K KamleshBuxar: An excise department team was allegedly attacked by liquor smugglers during a raid on the DDU-Danapur railway section in Buxar district on Wednesday, triggering panic among passengers aboard the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Patna Express. The incident occurred near Kushalpur Halt between Buxar and Dumraon railway stations when the excise team conducted a raid following a tip-off about liquor smuggling on the train, officials said.According to officials, the team led by ASI Sanjit Tiwari had boarded the train with plans to nab the smugglers at Dumraon station. However, the accused allegedly sensed the presence of police personnel and pulled the emergency chain near Kushalpur Halt before the train reached Dumraon. As the train stopped, several youths allegedly tried to flee from the coaches. When excise personnel attempted to stop them, the smugglers allegedly turned violent and attacked the team.Eyewitnesses said the accused pushed the officers and attempted stone-pelting during the scuffle. The excise personnel escaped without injuries, while the smugglers managed to flee. The commotion created panic among passengers. Many stepped out of their compartments, while others remained seated in fear.“We suddenly heard shouting and saw people running near the coaches. Passengers were frightened as nobody knew what was happening,” said a passenger travelling in the sleeper coach to Patna. “There was panic for several minutes after the train stopped abruptly. Families and elderly passengers looked terrified,” another passenger said.Senior railway and excise officials were informed immediately after the incident. Confirming the incident, excise superintendent Ashraf Jamal said efforts were underway to identify the smugglers and action would be taken against the network operating on the railway route. He added that a special drive would soon be launched to curb the rising incidents of liquor smuggling on the DDU-Danapur section.Meanwhile, Buxar RPF inspector Kundan Kumar said the excise department had not informed the Railway Protection Force before carrying out the raid on the train.Local residents said incidents involving liquor smugglers have increased in the region in recent months. A similar attack on a police team was reported earlier on the same railway section. Rajeev Kumar Singh, president of Railway Yatri Kalyan Sangh, Dumraon, urged railway authorities and police officials to strengthen security arrangements, intensify checking drives and maintain strict vigilance on suspicious activities inside trains.
