Patna: Frequent attacks on police by bootleggers have sent top police officers into a tizzy.

On Monday night, a police team that had gone to arrest bootleggers in Vaishali district was attacked. The members of the team not only returned empty-handed but also had to bear the brunt of the liquor smugglers.

A sub-inspector and two constables suffered injuries when a group of smugglers pelted them with stones. The police patrol vehicle was also damaged in the attack. Four smugglers, who were taken into custody, were freed by the attackers.

The incident took place at Digghi Lalpokhar locality under the jurisdiction of Hajipur sadar police station in Vaishali district. Sub-inspector Binda Kumar Yadav led the raiding team. One of the two constables, Deepak Kumar, was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

The station house officer (SHO) of Hajipur Sadar police station Om Prakash said a complaint had been lodged against four named and some unidentified persons for the attack on a police team which had gone to raid a house in the locality on Monday night.

A police officer, who was part of the raiding team, said the mob also snatched the service revolver of sub-inspector Binda and opened fire in the air. The firing made the residents more aggressive who pelted the police with stones.

The members of the raiding team had to flee the spot.

In a similar incident, at least six police personnel suffered injuries when a group of liquor smugglers attacked them during a raid at Chandwa Musahar Toli in Bhojpur district on August 31. Later, an FIR was lodged against 15 bootleggers on the statement of an assistant sub-inspector, Sudin Sada.

Around 150 unnamed persons were also made accused in the case lodged with Nawada police station in Bhojpur district.

The police later arrested Mithlesh Musahar, Gorakh Ram, Lal Bahadur, alias Chhotu Musahar, Dasai Ram, Upendra Musahar, Tarkeshwar Ram, Narayan Ram, Siya Ram, Bir Bahadur Ram and Bhuar Ram and sent them to jail.

"Reports of attack on police teams by liquor smugglers have come from over a dozen districts in recent months. It shows that police action against bootleggers has started bearing tangible results," said a senior police officer, who is closely monitoring the operation against illicit liquor trade.

The officer said at a few places, some cops had to pay with their lives while trying to enforce the new prohibition law.

Such constables were either run over by speeding vehicles carrying bottles of foreign liquor or killed on duty.

To drive home his point, the police officer said a Special Auxiliary Police jawan was killed at a place under the jurisdiction of Rajepur police station when he tried to stop a sports utility vehicle in February this year.

Two incidents of attack on police teams were also reported from Harsidhi and Kalyanpur police stations in East Champaran district.