One policeman killed, another injured in gunbattle with liquor

One policeman was killed while another injured in a gunbattle with liquor smugglers late last night in Bihar's Samastipur district, police said today.
Samastipur Superintendent of Police Deepak Ranjan said the incident took place in Halai outpost area, about 50 kms from the district headquarters.
There was information that a group of smugglers were passing through the area carrying a huge quantity of liquor, he said.
"As soon as a police contingent reached the spot, the smugglers opened fire, which was retaliated by the personnel. The exchange of fire continued for some time after which the smugglers fled, leaving behind a vehicle containing 262 bottles of foreign liquor", the SP said.

"However, a Bihar Military Police havildar Anil Kumar received bullet injury in his chest and he succumbed to injury at a hospital. In-charge of Sarairanjan police station Manoj Kumar received bullet injury in his arm and he is undergoing treatment", the SP added.
"The bottles of liquor and the vehicle containing these have been seized. Further investigations are on", he added.
Sale and consumption of liquor was banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government since April last year.