Daijiworld Media Network- Bhopal
Bhopal, May 29: A tragic accident on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district claimed the lives of two Bihar Special Task Force (STF) personnel and left four others critically injured on Wednesday morning.
The ill-fated incident occurred near the Ratlam Industrial Area when the police SUV reportedly lost balance and overturned while en route from Gaya, Bihar to Gandhidham, Gujarat, as part of a covert operation to nab suspects.
The vehicle, a Scorpio belonging to the Bihar STF, is said to have skidded and dragged along the expressway for almost 100 feet before coming to a stop. Eyewitnesses shared that the mishap unfolded suddenly, leaving little time for any reaction. A chilling video of the accident has since gone viral on social media, drawing widespread concern.
Ratlam Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar confirmed that the deceased officers have been identified as Sub-Inspector Mukund Murari, a 2018 batch officer hailing from Bakhtiyarpur, Patna, and Constable Vikas Kumar, a native of Jehanabad. Mukund had earlier joined the Patna District Police as a constable in 2015 before rising through the ranks to join the STF.
Among the injured are Sub-Inspector Santosh Kumar (Bhagalpur), Constable Mithilesh Paswan (Kaimur), Constable Ranjan Kumar (Nawada), and Constable Jeevdhari Kumar. Initially rushed to the Ratlam Medical Hospital for first aid, all four have been referred to Indore for advanced treatment due to the seriousness of their injuries.
Speaking from the hospital, Constable Ranjan Kumar recounted the horror, stating he had been asleep in the backseat and awoke to find himself amidst the wreckage. “I saw three of my colleagues lying outside the vehicle. We were resting in the trunk while our senior was driving,” he added.
Fellow injured officer Mithilesh Paswan revealed that the team was engaged in a sensitive mission when tragedy struck. "We were on a secret operation from Gaya to Gandhidham. Suddenly, the vehicle lost balance and overturned near Ratlam," he said.
Authorities are probing the exact cause of the accident, while arrangements are underway to bring the mortal remains of the deceased officers back to Bihar. The Bihar police department has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of its brave personnel and extended support to the families of the victims.