Liquor mafia attack police team, ASI injured

Chandrapur: An assistant subinspector (ASI) of Shegaon police was injured when a team raiding a liquor den was attacked on Tuesday afternoon. The incident has exposed the growing might and daring of liquor mafia in the dry district.
Sources said Shegaon police got a tip-off that liquor peddler Prakash Thawre from village Savri (Bidkar) was hoarding liquor for Pola festivities. A team comprising ASI Ashok Kshirsagar and constable Sameer Pathan led by PI Borkute went to the village on Tuesday afternoon to search Thawre’s house for liquor.
Prakash Thawre fled on coming to know of the police arrival. However, his relatives, including Sandeep Thawre, Satiram Thawre, Pravin Thawre, Shubham Thaware and Mangesh Jumde, started fighting with the police party.
While they abused the cops in vulgar language, some cornered ASI Kshirsagar and manhandled him. ASI Kshirsagar sustained minor injury in the scuffle. When the police retaliated, the assailants fled from the scene.
PI Borkute told TOI they thwarted the attack, forcing the miscreants to flee, however, one personnel suffered minor injuries. Five assailants were booked for the attack and a hunt is underway for them. Cops have been posted in the village, he said.
The liquor mafia has grown quite strong in the district. They are not afraid of showing their muscle and money power whenever there is a need. There have been many incidents of attack on police parties in the past by liquor mafia. In fact two cops including an officers have been killed in liquor mafia attacks in the district.