting emergency reinforcements from nearby police stations.
The violence sparked wider unrest, with demonstrators blocking the Ara-Buxar highway near Shahpur police station turn, demanding justice and action against those responsible for the firing.
Senior officials, including Jagdishpur SDO Sanjeet Kumar, DSP Rajesh Sharma, and Shahpur SHO Rajnikant, reached the scene to de-escalate tensions and launch an investigation. Bhojpur SP Raj said that efforts were underway to negotiate the safe release of the detained SAP personnel.
Excise Assistant Commissioner Rajneesh Kumar defended the department’s actions, stating that the team was attacked by men and women from the household during the raid, and that the firing was carried out in self-defence after one of their jawans was taken hostage.
