MP Govt Demolishes ‘Illegal’ Homes of Poachers Accused of Murdering Three Cops

Bhopal: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh Government on Saturday demolished the ‘illegal’ homes of five poachers out of seven accused in the murder of three cops. The poachers have allegedly killed three cops in Guna district of Sagabarkhedi village in the wee hours of Saturday after cops intercepted them with deers' carcass.

According to official sources, the Guna district administration razed the house of five accused -- Vikki Khan, Gullu Khan, Shahzad Banne Khan, Bablu Khan and Naushad Khan (who died in the ambush) around 3 pm on Saturday, hours after chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered strict action against the accused.

Speaking to reporters, Guna Collector Frank Novel said, "The illegal properties of all the accused will be demolished, and it will continue for a while. They have been booked under the relevant sections of the IPC, many of them have been traced, and soon all will be behind bars."

According to the police report, an ambush between police and poachers took place 55-km away from Guna district headquarters near Sagabarkhedi village between 3–3:30 pm on Saturday, which falls under the jurisdiction of Aron Police station. The ambush left three policemen and a poacher dead, while the police vehicle driven by Lakhan Giri got injured. The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the family of each deceased.

Police sources confirmed that apart from the three identified accused, a few poachers have been detained, and weapons were also recovered from their hideouts.

The official communique issued by the police over the incident says that it was around 2 am when Sub Inspector Rajkumar Jatav, who was on night patrol, tipped off about the illegal hunting of deer and peacock. Jatav, along with constable Pradeep Meena and head constable Dinesh Gautam who was meters away from the ambush location, left to track the hunters down and reached Sagabarkhedi village at the site. Jatav left both constables around 100-meter away from the ambush site, who saw seven people had left in four motorcycles. After this, Sub-Inspector Jatav and other policemen blocked the road using the four-wheeler, which was parked horizontally.

According to police officials, as soon as hunters sensed the situation, they opened fire on the policemen and allegedly gunned down all three policemen, including Sub-Inspector Rajkumar Jatav (28), a resident of Ashok Nagar, Head Constable Neeraj Bhargav (36), a resident of Guna and constable Santram Meena were (25) a resident of Sheopur. Poachers also took away INSAS rifle with 20 rounds of bullets from Meena. Whereas private driver Lakhan Giri was hit by a bullet on his wrist and is injured.

In retaliation, policemen fired over ten rounds of bullets, leaving a poacher Naushad Khan allegedly dead.

"Following a tip-off about the presence of some poachers, a police team reached the spot located under Aron police station in Guna district. After the police personnel surrounded them from all sides, they opened fire at them, in which three policemen were killed," Home Minister Narottam Mishra briefed reporters in Bhopal this morning.

The police have also found two bags filled with four heads of deer, two bodies and one body of a peacock from the ambush site.

After the news of the death of policemen reached the state capital, Bhopal, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a high-level emergency meeting at 9:30 am at his residence with the Director-General of Police, Home Minister, Chief Secretary and others. After the meeting, the state government announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of each of the deceased policemen.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "Stringent action will be taken against criminals, and it will set an example. All the accused have almost been identified; a dead body had been found in the nearby village with a bullet injury. The policemen were standing there to stop the hunters and did not know that this would happen.

They have also fired in retaliation and will be given the honour of martyrs. While the family of each policeman will be Rs 1 crore each, one family member will also be given a compassionate appointment, and they will be cremated with full honours."

Chouhan also added that Inspector General of Gwalior Anil Sharma would be replaced with Shrinivas Verma for failing to reach the spot in time.