Sagar, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : The district administration in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, took decisive action on Friday to remove illegal occupations linked to a toxic liquor case. This operation included demolishing an unauthorized extension of a roadside eatery along NH-44.
A joint team from the revenue and police departments successfully freed 4.79 hectares of government land in Simaria Uvari village, which had been illegally occupied by Chandrabhan Rajput, a suspect in the Banda toxic liquor case. The administration stated that this land was reserved for the village watchman. Rajput had cultivated crops on two plots of land, measuring 4.56 hectares and 0.23 hectares, respectively. The team not only dismantled the illegal structures but also destroyed the crops and reclaimed the land for government use.
In addition, the administration targeted the Saurabh Dhaba on NH-44, where illegal encroachments on government land were also found. An official confirmed that the illegal extension of the dhaba was removed, and the occupied area was reclaimed. Similar operations were conducted along the Bandri-Malthon toll road to identify and remove illegal dhabas, huts, and other structures.
The administration is also investigating the properties and activities of other suspects involved in the toxic liquor case. This crackdown comes as police continue their investigation into the incident, which has claimed 16 lives. An additional 32 individuals are receiving treatment in various hospitals, while 17 out of 30 named suspects have already been arrested.
On Friday, police apprehended the main suspect, Ravi Lakhera, 45, following a shootout in the Baraytha forest, approximately 40 kilometers from the Sagar district headquarters. Additional Superintendent of Police Jayveer Bhadauria reported that Lakhera sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and was taken to the hospital. Two accomplices on a motorcycle managed to escape.
Lakhera is accused of collaborating with licensed liquor contractor Manish Lodhi, also known as Yashwant Singh Lodhi, to produce toxic liquor that was sold through local peddlers in Sagar district. Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the tragedy caused by the toxic liquor.
Yadav emphasized, “No one will be spared, and strict action will be taken against those responsible.”
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