An Excise Department constable was shot dead by suspected liquor smugglers in Bihar's Nalanda district on Thursday, 15 October 2026, after an alleged scout opened fire on an enforcement team during a late-night anti-smuggling operation near the Pawapuri-Silao highway flyover. The constable is the latest casualty in Bihar's ongoing crackdown on illicit liquor trade, which has repeatedly met violent resistance.

How the Operation Unfolded

Excise Superintendent Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary said the Excise Intelligence Bureau (EIB) at its Patna headquarters had received a tip-off that a large consignment of liquor was being transported into Nalanda in a pickup van along a route near Kharat Mor. An EIB team from Patna coordinated with a sub-inspector from the Rajgir Excise Department and local personnel to intercept the vehicle, positioning themselves along the suspected route.

When the team moved to stop and surround the liquor-laden vehicle near the flyover, a person allegedly acting as a scout — locally referred to as a 'liner' — for the smugglers opened fire. Constable Ajit Kumar was struck by a bullet and collapsed with critical injuries. The confusion that followed reportedly allowed the suspected smugglers and their alleged accomplice to flee the scene.

Death of Constable Ajit Kumar

Fellow personnel rushed the injured constable to Bhagwan Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences (BMIMS) in Pawapuri, where he received initial treatment. Given the severity of his wounds, doctors referred him to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) in Patna for advanced care. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at PMCH on Thursday. A post-mortem examination was being conducted in Patna, according to officials.

The death has left personnel of the Excise Department and the police force in mourning. Excise Station House Officer Nitish Kumar confirmed the joint operation had been led by a special EIB team that had arrived from Patna.

Search Operation Launched

Following the shooting, Excise Department teams and district police launched searches at suspected hideouts. Checkpoints have been established along the highway and nearby routes to trace the suspects and recover the pickup van allegedly carrying the liquor consignment. The suspects remain at large, and efforts are underway to establish their identities and determine the full circumstances of the attack.

Broader Context: Bihar's Liquor Ban Enforcement

This incident comes amid Bihar's stringent prohibition policy, in force since 2016 under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government. While the ban has led to frequent seizures and arrests, it has also given rise to a well-organised illicit supply network that, according to enforcement officials, increasingly deploys armed scouts to protect consignments. This is not the first time enforcement personnel have faced violence during anti-liquor operations in the state, highlighting the dangerous ground-level realities of implementing prohibition. The killing is expected to intensify calls within the Excise Department for greater protective cover and intelligence coordination during high-risk intercepts.